OP: MRI: Development of a Visible Wavelength Extreme Adaptive Optics Coronagraphic Imager for the 6.5 meter Magellan Telescope

这项重大研究仪器奖将允许亚利桑那大学的一个天文学家团队建造一个最先进的仪器，用于智利的6.5米麦哲伦望远镜。这台仪器将允许对暗淡的行星和明亮恒星周围的碎片盘进行直接成像。一些博士后研究员和研究生将在设计和测试阶段发挥关键作用。该仪器将为成员机构的大量天文学家以及来自联盟之外的合作者提供广泛的科学研究。它将推动自适应光学能力的发展，这将对广泛的科学和商业应用产生重大的积极影响。亚利桑那大学的这个团队将通过为智利6.5米麦哲伦望远镜开发的一种新仪器，在高对比度日冕自适应光学成像和光谱学方面发展世界领先的能力。该仪器将自适应光学能力扩展到视觉波段，实现独特的科学能力，特别是对系外行星和原行星盘的成像。MagAO- x仪器将在现有MagAO系统的基础上逐步建立，并经过三个精心考虑的阶段，最终形成一种新的综合仪器。磁共振成像的发展将加强基础设施，并为未来的仪器工作者提供急需的培训机会。

This Major Research Instrumentation award will allow a team of astronomers at the University of Arizona to construct a state-of-the-art instrument for use at the 6.5 meter Magellan telescope in Chile. This instrument will permit direct imaging of faint planets and debris disks around bright stars. Several postdoctoral fellows and graduate students will play key roles in the design and testing phases. The instrument will enable a wide range of science for a large number of astronomers at member institutions as well as their collaborators from outside the consortium. It will push the envelope of adaptive optics capability, which will have a major positive impact for a wide range of scientific and commercial applications.This University of Arizona team will develop world-leading capabilities in high-contrast coronagraphic adaptive optics imaging and spectroscopy through a new instrument to be developed for the 6.5 meter Magellan telescope in Chile. The instrument will extend adaptive optics capabilities into the visual band, enabling unique science capabilities, especially for imaging exoplanets and proto-planetary disks. The MagAO-X instrument will build incrementally on the current MagAO system and through three carefully-considered stages, ultimately leading to a new comprehensive instrument. This MRI development effort will enhance infrastructure and provide sorely-needed training opportunities for future instrumentalists.