Approaching the natural background limit with the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF)
Abstract
A basic problem in infrared astronomy arises in connection with the telescope self-emission which is much stronger than the brightness of interesting celestial sources. Another important factor is the natural background emission, taking into account the atmosphere for ground observations and zodiacal light for space-borne observations. The design of the SIRTF is to provide the basis for observations whose sensitivity is limited by the natural background, rather than by factors within the telescope. A natural background analysis is conducted with the objective to reduce the total noise from the telescope (Poisson, temporal, and scan) to a level less than or equal to the Poisson noise from the zodiacal dust emission. The analysis indicates that the SIRTF as presently designed can perform astronomical observations at sensitivity levels dictated by the celestial background. Cooling of the telescope to temperatures less than 5 K is required to achieve this performance.
- Publication:
-
Cryogenic optical systems and instruments
- Pub Date:
- 1985
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.944975
- Bibcode:
- 1985SPIE..509...14S
- Keywords:
-
- Background Noise;
- Noise Reduction;
- Space Infrared Telescope Facility;
- Space Shuttle Payloads;
- Spaceborne Telescopes;
- Cryogenic Cooling;
- Image Enhancement;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Light Scattering;
- Thermal Emission;
- Thermal Noise;
- Spacecraft Instrumentation