Precision Radial Velocity Spectrometer (PRVS)
The Precision Radial Velocity Spectrometer (PRVS) is key to answering the Gemini Observatory's Aspen program question: How common are extra-solar planets, including Earth-like planets?. Of the over 200 extra-solar planets discovered to date using a variety of techniques, the vast majority have been discovered using Doppler shift studies measuring precision radial velocities. By being the first such instrument to operate in the infrared PRVS can target low-mass stars and exploit the mass-sensitivity of the Doppler technique. In particular, PRVS will be sensitive to terrestrial-mass planets orbiting in the habitable zones of nearby stars. PRVS is a 1.0-1.8 micron 70k resolution spectrometer. It is designed to deliver short- and long-term stability of better than 1 m/s. First light is expected by 2011.
Prof. Hugh R.A. Jones is the Principal Investigator