DECam Integration Tests on Telescope Simulator

• DOI: 10.1016/j.phpro.2012.02.480
• Publication Date: 2012-10-02T03:12:38Z
• Authors: M. Soares-Santos; J. Annis; M. Bonati; E. Buckley-Geer; H. Cease; D. DePoy; G. Derylo; H.T. Diehl; A. Elliott; J. Estrada; D. Finley; B. Flaugher; J. Frieman; J. Hao; K. Honscheid; I. Karliner; K. Krempetz; K. Kuehn; S. Kuhlmann; K. Kuk; H. Lin; W. Merrit; E. Neilsen; L. Scott; S. Serrano; T. Shaw; K. Schultz; W. Stuermer; A. Sypniewski; J. Thaler; A. Walker; J. Walton; W. Wester; B. Yanny
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; FOS: Physical sciences; survey; Physics and Astronomy(all); Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics; Dark Energy; Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM); 7. Clean energy; 01 natural sciences; CCD; camera

The Dark Energy Survey (DES) is a next generation optical survey aimed at measuring the expansion history of universe using four probes: weak gravitational lensing, galaxy cluster counts, baryon acoustic oscillations, and Type Ia supernovae. To perform survey, DES Collaboration building Camera (DECam), 3 square degree, 570 Megapixel CCD camera which will be mounted Blanco 4-meter telescope Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. 5000 degrees southern galactic cap in 5 filters (g, r, i, z, Y). DECam comprised 74 250 micron thick fully depleted CCDs: 62 2k x 4k CCDs for imaging 12 guiding focus. Construction nearing completion. In order to verify that meets technical specifications reduce time required commission instrument, we have constructed full sized simulator performed system testing integration prior shipping. complete this comprehensive test phase simulated observing run collected 4 nights worth data. We report on results these unique tests its impact experiment's progress.