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Register a new userSmear correction of highly-variable, frame-transfer-CCD images with application to polarimetry
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Added by
Francisco A. Iglesias
Publication date
2015
fields
Physics
and research's language is
English
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Image smear, produced by the shutter-less operation of frame transfer CCD detectors, can be detrimental for many imaging applications. Existing algorithms used to numerically remove smear, do not contemplate cases where intensity levels change considerably between consecutive frame exposures. In this report we reformulate the smearing model to include specific variations of the sensor illumination. The corresponding desmearing expression and its noise properties are also presented and demonstrated in the context of fast imaging polarimetry.
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When Charge Coupled Devices are used for scientific observations, their dark signal is a hindrance. In their pristine state, most CCD pixels are `cool; they exhibit low, quasi uniform dark current, which can be estimated and corrected for. In space, after having been hit by an energetic particle, pixels can turn `hot. They start delivering excessive, less predictable, dark current. The hot pixels need therefore to be flagged so that subsequent analysis may ignore them. The image data of the PICARD SODISM solar telescope (Meftah et al. 2013) require dark signal correction and hot pixel identification. Its frame transfer E2V 42-80 CCD operates at -7{deg}C. Both image and memory zones thus accumulate dark current during, respectively, integration and readout time. These two components must be separated to estimate the dark signal for any observation. This is the purpose of the Dark Signal Model presented in this paper. The dark signal time series of every pixel is processed by the Unbalanced Haar Technique (Fryzlewicz 2007) in order to timestamp when its dark signal is expected to change. In-between those instants, both components are assumed constant and a robust linear regression vs. integration time provides first estimates and a quality coefficient. The latter serves to assign definitive estimates. Our model is part of the SODISM Level 1 data production scheme. To check its reliability, we verify on dark frames that it leaves a negligible residual bias (5 e-), and generates a small RMS error (25 e- rms). The cool pixel level is found to be 4 e-/pxl/s, in agreement with the predicted value. The emergence rate of hot pixels is investigated too. It legitimates a threshold criterion at 50 e-/pxl/s. The growth rate is found to be 4% of the frame area per year. Aspects of the method (adaptation of the Unbalanced Haar Technique, dedicated robust linear regression) have a generic interest.
We report the radiation hardness of a p-channel CCD developed for the X-ray CCD camera onboard the XRISM satellite. This CCD has basically the same characteristics as the one used in the previous Hitomi satellite, but newly employs a notch structure of potential for signal charges by increasing the implant concentration in the channel. The new device was exposed up to approximately $7.9 times 10^{10} mathrm{~protons~cm^{-2}}$ at 100 MeV. The charge transfer inefficiency was estimated as a function of proton fluence with an ${}^{55} mathrm{Fe}$ source. A device without the notch structure was also examined for comparison. The result shows that the notch device has a significantly higher radiation hardness than those without the notch structure including the device adopted for Hitomi. This proves that the new CCD is radiation tolerant for space applications with a sufficient margin.
Magnetic fields, which play a major role in a large number of astrophysical processes from galactic to cosmological scales, can be traced via observations of dust polarization as demonstrated by the Planck satellite results. In particular, low-resolution observations of dust polarization have demonstrated that Galactic filamentary structures, where star formation takes place, are associated to well organized magnetic fields. A better understanding of this process requires detailed observations of galactic dust polarization on scales of 0.01 to 0.1 pc. Such high-resolution polarization observations can be carried out at the IRAM 30 m telescope using the recently installed NIKA2 camera, which features two frequency bands at 260 and 150 GHz (respectively 1.15 and 2.05 mm), the 260 GHz band being polarization sensitive. NIKA2 so far in commissioning phase, has its focal plane filled with ~3300 detectors to cover a Field of View (FoV) of 6.5 arcminutes diameter. The NIKA camera, which consisted of two arrays of 132 and 224 Lumped Element Kinetic Inductance Detectors (LEKIDs) and a FWHM (Full-Width-Half-Maximum) of 12 and 18.2 arcsecond at 1.15 and 2.05 mm respectively, has been operated at the IRAM 30 m telescope from 2012 to 2015 as a test-bench for NIKA2. NIKA was equipped of a room temperature polarization system (a half wave plate (HWP) and a grid polarizer facing the NIKA cryostat window). The fast and continuous rotation of the HWP permits the quasi simultaneous reconstruction of the three Stokes parameters, I, Q and U at 150 and 260 GHz. This paper presents the first polarization measurements with KIDs and reports the polarization performance of the NIKA camera and the pertinence of the choice of the polarization setup in the perspective of NIKA2. (abridged)
One of the possible approaches to detecting optical counterparts of GRBs requires monitoring large parts of the sky. This idea has gained some instrumental support in recent years, such as with the Pi of the Sky project. The broad sky coverage of the Pi of the Sky apparatus results from using cameras with wide-angle lenses (20x20 deg field of view). Optics of this kind introduce significant deformations of the point spread function (PSF), increasing with the distance from the frame centre. A deformed PSF results in additional uncertainties in data analysis. Our aim was to create a model describing highly deformed PSF in optical astronomy, allowing uncertainties caused by image deformations to be reduced. Detailed laboratory measurements of PSF, pixel sensitivity, and pixel response functions were performed. These data were used to create an effective high quality polynomial model of the PSF. Finally, tuning the model and tests in applications to the real sky data were performed. We have developed a PSF model that accurately describes even very deformed stars in our wide-field experiment. The model is suitable for use in any other experiment with similar image deformation, with a simple tuning of its parameters. Applying this model to astrometric procedures results in a significant improvement over standard methods, while basic photometry precision performed with the model is comparable to the results of an optimised aperture algorithm. Additionally, the model was used to search for a weak signal -- namely a possible gamma ray burst optical precursor -- showing very promising results. Precise modelling of the PSF function significantly improves the astrometric precision and enhances the discovery potential of a wide-field system with lens optics.
We present details of the design for the CCD readout electronics for the Subaru Telescope Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS). The spectrograph is comprised of four identical spectrograph modules, each collecting roughly 600 spectra. The spectrograph modules provide simultaneous wavelength coverage over the entire band from 380 nm to 1260 nm through the use of three separate optical channels: blue, red, and near infrared (NIR). A camera in each channel images the multi-object spectra onto a 4k x 4k, 15 um pixel, detector format. The two visible cameras use a pair of Hamamatsu 2k x 4k CCDs with readout provided by custom electronics, while the NIR camera uses a single Teledyne HgCdTe 4k x 4k detector and ASIC Sidecar to read the device. The CCD readout system is a custom design comprised of three electrical subsystems: the Back End Electronics (BEE), the Front End Electronics (FEE), and a Pre-amplifier. The BEE is an off-the-shelf PC104 computer, with an auxiliary Xilinx FPGA module. The computer serves as the main interface to the Subaru messaging hub and controls other peripheral devices associated with the camera, while the FPGA is used to generate the necessary clocks and transfer image data from the CCDs. The FEE board sets clock biases, substrate bias, and CDS offsets. It also monitors bias voltages, offset voltages, power rail voltage, substrate voltage and CCD temperature. The board translates LVDS clock signals to biased clocks and returns digitized analog data via LVDS. Monitoring and control messages are sent from the BEE to the FEE using a standard serial interface. The Pre-amplifier board resides behind the detectors and acts as an interface to the two Hamamatsu CCDs. The Pre-amplifier passes clocks and biases to the CCDs, and analog CCD data is buffered and amplified prior to being returned to the FEE.
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