Near-infrared astrometry of star clusters with different flavors of adaptive optics and HST

Jessica R. Lu; Benoit Neichel; Jay Anderson; Evan Sinukoff; Matthew W. Hosek; Andrea M. Ghez; Francois Rigaut

doi:10.1117/12.2057241

Near-infrared astrometry of star clusters with different flavors of adaptive optics and HST

Jessica R. Lu^*, Benoit Neichel, Jay Anderson, Evan Sinukoff, Matthew W. Hosek, Andrea M. Ghez, Francois Rigaut

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

High-precision infrared astrometry is a powerful tool for the study of resolved stellar populations throughout our Galaxy. We highlight two particular science cases that require precise infrared astrometry: (1) measuring the initial mass function in massive young clusters throughout the MilkyWay and (2) finding isolated black holes that photometrically and astrometrically lens background bulge stars. Using astrometric results from these science cases, we perform a comparative analysis of the infrared astrometric capabilities from the Keck single-conjugate adaptive optics (AO) system, the Gemini multi-conjugate AO system, and the Hubble WFC3IR instrument. For the most crowded fields and a small region of interest, we show that Keck's single-conjugate AO system and the well-characterized NIRC2 instrument produce the highest astrometric precision at ∼150 μas. However, for targets that cover a wider field of view, both the Gemini South AO Imager (GSAOI) and HST WFC3IR should be considered carefully. GSAOI currently delivers lower astrometric precision than HST WFC3IR for a given integration time; but, programs that require more frequent astrometric measurements over longer periods of time may benefit from the higher availability and possibly longer lifetime of GSAOI.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Adaptive Optics Systems IV
Editors	Jean-Pierre Veran, Enrico Marchetti, Laird M. Close
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9780819496164
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057241
Publication status	Published - 2014
Event	Adaptive Optics Systems IV - Montreal, Canada Duration: 22 Jun 2014 → 27 Jun 2014

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	9148
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	Adaptive Optics Systems IV
Country/Territory	Canada
City	Montreal
Period	22/06/14 → 27/06/14

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Lu, J. R., Neichel, B., Anderson, J., Sinukoff, E., Hosek, M. W., Ghez, A. M., & Rigaut, F. (2014). Near-infrared astrometry of star clusters with different flavors of adaptive optics and HST. In J.-P. Veran, E. Marchetti, & L. M. Close (Eds.), Adaptive Optics Systems IV Article 91480B (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 9148). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057241

@inproceedings{b58716a707e64cec90b6cdfba8a0bc2c,

title = "Near-infrared astrometry of star clusters with different flavors of adaptive optics and HST",

abstract = "High-precision infrared astrometry is a powerful tool for the study of resolved stellar populations throughout our Galaxy. We highlight two particular science cases that require precise infrared astrometry: (1) measuring the initial mass function in massive young clusters throughout the MilkyWay and (2) finding isolated black holes that photometrically and astrometrically lens background bulge stars. Using astrometric results from these science cases, we perform a comparative analysis of the infrared astrometric capabilities from the Keck single-conjugate adaptive optics (AO) system, the Gemini multi-conjugate AO system, and the Hubble WFC3IR instrument. For the most crowded fields and a small region of interest, we show that Keck's single-conjugate AO system and the well-characterized NIRC2 instrument produce the highest astrometric precision at ∼150 μas. However, for targets that cover a wider field of view, both the Gemini South AO Imager (GSAOI) and HST WFC3IR should be considered carefully. GSAOI currently delivers lower astrometric precision than HST WFC3IR for a given integration time; but, programs that require more frequent astrometric measurements over longer periods of time may benefit from the higher availability and possibly longer lifetime of GSAOI.",

keywords = "adaptive optics, astrometry, star clusters, star formation, young stars",

author = "Lu, {Jessica R.} and Benoit Neichel and Jay Anderson and Evan Sinukoff and Hosek, {Matthew W.} and Ghez, {Andrea M.} and Francois Rigaut",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2014 SPIE.; Adaptive Optics Systems IV ; Conference date: 22-06-2014 Through 27-06-2014",

year = "2014",

doi = "10.1117/12.2057241",

language = "English",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

publisher = "SPIE",

editor = "Jean-Pierre Veran and Enrico Marchetti and Close, {Laird M.}",

booktitle = "Adaptive Optics Systems IV",

address = "United States",

}

Lu, JR, Neichel, B, Anderson, J, Sinukoff, E, Hosek, MW, Ghez, AM & Rigaut, F 2014, Near-infrared astrometry of star clusters with different flavors of adaptive optics and HST. in J-P Veran, E Marchetti & LM Close (eds), Adaptive Optics Systems IV., 91480B, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 9148, SPIE, Adaptive Optics Systems IV, Montreal, Canada, 22/06/14. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057241

Near-infrared astrometry of star clusters with different flavors of adaptive optics and HST. / Lu, Jessica R.; Neichel, Benoit; Anderson, Jay et al.
Adaptive Optics Systems IV. ed. / Jean-Pierre Veran; Enrico Marchetti; Laird M. Close. SPIE, 2014. 91480B (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 9148).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Near-infrared astrometry of star clusters with different flavors of adaptive optics and HST

AU - Lu, Jessica R.

AU - Neichel, Benoit

AU - Anderson, Jay

AU - Sinukoff, Evan

AU - Hosek, Matthew W.

AU - Ghez, Andrea M.

AU - Rigaut, Francois

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - High-precision infrared astrometry is a powerful tool for the study of resolved stellar populations throughout our Galaxy. We highlight two particular science cases that require precise infrared astrometry: (1) measuring the initial mass function in massive young clusters throughout the MilkyWay and (2) finding isolated black holes that photometrically and astrometrically lens background bulge stars. Using astrometric results from these science cases, we perform a comparative analysis of the infrared astrometric capabilities from the Keck single-conjugate adaptive optics (AO) system, the Gemini multi-conjugate AO system, and the Hubble WFC3IR instrument. For the most crowded fields and a small region of interest, we show that Keck's single-conjugate AO system and the well-characterized NIRC2 instrument produce the highest astrometric precision at ∼150 μas. However, for targets that cover a wider field of view, both the Gemini South AO Imager (GSAOI) and HST WFC3IR should be considered carefully. GSAOI currently delivers lower astrometric precision than HST WFC3IR for a given integration time; but, programs that require more frequent astrometric measurements over longer periods of time may benefit from the higher availability and possibly longer lifetime of GSAOI.

AB - High-precision infrared astrometry is a powerful tool for the study of resolved stellar populations throughout our Galaxy. We highlight two particular science cases that require precise infrared astrometry: (1) measuring the initial mass function in massive young clusters throughout the MilkyWay and (2) finding isolated black holes that photometrically and astrometrically lens background bulge stars. Using astrometric results from these science cases, we perform a comparative analysis of the infrared astrometric capabilities from the Keck single-conjugate adaptive optics (AO) system, the Gemini multi-conjugate AO system, and the Hubble WFC3IR instrument. For the most crowded fields and a small region of interest, we show that Keck's single-conjugate AO system and the well-characterized NIRC2 instrument produce the highest astrometric precision at ∼150 μas. However, for targets that cover a wider field of view, both the Gemini South AO Imager (GSAOI) and HST WFC3IR should be considered carefully. GSAOI currently delivers lower astrometric precision than HST WFC3IR for a given integration time; but, programs that require more frequent astrometric measurements over longer periods of time may benefit from the higher availability and possibly longer lifetime of GSAOI.

KW - adaptive optics

KW - astrometry

KW - star clusters

KW - star formation

KW - young stars

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U2 - 10.1117/12.2057241

DO - 10.1117/12.2057241

M3 - Conference contribution

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

BT - Adaptive Optics Systems IV

A2 - Veran, Jean-Pierre

A2 - Marchetti, Enrico

A2 - Close, Laird M.

PB - SPIE

T2 - Adaptive Optics Systems IV

Y2 - 22 June 2014 through 27 June 2014

ER -

Near-infrared astrometry of star clusters with different flavors of adaptive optics and HST

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