We present the preliminary design of GMagAO-X, the first-light high-contrast imager planned for the Giant Magellan Telescope. GMagAO-X will realize the revolutionary increase in spatial resolution and sensitivity provided by the 25 m GMT. It will enable, for the first time, the spectroscopic characterization of nearby potentially habitable terrestrial exoplanets orbiting late-type stars. Additional science cases include: reflected light characterization of mature giant planets; measurement of young extrasolar giant planet variability; characterization of circumstellar disks at unprecedented spatial resolution; characterization of benchmark stellar atmospheres at high spectral resolution; and mapping of resolved objects such as giant stars and asteroids. These, and many more, science cases will be enabled by a 21,000 actuator extreme adaptive optics system, a coronagraphic wavefront control system, and a suite of imagers and spectrographs. We will review the science-driven performance requirements for GMagAO-X, which include achieving a Strehl ratio of 70% at 800 nm on 8th mag and brighter stars, and post-processed characterization at astrophysical flux-ratios of 1e-7 at 4 lambda/D (26 mas at 800 nm) separation. We will provide an overview of the resulting mechanical, optical, and software designs optimized to deliver this performance. We will also discuss the interfaces to the GMT itself, and the concept of operations. We will present an overview of our end-to-end performance modeling and simulations, including the control of segment phasing, as well as an overview of prototype lab demonstrations. Finally, we will review the results of Preliminary Design Review held in February, 2024.

MagAO-X is the coronagraphic extreme adaptive optics system for the 6.5 m Magellan Clay Telescope. We report the results of commissioning the first phase of MagAO-X. Components now available for routine observations include: the >2 kHz high-order control loop consisting of a 97 actuator woofer deformable mirror (DM), a 2040 actuator tweeter DM, and a modulated pyramid wavefront sensor (WFS); classical Lyot coronagraphs with integrated low-order (LO) WFS and control using a third 97-actuator non-common path correcting (NCPC) DM; broad band imaging in g, r, i, and z filters with two EMCCDs; simultaneous differential imaging in H-alpha; and integral field spectroscopy with the VIS-X module. Early science results include the discovery of an H-alpha jet, images of accreting protoplanets at H-alpha, images of young extrasolar giant planets in the optical, discovery of new white dwarf companions, resolved images of evolved stars, and high-contrast images of circumstellar disks in scattered light in g-band (500 nm). We have commenced an upgrade program, called "Phase II", to enable high-contrast observations at the smallest inner working angles possible. These upgrades include a new 952 actuator NCPC DM to enable coronagraphic wavefront control; phase induced amplitude apodization coronagraphs; new fast cameras for LOWFS and Lyot-LOWFS; and real-time computer upgrades. We will report the status of these upgrades and results of first on-sky testing in March-May 2024.

The Magellan InfraRed Multi-Object Spectrograph (MIRMOS) is a planned next generation multi-object and integral field spectrograph for the 6.5m Magellan telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. MIRMOS will perform R∼3700 spectroscopy over a simultaneous wavelength range of 0.886- 2.404µm µm (Y,J,H,K bands) in addition to imaging over the range of 0.7- 0.886µm. µm. The integral field mode of operation for MIRMOS will be achieved via an image slicer style integral field unit (IFU) located on a linear stage to facilitate movement into the beam during use or storage while operating in multi-object mode. The IFU will provide a ∼ 20″×26″field ″ ×26 ″ field of view (FoV) made up of 0.84″× .84 ″ × 26″slices. ″ slices. This will be the largest FoV IFS operating at these wavelengths from either the ground or space, making MIRMOS an ideal instrument for a wide range of science cases including studying the high redshift circumgalactic medium and emission line tracers from ionized and molecular gas in nearby galaxies. In order to achieve the desired image quality and FoV while matching the focal ratio to the multi-object mode, our slicer design makes use of novel freeform surfaces for the pupil mirrors, which require the use of high precision multi-axis diamond milling to manufacture. We present here the optical design and predicted performance of the MIRMOS IFU along with a conceptual design for the opto-mechanical system.

Strong gravitational lensing magnifies the light from a background source, allowing us to study these sources in detail. Here, we study the spectra of a 𝑧=1.95lensed Type Ia supernova SN Encore for its brightest Image A, taken 39 days apart. We infer the spectral age with template matching using the supernova identification (SNID) software and find the spectra to be at 29.0±5.0 and 37.4±2.8 rest-frame days post maximum respectively, consistent with separation in the observer frame after accounting for time-dilation. Since SN Ia measure dark energy properties by providing relative distances between low- and high-𝑧SN ,it is important to test for evolution of spectroscopic properties. Comparing the spectra to composite low-𝑧SN Ia spectra, we find strong evidence for similarity between the local sample of SN Encore. The line velocities of common SN Ia spectral lines, Si II 6355 and Ca II NIR triplet are consistent with the distribution for the low-𝑧sample as well as other lensed SNe Ia, e.g.iPTF16geu (𝑧=0.409)and SN H0pe (𝑧=1.78). The consistency in SN Ia spectra across cosmic time demonstrates the utility of using SNe Ia in the very high-𝑧universe for dark energy inference. We also find that the spectra of SN Encore match the predictions for explosion models very well. With future large samples of lensed SNe Ia, spectra at such late phases will beimportant to distinguish between different explosion scenarios

Leaf carbon isotope ratios and leaf mineral composition (Ca, K, Mg, Mn, N, and P) were measured on the dominant species along an irradiance cline in a subtropical monsoon forest of southern China. This irradiance cline resulted from disturbance caused by fuel-harvesting. Leaf carbon isotope ratios increased from undisturbed to disturbed sites for all species, indicating that leaf intercellular CO2 concentrations decreased and leaf water use efficiencies increased along this cline. Nitrogen and magnesium levels were lower in leaves of species on the disturbed sites, but there were no clear patterns for calcium, potassium, phosphorus or manganese.

Carbon isotope ratios were used to survey the distribution of photosynthetic pathways among taxa, the relationship between photosynthetic pathway and habitat light levels, and the relationship between intercellular CO2 levels of C3 plants and habitat light levels within a subtropical monsoon forest in southern China. Of 128 species, most (94) possessed the C3 photosynthetic pathway; 33 species possessed the C4 pathway and all of these were restricted to high light locations. There was one epiphytic CAM species. The C3 species were classified as occurring in open, intermediate, and closed canopy sites. Among C3 species, carbon isotope ratios tended to become more negative with decreasing light availability in the habitat.

Silicon nanowires (Si NWs), one-dimensional single crystalline, have recently drawn extensive attention, thanks to their robust applications in electrical and optical devices as well as in the strengthening of diamond/SiC superhard composites. Here, we conducted high-pressure synchrotron diffraction experiments in a diamond anvil cell to study phase transitions and compressibility of Si NWs. Our results revealed that the onset pressure for the Si I-II transformation in Si NWs is approximately 2.0 GPa lower than previously determined values for bulk Si, a trend that is consistent with the analysis of misfit in strain energy. The bulk modulus of Si-l NWs derived from the pressure-volume measurements is 123 GPa, which is comparable to that of Si-V NWs but 25% larger than the reported values for bulk silicon. The reduced compressibility in Si NWs indicates that the unique wire-like structure in nanoscale plays vital roles in the elastic behavior of condensed matter.

The effect of pressure on the superconductivity of "111"-type Na1-xFeAs is investigated through temperature-dependent electrical-resistance measurements in a diamond anvil cell. The superconducting transition temperature (T-c) increases from 26 K to a maximum of 31 K as the pressure increases from ambient pressure to 3 GPa. Further increasing pressure suppresses T-c drastically. The behavior of pressure-tuned T-c in Na1-xFeAs is much different from that in LixFeAs, although they have the same Cu2Sb-type structure. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2009

We investigate the compressibility of nanocrystalline tungsten carbide (nano-WC) using synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Nano-WC displays a bulk modulus (452 GPa) comparable to that of diamond; it is 10%-15% larger than previously reported values for bulk WC. This finding is consistent with a generalized model of nanocrystal with a compressed surface layer. The linear bulk moduli of nano-WC along a- and c-axes were determined to be 407 and 546 GPa, respectively. First-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm the experimental observations of an anisotropic linear compressibility and a lower bulk modulus for microsized WC.

The crystal structure of NH3BH3 was investigated using synchrotron high pressure X-ray diffraction (HPXRD) up to 27 GPa and neutron diffraction up to 5 GPa. Density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations were carried out simultaneously for comparison. The results confirm a pressure induced phase transition from the tetragonal I4mm phase to a high pressure orthorhombic Cmc21 phase around 1.22 GPa. Further increase of pressure above 8 GPa, we observed a second structural transition from Cmc21 to a tri-clinic P1 phase which are reversible with small hysteresis. The transition pressures and the bulk modulus obtained experimentally are in good agreement with theory. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.