Dark Verification, 160µm

Principal: Karl Gordon
Deputy: Karl Misselt, Dave Frayer
Data Monkey(s):
Priority: Normal
Downlink Priority: Normal
Analysis Time: 24
Last Updated:

Objective

The purpose of this task is to verify that the normal 10 second, 160µm dark current image can be used to calibrate the 3 and 4 second DCEs.

Description

Point to the 160µm dark position and take dark measurements using the 3, 4, & 10 sec Dark IERs.

Data Collected

The dark current datasets will contain 35, 77, and 101 DCEs with stim flashes every 2 min (approx). These are the standard dark IERs: mips_drk160um_3s101.exp, mips_drk160um_4s77.exp, & mips_drk160um_10s35.exp.

Data Reformatting Requirements

Array Data Desired:

160 µm

Data Reformatting Option:

Special Instructions:
Each dark current DCEs should be packed into a single FITS file with extensions. This would generate three such FITS files for this task.

Task Dependencies

Calibration Dependencies

Output and Deliverable Products

The output of each dark current dataset is a dark current calibration image. This will result in dark calibration images for 3, 4, and 10 seconds. Ratios of the 3 and 4 second images to the 10 second image will be examined. If significant deviations from 1 are found in these ratio images, then dark current calibration images will need to be generated for each exposure time instead of using a single calibration image.

Data Analysis

The dark current datasets will be run through mips_sloper, mips_caler, and mips_enhancer with the appropriate switches. The script 'makedark' will be used to ensure that all the appropriate switches are set to these three programs. The dark calibration image will be created by mips_enhancer and will include uncertainties. The IDL program 'avedark' will be used to determine the dark current averaged over the entire array for each exposure time. The IDL program 'checkdark.pro' will be used to make the ratio images (3 sec/10 sec and 4 sec/10 sec) and produce histograms of the resulting ratio images.


Software Requirements

Actions Following Analysis

If the ratio images are found to be equivalent to flat images with a value of 1, then no furthur action is required. If this is not the case, then the 10 second dark calibration image will need to be scaled to produce 3 and 4 second dark calibration images each time a 10 second dark calibration image is produced. If the 10 second dark calibration images are found to significantly variable between campaigns, it might be useful to run this task at least once more to ensure that the scaling between exposure times is not changing.

Failure Modes and Responses

If this task fails to produce useful data, it should be repeated.

Additional Notes