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W. M. Keck Observatory: Instrumentation, Adaptive Optics and Scientific Productivity

W. M. Keck Observatory: Instrumentation, Adaptive Optics and Scientific Productivity. Taft Armandroff Director W. M. Keck Observatory. 25 July 2009 La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. Outline. Recent Science Highlights Current Instrumentation Keck Adaptive Optics

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W. M. Keck Observatory: Instrumentation, Adaptive Optics and Scientific Productivity

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  1. W. M. Keck Observatory: Instrumentation, Adaptive Optics and Scientific Productivity Taft ArmandroffDirectorW. M. Keck Observatory 25 July 2009 La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain

  2. Outline • Recent Science Highlights • Current Instrumentation • Keck Adaptive Optics • Future Enhancements to Instrumentation & Adaptive Optics • Keck Observatory Scientific Productivity • Future Strategy

  3. Recent Science Highlights

  4. Mike Liu et al. measure masses of brown dwarfs using Keck-AO-assisted astrometry • Angular separations: 0.1-0.2 arcsec • Periodic images reveal orbits, which give masses • Compare mass, luminosity and temperature with models

  5. Simon/Geha Program to Measure Mass-to-Light Ratios of Faintest Galaxies in Local Group • “Missing Dwarfs” Problem from CDM Cosmology • Spectra from DEIMOS & HIRES give velocity dispersion & abundances • Most dark matter-dominated galaxies ever found

  6. Marois, Macintosh et al. Discovery of Three Planetary Companions to HR 8799 • Three planets, roughly 10, 10 and 7 times mass of Jupiter • First images of an exoplanet system

  7. Current Instrumentation

  8. LRIS Red Channel Detector Upgrade • Upgrade to a mosaic of two2K x 4K high resistivity, thick substrate detectors (LBNL) • Significant QE improvement • No fringing • Typically 25% more spectral coverage • New dewar, focus mechanism & red channel electronics • First light 6 June 2009

  9. Keck Adaptive Optics

  10. Galactic Center KBO’s LGS AO Science Bipolar Jet Methane brown dwarfs

  11. Future Keck AO Science Capabilities

  12. Future Enhancements to Instrumentation & Adaptive Optics

  13. MOSFIRE Multi-Object Spectrometer For InfraRed Exploration • Near-IR Multi-Object Imaging Spectrometer • 0.97 to 2.45 m • At Cass focus of Keck I, MOSFIRE will provide: • R = 3,270 for a slit width of 0.7" • 46 slits over 6.1' x 3' FOV using a remotely configurable slit mask unit • Imaging FOV 6.14' diameter with 0.18" pixels • Cold testing underway • First light in June 2010

  14. Keck I LGS AO • LGS AO for Keck I telescope (2010) • Higher performance than Keck II LGS AO • Higher power laser • Center launch telescope • OSIRIS at fixed location with one less reflection • LGS AO for Keck Interferometer & redundancy of key science capability

  15. Young Stellar Objects Chemical Composition at R~1800 SelfPhase Referencing 1 K<8 limit R~1800 Dual FieldPhase Referencing 2 Active Galactic NucleiChemical CompositionIncreased Sample K<8.5 reference K<15 science Astrometry 3 30μ˝ for30˝ separation Galactic CenterStellar Population BH massand GR effects Exoplanets Reflex Motion ofMultiple Planet Systems ASTRA overview • Based on NASA investments in Keck Interferometer • Based on K2 and K1 LGS AO capabilities • July 2006 ~ July 2010 • Three new operating modes • Four science cases

  16. NGAO - Next Generation AO Key Science Goals Understanding the Formation and Evolution of Today’s Galaxies Measuring Dark Matter in our Galaxy and Beyond Testing the Theory of General Relativity in the Galactic Center Understanding the Formation of Planetary Systems around Nearby Stars Exploring the Origins of Our Solar System Key New Science Capabilities Near Diffraction-Limited in Near-IR (K-Strehl ~80%) AO correction at Red Wavelengths (0.65-1.0 m) Increased Sky Coverage Improved Angular Resolution, Sensitivity and Contrast Improved Photometric and Astrometric Accuracy Imaging and Integral Field Spectroscopy

  17. How is NGAO different from Keck AO today?

  18. NGAO System Architecture • Key Features: • Fixed narrow field laser tomography • AO corrected NIR TT sensors • Cooled AO enclosure smaller • Cascaded relay • Combined imager/IFU instrument

  19. NGAO in the world of 8-10 m telescopes: Uniqueness is high spatial resolution, shorter ’s,AO-fed NIR IFS Most 8-10 m telescopes plan either high contrast or wide field AO 20

  20. Keck Observatory Scientific Productivity

  21. Number of Publications per Year Number of refereed publications increasing over time

  22. Papers per Telescope

  23. Keck AO Science Product 217 refereed science papers (thru May/09) 29% 52% 19% 10% 26% 64%

  24. M. Liu LGS-AO Refereed Science Papers Compiled by Michael Liu (U. Hawaii)

  25. Future Strategy

  26. Scientific Strategic PlanMission Statement High angular resolution astrophysics Faint object, high-precision & highly-multiplexed spectroscopy from UV through K Highly efficient operations Flexibility to exploit emerging opportunities Training the future leaders of the field

  27. Strategies for Keck inthe ELT Era (1) • Organizational • Nimbleness re new opportunities • Preserve strong relationship with our user community • Observing programs • More large programs • Programs that study sample of objects with Keck, then ELT follow-up of the most interesting objects • Greater exploitation of time domain • Exploit new wide-field imaging surveys • Imbalance between resources dedicated to new imaging surveys and follow-up capability

  28. Strategies for Keck inthe ELT Era (2) • Instrumentation & adaptive optics • Must continue to invest in compelling new instrumentation & adaptive optics systems • Higher-risk, high-reward instruments & AO • ELTs do not have appetite for risk in instrumentation • 8-10 m telescopes will be proving ground for new, innovative instrument concepts • More specialized instruments than might be selected as 1st generation ELT instruments • Interferometry

  29. Welcome GTC!

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