Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2000 · 15 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesAstronomyPhysicsInfrared AstronomyOpticsPhotonicsDetector TechnologyInfrared DetectorsInfrared InstrumentationInfrared TelescopesMid-infrared AstronomyTelescope OpticsContinuum ImagingDetector Array SystemsFar-infrared ImagingFar-infrared ObservationsFiltersInfrared CamerasInfrared Detector ArraysMid-infrared Instrumentation
We are constructing a facility-class, mid/far-infrared camera for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). The Faint Object infraRed CAmera for the Sofia Telescope (FORCAST) is a two-channel camera with selectable filters for continuum imaging in the 5 - 8, 17 - 25 micron, and/or 25 - 40 micron regions. The design supports simultaneous imaging in the two-channels. Using the latest 256 X 256 Si:As and Si:Sb blocked-impurity-band detector array technology to provide high-sensitivity wide- field imaging. FORCAST will sample images at 0.75 arcsec/pixel and have a 3.2' X 3.2' instantaneous field- of-view. Imaging is diffraction limited for lambda > 15 microns.