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Performance of the CFH12K: a 12K by 8K CCD mosaic camera for the CFHT prime focus

2000; SPIE; Volume: 4008; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1117/12.395465

1996-756X

Jean‐Charles Cuillandre, Gerard A. Luppino, Barry M. Starr, Sidik Isani,

Image Processing Techniques and Applications

CFH12K is a 12,228 by 8,192 pixel wide-field imaging camera in operation at the 3.6m Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) since January 1999. It still remains the largest close-packed array in use in astronomy today. The mosaic consists of twelve MIT Lincoln laboratories 2K by 4K thinned backside illuminated CCID-20 devices. The camera is used in broad-band and narrow-band filter direct imaging mode which constrains the devices' operating parameters to ensure the best data quality. Adaptation to the 20-year old CFHT prime focus environment included modifications to reduce the scattered light seen by the camera. Computer facilities have been upgraded and new software has been developed to handle the large amount of data generated. The two terabytes of scientific data taken by the camera in 1999 has proven the success of CFHT's new capability for 42 by 28 square arcminute imaging with high resolution subarcsecond seeing.