Abstract
The Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer (KPIC) is a purpose-built instrument to demonstrate technological and instrumental concepts initially developed for the exoplanet direct imaging field. Located downstream of the current Keck II adaptive optic (AO) system, KPIC contains a fiber injection unit (FIU) capable of combining the high-contrast imaging capability of the AOs 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 > 30,000) 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.
Highlights
Since the first exoplanet detections almost three decades ago,[1,2] thousands have been detected and confirmed using various indirect and direct observing strategies
We present a detailed overview of the design and performance of the dedicated fiber injection unit (FIU) for the Keck II telescope
We present a detailed overview of the first phase FIU and its performance
Summary
Since the first exoplanet detections almost three decades ago,[1,2] thousands have been detected and confirmed using various indirect and direct observing strategies. The adaptive optic (AO) system and the infrared detectors of VLT/NACO8,9 have been used to image the first exoplanet in 200410 followed in 2008 by the detection of the first three companions to HR 8799,11 using the high contrast imaging (HCI) capabilities of both Keck and Gemini telescopes. These high HCI techniques have since been improved and many new observing strategies developed.
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