Space Telescope Science Institute   6.3 Orients  7.1 Detector basics

Chapter 7:
NICMOS Detectors


In this chapter . . .
Detector basics
Detector Characteristics
Detector Artifacts

In this chapter, we first briefly explain the physical principles of the NICMOS detectors. We then report on a number of properties that are important for the scientific performance of NICMOS. Many of these properties are temperature-dependent, and thus have changed significantly from the solid nitrogen era (cycles 7 and 7N). The NICMOS calibration program following the successful installation of NCS has provided a rich data set for the evaluation of detector performance under the NCS. Specifically, we will discuss how various detector parameters such as quantum efficiency, read-noise, and dark current behave under the NCS regime, and what this implies for NICMOS scientific performance. We also discuss a number of detector artifacts like shading, amplifier glow, and others, all of which can be corrected, either in pipeline processing or at the analysis level.

The NICMOS detectors currently operate at 77.1 K (about 15 K higher than in Cycle 7, when they were cooled with solid Nitrogen). Data collected throughout Cycles 11 and 12 indicate that the NCS control law keeps this temperature stable to within 0.1 K under all seasonal and orbital conditions.


 6.3 Orients  7.1 Detector basics
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