Precision Radial Velocity Spectrometer

The Precision Radial Velocity Spectrometer (PRVS) is a 1.0-1.8 micron R 70,000 second-generation Gemini instrument design resulting from the Aspen Process. It is designed to deliver short- and long- term stability of better than 1 m/s. We have constructed models simulating likely candidates and demonstrated the ability to recover exoplanetary radial velocity signals in the infrared. In addition we have conducted limited experiments with a brass-board instrument to explore real-world issues yielding precisions of better than 10 m/s. The mass-sensitivity of the Doppler technique around low-mass primaries means that PRVS will be sensitive to terrestrial-mass planets orbiting in the habitable zone of M dwarfs. While the design of PRVS is driven by the stability necessary to achieve long-term precise radial velocity measurements, as a cross-dispersed infrared spectrograph with a large wavelength coverage and high dispersion which is always available PRVS should also be important for a wide range of other science, e.g., gamma-ray burst follow-up. PRVS is intended to be fully commissioned in 2011.