Key early science with MANIFEST on GMT

Abstract

The MANIFEST fibre system provides a highly versatile feed for the GMACS and G-CLEF first-light spectrographs on the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). Combining these low- and high-resolution optical spectrographs with the wide field of view (up to 20 arcmin), high multiplex, and integral field capabilities provided by MANIFEST enables science programs that are not achievable with other extremely large telescopes. For galactic archaeology and near-field cosmology studies of Local Group galaxies, MANIFEST and G-CLEF can obtain up to 40 simultaneous high-resolution optical spectra over a wide field, and so produce detailed kinematic and chemical maps of the stellar populations out to large radius in galaxies covering a broad range of masses and morphologies. For galaxy evolution studies, MANIFEST and GMACS can combine a survey of galaxies at the epoch of peak star formation with a study of the flows of gas between galaxies and the circumgalactic medium, mapping both the emission from hot gas using integral field spectroscopy and the absorption from cold gas with multi-object spectroscopy of background sources. These programs will feature strongly in the early science goals for GMT.