Stability of the Infrared Array Camera for the Spitzer Space Telescope

S. Carey; J. Surace; M. Lacy; W. Glaccum; P. Lowrance; J. L. Hora; S. Willner

doi:10.1117/12.790030

12 July 2008 Stability of the Infrared Array Camera for the Spitzer Space Telescope

S. Carey, J. Surace, M. Lacy, W. Glaccum, P. Lowrance, J. L. Hora, S. Willner

Proceedings Volume 7010, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2008: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter; 70102V (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.790030
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

We present an analysis of the stability of the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) on board the Spitzer Space Telescope over the first 4.5 years of in-flight operations. IRAC consists of two InSb and two Si:As 256x256 imaging arrays with passbands centered on 3.6, 4.5. 5.8 and 8.0 microns. Variations in photometric stability, read noise, dark offsets, pixel responsivity and number of hot and noisy pixels for each detector array are trended with time. To within our measurement uncertainty, the performance of the IRAC arrays has not changed with time. The most significant variation is that number of hot pixels in the 8 micron array has increased linearly with time at a rate of 60 pixels per year. We expect that the 3.6 and 4.5 micron arrays should remain stable during the post-cryogenic phase of the Spitzer mission. We will briefly discuss some science that is enabled by the excellent stability of IRAC.

Citation Download Citation

S. Carey, J. Surace, M. Lacy, W. Glaccum, P. Lowrance, J. L. Hora, and S. Willner "Stability of the Infrared Array Camera for the Spitzer Space Telescope", Proc. SPIE 7010, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2008: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter, 70102V (12 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.790030

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available