19 research outputs found
Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer: A dedicated single-mode fiber injection unit for high resolution exoplanet spectroscopy
The Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer (KPIC) is a purpose-built instrument to demonstrate new tech- nological and instrumental concepts initially developed for the exoplanet direct imaging field. Located downstream of the current Keck II adaptive optic system, KPIC contains a fiber injection unit (FIU) capable of combining the high-contrast imaging capability of the adaptive optic system with the high dispersion spectroscopy capability of the current Keck high resolution infrared spectrograph (NIRSPEC). Deployed at Keck in September 2018, this instrument has already been used to acquire high resolution spectra (R < 35, 000) of multiple targets of interest. In the near term, it will be used to spectrally characterize known directly imaged exoplanets and low-mass brown dwarf companions visible in the northern hemisphere with a spectral resolution high enough to enable spin and planetary radial velocity measurements as well as Doppler imaging of atmospheric weather phenomena. Here we present the design of the FIU, the unique calibration procedures needed to operate a single-mode fiber instrument and the system performance
Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer: demonstrating advanced exoplanet characterization techniques for future extremely large telescopes (Conference Presentation)
The Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer (KPIC) is an upgrade to the Keck II adaptive optics system enabling high contrast imaging and high-resolution spectroscopic characterization of giant exoplanets in the mid-infrared (2-5 microns). The KPIC instrument will be developed in phases. Phase I entails the installation of an infrared pyramid wavefront sensor (PyWFS) based on a fast, low-noise SAPHIRA IR-APD array. The ultra-sensitive infrared PyWFS will enable high contrast studies of infant exoplanets around cool, red, and/or obscured targets in star forming regions. In addition, the light downstream of the PyWFS will be coupled into an array of single-mode fibers with the aid of an active fiber injection unit (FIU). In turn, these fibers route light to Keck's high-resolution infrared spectrograph NIRSPEC, so that high dispersion coronagraphy (HDC) can be implemented for the first time. HDC optimally pairs high contrast imaging and high-resolution spectroscopy allowing detailed characterization of exoplanet atmospheres, including molecular composition, spin measurements, and Doppler imaging. We will provide an overview of the instrument, its science scope, and report on recent results from on-sky commissioning of Phase I. We will discuss plans for optimizing the instrument to seed designs for similar modes on extremely large telescopes
Status of the Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer phase II development
The Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer comprises of a series of upgrades to the Keck II adaptive optics system and instrument suite to improve the direct imaging and high resolution spectroscopy capabilities of the facility instruments NIRC2 and NIRSPEC, respectively. Phase I of KPIC includes a NIR pyramid wavefront sensor and a Fiber Injection Unit (FIU) to feed NIRSPEC with a single mode fiber, which have already been installed and are currently undergoing commissioning. KPIC will enable High Dispersion Coronagraphy (HDC) of directly imaged exoplanets for the first time, providing potentially improved detection significance and spectral characterization capabilities compared to direct imaging. In favorable cases, Doppler imaging, spin measurements, and molecule mapping are also possible. This science goal drives the development of phase II of KPIC, which is scheduled to be deployed in early 2020. Phase II optimizes the system throughput and contrast using a variety of additional submodules, including a 952 element deformable mirror, phase induced amplitude apodization lenses, an atmospheric dispersion compensator, multiple coronagraphs, a Zernike wavefront sensor, and multiple science ports. A testbed is being built in the Exoplanet Technology Lab at Caltech to characterize and test the design of each of these submodules before KPIC phase II is deployed to Keck. This paper presents an overview of the design of phase II and report on results from laboratory testing
Retrieving C and O Abundance of HR 8799 c by Combining High- and Low-Resolution Data
The formation and evolution pathway for the directly-imaged multi-planetary
system HR 8799 remains mysterious. Accurate constraints on the chemical
composition of the planetary atmosphere(s) are key to solving the mystery. We
perform a detailed atmospheric retrieval on HR 8799~c to infer the chemical
abundances and abundance ratios using a combination of photometric data along
with low- and high-resolution spectroscopic data (R20-35,000). We
specifically retrieve [C/H], [O/H], and C/O and find them to be
0.55, 0.47, and 0.67 at
68\% confidence. The super-stellar C and O abundances, yet a stellar C/O ratio,
reveal a potential formation pathway for HR 8799~c. Planet c, and likely the
other gas giant planets in the system, formed early on (likely within 1
Myr), followed by further atmospheric enrichment in C and O through the
accretion of solids beyond the CO iceline. The enrichment either preceded or
took place during the early phase of the inward migration to the planet current
locations.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables, accepted to AAS journal
Retrieving the C and O Abundances of HR 7672~AB: a Solar-Type Primary Star with a Benchmark Brown Dwarf
A benchmark brown dwarf (BD) is a BD whose properties (e.g., mass and
chemical composition) are precisely and independently measured. Benchmark BDs
are valuable in testing theoretical evolutionary tracks, spectral synthesis,
and atmospheric retrievals for sub-stellar objects. Here, we report results of
atmospheric retrieval on a synthetic spectrum and a benchmark BD -- HR 7672~B
-- with \petit. First, we test the retrieval framework on a synthetic PHOENIX
BT-Settl spectrum with a solar composition. We show that the retrieved C and O
abundances are consistent with solar values, but the retrieved C/O is
overestimated by 0.13-0.18, which is 4 times higher than the formal error
bar. Second, we perform retrieval on HR 7672~B using high spectral resolution
data (R=35,000) from the Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer (KPIC) and near
infrared photometry. We retrieve [C/H], [O/H], and C/O to be ,
, and . These values are consistent with those of HR
7672~A within 1.5-. As such, HR 7672~B is among only a few benchmark
BDs (along with Gl 570~D and HD 3651~B) that have been demonstrated to have
consistent elemental abundances with their primary stars. Our work provides a
practical procedure of testing and performing atmospheric retrieval, and sheds
light on potential systematics of future retrievals using high- and
low-resolution data.Comment: 29 pages, 17 figures, 5 tables, resubmitted to AAS journals after
first revisio