The GMOX science case: resolving galaxies through cosmic time

Mario Gennaro; Massimo Robberto; Timothy Heckman; Stephen A. Smee; Robert Barkhouser; Zoran Ninkov; Angela Adamo; George Becker; Andrea Bellini; Luciana Bianchi; Arjan Bik; Rongmon Bordoloi; Annalisa Calamida; Daniela Calzetti; Gisella De Rosa; Susana Deustua; Jason Kalirai; Jennifer Lotz; John MacKenty; Carlo Felice Manara; Margaret Meixner; Camilla Pacifici; Elena Sabbi; Kailash Sahu; Jason Tumlinson

doi:10.1117/12.2232101

30 November 2016 The GMOX science case: resolving galaxies through cosmic time

Mario Gennaro, Massimo Robberto, Timothy Heckman, Stephen A. Smee, Robert Barkhouser, Zoran Ninkov, Angela Adamo, George Becker, Andrea Bellini, Luciana Bianchi, Arjan Bik, Rongmon Bordoloi, Annalisa Calamida, Daniela Calzetti, Gisella De Rosa, Susana Deustua, Jason Kalirai, Jennifer Lotz, John MacKenty, Carlo Felice Manara, Margaret Meixner, Camilla Pacifici, Elena Sabbi, Kailash Sahu, Jason Tumlinson

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9908, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VI; 990849 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232101
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

We present the key scientific questions that can be addressed by GMOX, a Multi-Object Spectrograph selected for feasibility study as a 4th generation instrument for the Gemini telescopes. Using commercial digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs) as slit selection mechanisms, GMOX can observe hundreds of sources at R~5000 between the U and K band simultaneously. Exploiting the narrow PSF delivered by the Gemini South GeMS MCAO module, GMOX can synthesize slits as small as 40mas reaching extremely faint magnitude limits, and thus enabling a plethora of applications and innovative science. Our main scientific driver in developing GMOX has been Resolving galaxies through cosmic time: GMOX 40mas slit (at GeMS) corresponds to 300 pc at z ~ 1:5, where the angular diameter distance reaches its maximum, and therefore to even smaller linear scales at any other redshift. This means that GMOX can take spectra of regions smaller than 300 pc in the whole observable Universe, allowing to probe the growth and evolution of galaxies with unprecedented detail. GMOXs multi-object capability and high angular resolution enable efficient studies of crowded fields, such as globular clusters, the Milky Way bulge, the Magellanic Clouds, Local Group galaxies and galaxy clusters. The wide-band simultaneous coverage and the very fast slit configuration mechanisms also make GMOX ideal for follow-up of LSST transients.

Citation Download Citation

Mario Gennaro, Massimo Robberto, Timothy Heckman, Stephen A. Smee, Robert Barkhouser, Zoran Ninkov, Angela Adamo, George Becker, Andrea Bellini, Luciana Bianchi, Arjan Bik, Rongmon Bordoloi, Annalisa Calamida, Daniela Calzetti, Gisella De Rosa, Susana Deustua, Jason Kalirai, Jennifer Lotz, John MacKenty, Carlo Felice Manara, Margaret Meixner, Camilla Pacifici, Elena Sabbi, Kailash Sahu, and Jason Tumlinson "The GMOX science case: resolving galaxies through cosmic time", Proc. SPIE 9908, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VI, 990849 (30 November 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232101

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available