IGRINS-2: High-Resolution Near-Infrared Spectrograph at Gemini North

IGRINS-2, the Immersion GRating INfrared Spectrograph 2, marks the first new facility instrument at Gemini North since 2005. This compact, high-resolution near-infrared spectrograph operates across both the H and K bands simultaneously, achieving a resolving power of R ~ 45,000 in a single configuration. It is poised to enhance the capabilities of Gemini North, providing unprecedented spectral resolution for a variety of astrophysical studies.

From May to August 2024 IGRINS-2 underwent an intensive System Verification (SV) process at Gemini North. This critical phase involved comprehensive testing of the Gemini Observatory system and operational procedures, as well as validating the capabilities of IGRINS-2 across a range of scientific cases. The goal was to ensure the instrument’s readiness for its first open calls for proposals. The SV process was carried out by a dedicated team comprising both Gemini Observatory staff and external community representatives. Together they were responsible for preparing observations, reducing and analyzing data, and accessing the instrument’s performance from the user’s perspective. 

During the SV phase IGRINS-2 was allocated 40 hours of observing time, including any time lost due to faults, weather, or other operational issues. The SV observing run, which took place on 17–23 July 2024, yielded valuable scientific data, including observations of supernova remnants, exoplanet atmospheres, wide binary stars, gaseous disks around massive stars, planetary nebulae, and young stellar objects. Raw data from the SV run have been publicly available in the Gemini Observatory Archive since mid-August, and the reduced data are now accessible as well. More detailed information on these observations can be found on the IGRINS-2 SV webpage, providing the Gemini community with essential data to support proposal preparation. 

For the 25A semester, IGRINS-2 was offered in shared-risk mode and is also available through the Fast Turnaround program in the Call for Proposals. Preliminary information indicates that the requested time for IGRINS-2 ranks second highest among all Gemini North proposals, highlighting the strong demand for this powerful new instrument.