FLAMINGOS-2 update

FLAMINGOS-2 (Figure 2) was aligned and assembled in December 2012, and the cool-down of the camera and MOS dewars started on January 4, 2013. Initial testing, after this first camera cool-down since the instrument began repairs in February 2012, shows that:

• Mechanisms perform well and their repeatability is good (particularly the MOS wheel);
• The detector functions fine. Dark current and readout noise are similar to past values, and the instrument’s internal background is within specification;
• The gate valve baffle was not well positioned, and is being investigated further;
• Optical alignment (after full disassembly of the optics barrels) is not yet within specification, and some aberrations are present (primarily coma). Another alignment iteration will take place in the next thermal cycle, scheduled in February 2013. A new method, with an optical CCD sampling the focal plane, will be used to converge on alignment;
• A Lyot mask simulating the focal ratio from GeMS confirms that the image quality is good, indicating tremendous potential for future usage of both facility instruments together.

Assuming the remaining issues are fixed in the next thermal cycle, we will prepare to install FLAMINGOS-2 on the Gemini South telescope at the end of March.