[Alumnos] [NGO-Argentina] Call for White Papers to define the Gemini InfraRed-Optical Spectrometer (GIROS)

Lun Ene 23 14:30:53 ART 2012

January 2012

Introduction
------------

Gemini Observatory is embarked on a new round of instrumentation 
development, with an emphasis on creating as competitive as possible an 
instrument suite within the technical limitations of the telescopes and 
fiscal constraint of projected budgets. The Gemini High-resolution Optical 
Spectrograph (GHOS; www.gemini.edu/node/11698) and Gemini Remote Access to 
CFHT ESPaDOnS Spectrograph (GRACES; http://www.gemini.edu/node/11355) are 
the first instruments under consideration in this new round.  The Gemini 
Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC; 
http://www.gemini.edu/science/#stac) has recommended that the next 
capability to be pursued is single-object spectroscopy at medium 
resolution simultaneously covering optical and near-infrared wavelengths. 
As such, the Observatory and STAC solicit Gemini community participation 
to define the specific requirements and goals of this desired capability, 
provisionally named the Gemini InfraRed-Optical Spectrometer (GIROS).

An important first step in this process is to identify science goals and 
objectives that provide, in a demonstrative way, a solid justification for 
this new capability. These science cases are particularly important to 
defining minimum requirements and desired goals, e.g. minimum/maximum 
wavelength and minimum/ideal spectral resolution. Since the vast majority 
of the expertise in this area rests within the community, Gemini 
Observatory is issuing this call for "White Papers to define the Gemini 
InfraRed-Optical Spectrometer (GIROS)" in order to help construct the 
scientific case and technical requirements for this capability. Observers, 
instrument builders, and other parties with an interest in building or 
using this type of broad-bandwidth, moderate-resolution spectroscopy at 
Gemini are invited to participate. Please note, however, that this call is 
not a solicitation for proposals to fund, build, or observe with such an 
instrument at this time.

Guidelines
----------

While this call is specifically intended to attract creative thinking, 
please consider the following guidelines:

First, the primary goal of this call is to establish the scientific 
rationale for doing simultaneous optical and near-infrared 
medium-resolution spectroscopy on an 8-m telescope, so we are most 
interested in position papers that help present a strong scientific 
justification for this capability. e.g. How does the science require or 
benefit from the simultaneous broad wavelength coverage?  Why do the 
existing capabilities not fulfill this need? Also, it is important to be 
forward looking and include future scientific research; any capabilities 
developed from this call would be available in the latter half of the 
current decade and should be able to focus on these opportunities.

Second, although scientific justifications are the driving force behind 
this initial effort, this project faces technical challenges imposed by 
the fact that the Gemini telescopes have only Cassegrain foci with limited 
instrument envelopes and masses and budget constraints in the current era 
of fiscal austerity.  Anticipating that tradeoffs between cost and 
capability may have to be made to fit within budgetary and technical 
limitations, science cases that illuminate the edges of the potential 
parameter space and well-justify required minimum parameters are 
particularly useful.  e.g. What are the cutoff wavelengths in the 
ultraviolet/optical and near-infrared required to achieve the desired 
science?  What is the minimum versus ideal spectral resolution?

Third, "out of the box" thinking is invited as long as it is 
demonstratively reasonable. Innovative technical means of achieving the 
capability, innovative paths to the construction of an instrument meeting 
the capability, or innovative science that would become possible with 
unusual capabilities are encouraged.

Finally, as a means of starting a discussion but not to unduly restrict 
it, we present a "straw-man" concept, a result of the Gemini STAC November 
2011 meeting, for consideration: a 5-8" single-slit spectrometer with two 
or three arms simultaneously covering wavelengths from approximately 350 
nm where the silver reflectivity drops off to 2.5 microns at a resolution 
high enough to achieve read-noise limited performance between OH emission 
lines (R~4000-8000).  Being a "straw-man" concept, we welcome all 
critical, but constructive, comments and emphasize that this is a concept 
only - if this concept is unsupported scientifically it will not be 
pursued.

Directions for submitting a Position Paper
------------------------------------------

If you would like to participate and receive updates on the process, 
please contact Maxime Boccas, as soon as possible (mboccas en gemini.edu or 
+56 51 205 643). Include, if known, what specific topic will be addressed 
and the names of any co-authors. The deadline for the receipt of papers is 
March 15, 2012, to be sent by email to Maxime Boccas (mboccas en gemini.edu). 
White Papers should be no more than five (5) pages long (including all 
material such as figures and references), written as succinctly as 
possible, and, most importantly, put into universal context. Moreover, to 
help consolidate the effort, we encourage the formation of special 
interest groups to write a single position paper for a given research 
topic (i.e., this is not a popularity contest and the primary goal is to 
build a broad and strong scientific case for this capability, so multiple 
papers expressing the same justification is redundant).  Submitters should 
clearly identify (preferably at the top of the document) if a paper should 
be considered confidential.  Otherwise, papers may be publicly released at 
some later time.

_____________________________________________________________
Oficina Argentina del Proyecto Gemini

Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e
Innovación Productiva
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