Call to join the IGRINS-2 Early Science Team

The International Gemini Observatory invites members of the Gemini community to join the IGRINS-2 (Immersion GRating INfrared Spectrometer 2) Early Science Team (EST) to participate in the system verification (SV) process. This exercise will involve testing the end-to-end system and operational procedures of IGRINS-2, including the Integration Time Calculator, Phase I Tool, Observing Tool, Observatory Control Software, Data Reduction, and documentation, from a user perspective.

The SV process aims to provide an initial set of publicly available IGRINS-2 data to demonstrate the instrument's capabilities and its potential for various scientific applications. The results from the SV will support the first IGRINS-2 call for proposals and inform the wider Gemini community about the instrument's capabilities.

Gemini North has allocated up to 40 hours of science time to support the IGRINS-2 SV process, including any time losses due to faults or other operational issues. The EST, comprising personnel from the Gemini Observatory and representatives from the Gemini community, will select and prepare observations for the SV run, and conduct end-to-end tests of the IGRINS-2 system. IGRINS-2 SV observations are scheduled for July 2024.

We are seeking self-nominations from individuals interested in serving on the EST. We aim to assemble a diverse team representing various scientific backgrounds to effectively engage with the IGRINS-2 user community and Gemini's international partners.

If you are interested in joining the EST, use the link to submit your self-nomination by 15 March 2024: Self-nomination form.