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NIFS

Gemini NorthNear-IR
Last Modified: 
Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - 11:58

NIFS provides 3D imaging spectroscopy with spectral resolving power (lambda/delta lambda) of R~5000 over a 3.0" x 3.0" image field in the Z through K-band spectral regions (0.95 to 2.40 μm). NIFS is designed to be fed by the Gemini North Adaptive Optics system, ALTAIR, hence it is possible to achieve spatially resolved spectroscopy on scales as small as 0.1" using Natural or Laser guide stars. Coronographic spectroscopy can also be performed through use of an occulting disk.

Available For Proposals at Gemini North
For more details, see the schedules and the CfPs.
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Capability Summary

  • AO (NGS, LGS, Super Seeing) available with Altair (0.1" FWHM with full AO correction)
  • Total wavelength range = 0.95−2.4 µm

Spectroscopy

  • Resolutions
    • 5000−6000 (depends on the band)
  • Modes
    • IFU (Read more)
      • 3" × 3" field of view
      • 0.103" (across slices) and 0.04" (along slices) spatial sampling
      • Simultaneous coverage = 200−400 nm (depends on the band)
      • Occulting disks (0.2" and 0.5") available for coronagraphic mode

Guiding Options (Read more)

  • PWFS
  • Altair (NGS, LGS, LGS+P1)

Get the sensitivity
Get to the integration time calculator


NIFS is Gemini-North's Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrometer built by the Australian National University's Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics. NIFS has been available since semester 2006B for classical and queue scheduled observing at Gemini-North.

Announcements

July 12, 2021

Gemini North Instrument Schedule Change

January 1, 2020

Announcements prior to 2020

View All NIFS News

Instrument Team

Instrument Scientist

Hyewon Suh

Additional Support Staff
    • Julia Scharwächter
    • Andy Stephens
    • Joan Font-Serra

Email: nifs_science@gemini.edu

Gemini Observatory Participants

The Gemini Observatory provides the astronomical communities in six participant countries with state-of-the-art astronomical facilities that allocate observing time in proportion to each country's contribution. In addition to financial support, each country also contributes significant scientific and technical resources. The national research agencies that form the Gemini partnership include: the US National Science Foundation (NSF), the Canadian National Research Council (NRC), the Chilean Comisión Nacional de Investigación Cientifica y Tecnológica (CONICYT), the Brazilian Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, the Argentinean Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, and the Korea Astronomy and Space Institute (KASI). The observatory is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with the NSF. The NSF also serves as the executive agency for the international partnership.


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