PhoSim-NIRCam: photon-by-photon image simulations of the James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared camera

Colin J. Burke; John R. Peterson; Eiichi Egami; Jarron M. Leisenring; Glenn H. Sembroski; Marcia J. Rieke

doi:10.1117/1.JATIS.5.3.038002

6 June 2019 PhoSim-NIRCam: photon-by-photon image simulations of the James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared camera

Colin J. Burke, John R. Peterson, Eiichi Egami, Jarron M. Leisenring, Glenn H. Sembroski, Marcia J. Rieke

Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, Vol. 5, Issue 3, 038002 (June 2019). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.5.3.038002

Abstract

Recent instrumentation projects have allocated resources to develop codes for simulating astronomical images. Physics-based models are essential for understanding telescope, instrument, and environmental systematics in observations. A deep understanding of these systematics is especially important in the context of weak gravitational lensing, galaxy morphology, and other sensitive measurements. We present an adaptation of a physics-based ab initio image simulator: the photon simulator (PhoSim). We modify PhoSim for use with the near-infrared camera (NIRCam)—the primary imaging instrument aboard the James Webb Space Telescope. This photon Monte Carlo code replicates the observational catalog, telescope and camera optics, detector physics, and readout modes/electronics. Importantly, PhoSim-NIRCam simulates both geometric aberration and diffraction across the field of view. Full field- and wavelength-dependent point spread functions are presented. Simulated images of an extragalactic field are presented. Extensive validation is planned during in-orbit commissioning.

Citation Download Citation

Colin J. Burke, John R. Peterson, Eiichi Egami, Jarron M. Leisenring, Glenn H. Sembroski, and Marcia J. Rieke "PhoSim-NIRCam: photon-by-photon image simulations of the James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared camera," Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems 5(3), 038002 (6 June 2019). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.5.3.038002

Received: 14 January 2019; Accepted: 15 May 2019; Published: 6 June 2019

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