Detector monitoring as part of VLT science and data flow operations

Wolfgang Hummel; Lander de Bilbao; Andrea Modigliani; Lars Lundin; Paola Amico; Pascal Ballester; Gaspare LoCurto; Leonardo Vanzi

doi:10.1117/12.788662

12 July 2008 Detector monitoring as part of VLT science and data flow operations

Wolfgang Hummel, Lander de Bilbao, Andrea Modigliani, Lars Lundin, Paola Amico, Pascal Ballester, Gaspare LoCurto, Leonardo Vanzi

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7016, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems II; 70160R (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788662
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

The ESO Paranal observatory is operating a heterogeneous set of science detectors. The maintenance and quality control of science detectors is an important routine task to retain the technical and science performance of the instrumentation. In 2006 a detector monitoring working group was built devoted with the following tasks: inventory of the currently existing detector calibration plans and monitored quality characteristics, completion and homogenization of the detector calibrations plans, design and implementation of cross-instrument applicable templates and data reduction pipeline recipes and monitoring tools. The instrument calibration plans include monthly and daily scheduled detector calibrations. The monthly calibrations are to measure linearity, contamination and gain including the inter-pixel capacitance correction factor. A reference recipe has been defined to be applicable to all operational VLT instruments and has been tested on archive calibration frames for optical, near- and mid-infrared science detectors. The daily calibrations measure BIAS or DARK level and read-out noise in different ways. This has until now prevented cross detector comparison of performance values. The upgrade of the daily detector calibration plan consists of the homogenization of the measurement method in the existing pipeline recipes.

Citation Download Citation

Wolfgang Hummel, Lander de Bilbao, Andrea Modigliani, Lars Lundin, Paola Amico, Pascal Ballester, Gaspare LoCurto, and Leonardo Vanzi "Detector monitoring as part of VLT science and data flow operations", Proc. SPIE 7016, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems II, 70160R (12 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788662

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