Overview of NICI's capabilities

NICI, the Near-Infrared Coronagraphic Imager, is a dual-channel, near-infrared (1-5 µm) coronagraphic imager for use on Gemini South. It was built by Mauna Kea Infrared (MKIR). NICI arrived on Cerro Pachon in January 2007 and obtained "first light" on February 20th, 2007. It is now undergoing an extensive period of commissioning and instrument performance characterization and optimization which is expected to extend into 2007B.

NICI is optimized for detection of faint, sub-stellar companions of stars by utilizing the Simultaneous Spectral Differential Imaging (SSDI) technique. Fed with a dedicated curvature-sensing adaptive optics system, the dual-channel science camera has several occulting masks, Lyot stops, and filter choices.

NICI will be the first Gemini instrument to be used in "campaign" mode. A single planet-search program has been awarded a significant amount of observing time (50 nights over two to three years). NICI campaign observing is planned to start in late 2007, following instrument commissioning. For more information about the NICI campaign, please see the Status and Availability pages.

The current web pages present an overview of NICI's expected capabilities and sensitivity in order to support the campaign science proposal process. Further information will be added after NICI's actual performance is measured during acceptance testing and commissioning.

The Instrument Scientist for NICI is Tom Hayward.

Announcements

No current announcements. See the Status and Availability pages for archived news items.

How to use these pages

The NICI pages are organized as follows:

• Status and Availability: Modes available in the current and upcoming semesters; links to news items
• Imaging: Components used in NICI's imaging modes and guidance on how best to use the instrument in this mode
• Sensitivity and Overheads: Sensitivity tables, integration time calculator, and details of observing overheads
• Calibration: How to calibrate NICI observations
• Observation Preparation: How to configure NICI in the Observing Tool
• Data Format and Reduction: Examples of NICI data and links to data reduction resources
• Documents: NICI design documents and references

Also see the Near-IR Resources section, which contains generic information about observing at 1-5um as well as details about calibrations, standard stars, etc. that apply to NICI, NIRI, NIFS, GNIRS, Phoenix and FLAMINGOS-2.

Last update: 1 March 2007, B. Rodgers
Created: 4 Jan 2006; Phil Puxley