The Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) for the <i>Spitzer Space Telescope</i>

TLDR

IRAC is one of three focal‑plane instruments on the Spitzer Space Telescope and is a powerful survey instrument because of its high sensitivity, large field of view, and four‑color imaging. The paper aims to summarize IRAC's in‑flight scientific, technical, and operational performance. IRAC is a four‑channel, 256×256‑pixel camera that simultaneously images 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0 µm with InSb and Si:As IBC detectors across two 5.2×5.2 arcmin fields of view. The paper reports that IRAC performed as expected in flight, confirming its scientific, technical, and operational capabilities.

Abstract

The Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) is one of three focal plane instruments in the Spitzer Space Telescope. IRAC is a four-channel camera that obtains simultaneous broad-band images at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0 microns. Two nearly adjacent 5.2x5.2 arcmin fields of view in the focal plane are viewed by the four channels in pairs (3.6 and 5.8 microns; 4.5 and 8 microns). All four detector arrays in the camera are 256x256 pixels in size, with the two shorter wavelength channels using InSb and the two longer wavelength channels using Si:As IBC detectors. IRAC is a powerful survey instrument because of its high sensitivity, large field of view, and four-color imaging. This paper summarizes the in-flight scientific, technical, and operational performance of IRAC.