Difference between revisions of "LSST Camera"
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| − | The '''LSST Camera''' is the digital-imaging package planned for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope | + | The '''LSST Camera''' is the digital-imaging package planned for the [http://www.lsst.org/lsst/about Large Synoptic Survey Telescope] being constructed at Cerro Pachon in Chile. |
| − | According to its design team, this will be the largest "digital camera" ever constructed—albeit one highly specialized for astrophotography. The design as planned will be | + | According to its design team, this will be the largest "digital camera" ever constructed—albeit one highly specialized for astrophotography. The design as planned "will be the size of a small car and weigh more than 3 tons<ref name="SLAC">[https://www6.slac.stanford.edu/news/2015-01-09-world%E2%80%99s-most-powerful-camera-receives-funding-approval.aspx "World’s Most Powerful Camera Receives Funding Approval"] from [https://www6.slac.stanford.edu/ SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory of Stanford University]</ref>," with a sensor array boasting 3,200 megapixels. |
It is not possible to fabricate a monolithic silicon image sensor of the required size. Current plans call for an array of roughly 200 individual 42x42 mm square [[CCD]] chips, each encompassing 16 megapixels. These are to be butted edge to edge with a minimal loss of imaging area. | It is not possible to fabricate a monolithic silicon image sensor of the required size. Current plans call for an array of roughly 200 individual 42x42 mm square [[CCD]] chips, each encompassing 16 megapixels. These are to be butted edge to edge with a minimal loss of imaging area. | ||
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There is no [[Bayer filter | color filter array]] over the sensor; rather the camera has a system of five filters which transmit different spectral bands, each 75 cm wide<ref name="OptDes">[http://www.lsst.org/lsst/science/optical_design "Optical Design"] from [http://www.lsst.org/lsst/ lsst.org]</ref>, which can be swapped into place over the entire sensor. | There is no [[Bayer filter | color filter array]] over the sensor; rather the camera has a system of five filters which transmit different spectral bands, each 75 cm wide<ref name="OptDes">[http://www.lsst.org/lsst/science/optical_design "Optical Design"] from [http://www.lsst.org/lsst/ lsst.org]</ref>, which can be swapped into place over the entire sensor. | ||
| − | In January, 2015 the camera design team at SLAC received “Critical Decision 2” approval from the US Department of Energy, which continues funding to develop the instrument. | + | In January, 2015 the camera design team at SLAC received “Critical Decision 2” approval from the US Department of Energy, which continues funding to develop the instrument.<ref name="SLAC"/> |
Revision as of 17:14, 30 January 2015
The LSST Camera is the digital-imaging package planned for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope being constructed at Cerro Pachon in Chile.
According to its design team, this will be the largest "digital camera" ever constructed—albeit one highly specialized for astrophotography. The design as planned "will be the size of a small car and weigh more than 3 tons[1]," with a sensor array boasting 3,200 megapixels.
It is not possible to fabricate a monolithic silicon image sensor of the required size. Current plans call for an array of roughly 200 individual 42x42 mm square CCD chips, each encompassing 16 megapixels. These are to be butted edge to edge with a minimal loss of imaging area.
To maximize sensitivity to faint light, each CCD pixel is about 10x10 µm square (about 40% more area than the pixels of the Sony a7S, perhaps today's most capable low-light consumer model). Furthermore the sensor will be cooled to -100°C within a vacuum chamber to minimize spurious thermal noise.
There is no color filter array over the sensor; rather the camera has a system of five filters which transmit different spectral bands, each 75 cm wide[2], which can be swapped into place over the entire sensor.
In January, 2015 the camera design team at SLAC received “Critical Decision 2” approval from the US Department of Energy, which continues funding to develop the instrument.[1]
Telescope optics
The LSST itself is an unusual telescope, optimized for rapid, repeated wide-field imaging of the entire sky in order to capture transient phenomena. It essentially represents a massive f/1.2 "telephoto lens" with an effective focal length of 10,310 mm.[3]
The telescope's design calls for a folded light path to allow for a shorter and more maneuverable telescope structure. The primary mirror is 8.4 meters in diameter (over 27 feet), however the central 5.2 meters serve as the system's tertiary mirror (M3) and do not contribute to its light-gathering area. (An unobstructed 6.7m telescope would have equivalent light-gathering power.[2])
In addition to the three-bounce mirror elements, the telescope also includes corrector lenses to provide a flat field at the sensor plane. The largest of these is 1.55 m or ~6 feet in diameter[2].
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "World’s Most Powerful Camera Receives Funding Approval" from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory of Stanford University
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Optical Design" from lsst.org
- ↑ " The effective focal length of the optical system is 10.31-m making the final f-number 1.2345," according to an LSST presentation poster.
