An Early Look at the Performance of IGRINS-2 at Gemini-North with Application to the Ultrahot Jupiter, WASP-33 b

Ground-based high-resolution spectroscopy enables precise molecular detections and velocity-resolved atmospheric dynamics, offering a distinct advantage over low-resolution methods for exoplanetary atmospheric studies. Immersion GRating INfrared Spectrograph 2 (IGRINS-2), the successor to IGRINS, features improved throughput and enhanced sensitivity to carbon monoxide by shifting its K -band coverage by 36 nm to longer wavelengths. IGRINS is a near-infrared high-resolution spectrograph mounted at McDonald, Lowell, and Gemini-South observatories. Our order-drop test shows this added range improves the CO cross-correlation signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by ∼2%–3%, confirming a measurable but modest sensitivity gain. To evaluate its performance, we attempt to investigate the atmospheric characteristics of WASP-33 b. Observations were conducted on 2024 January 7 for a total of 2.43 hr; This includes 1.46 hr in the pre-eclipse phase to capture the planet’s thermal emission spectrum. We successfully detect clear cross-correlation signals from molecular species in the dayside atmosphere of WASP-33 b with a combined SNR of 7.4. More specifically, we capture CO, H 2 O, and OH with SNRs of 6.3, 4.7, and 4.2, respectively. These results are consistent with previous studies and demonstrate that IGRINS-2 is well suited for detailed investigation of exoplanetary atmospheres. We anticipate that future observations with IGRINS-2 will further advance our understanding of exoplanetary atmospheres.