High-Contrast Imaging at First-Light of the GMT: The Preliminary Design of GMagAO-X

TL;DR

The paper details the preliminary design of GMagAO-X, a high-contrast imaging system for the GMT, enabling advanced exoplanet characterization and other astronomical observations with unprecedented resolution and sensitivity.

Contribution

It introduces the innovative design and performance specifications of GMagAO-X, including its adaptive optics system and science capabilities, for the first-light of the GMT.

Findings

Achieves a Strehl ratio of 70% at 800 nm on 8th mag stars.

Enables spectroscopic characterization of potentially habitable exoplanets.

Demonstrates end-to-end performance modeling and prototype lab results.

Abstract

We present the preliminary design of GMagAO-X, the first-light high-contrast imager planned for the Giant Magellan Telescope. GMagAO-X will realize the revolutionary increase in spatial resolution and sensitivity provided by the 25 m GMT. It will enable, for the first time, the spectroscopic characterization of nearby potentially habitable terrestrial exoplanets orbiting late-type stars. Additional science cases include: reflected light characterization of mature giant planets; measurement of young extrasolar giant planet variability; characterization of circumstellar disks at unprecedented spatial resolution; characterization of benchmark stellar atmospheres at high spectral resolution; and mapping of resolved objects such as giant stars and asteroids. These, and many more, science cases will be enabled by a 21,000 actuator extreme adaptive optics system, a coronagraphic wavefront control system, and a suite of imagers and spectrographs. We will review the science-driven performance requirements for GMagAO-X, which include achieving a Strehl ratio of 70% at 800 nm on 8th mag and brighter stars, and post-processed characterization at astrophysical flux-ratios of 1e-7 at 4 lambda/D (26 mas at 800 nm) separation. We will provide an overview of the resulting mechanical, optical, and software designs optimized to deliver this performance. We will also discuss the interfaces to the GMT itself, and the concept of operations. We will present an overview of our end-to-end performance modeling and simulations, including the control of segment phasing, as well as an overview of prototype lab demonstrations. Finally, we will review the results of Preliminary Design Review held in February, 2024.