Users Manual for the Cryogenic Array Spectrometer/Imager
(CASPIR) on the MSSSO 2.3 m Telescope

Peter J. McGregor

• Contents
• Introduction
• Getting Going Quickly
• Observing Procedures
  • Down-Loading The LSI-11/23 Program
  • Down-Loading The ACE2 Program
  • CASPIR Status Displays
  • Aligning The Dewar
  • Focusing
  • Monitoring Dewar Temperatures
  • Checking Array Performance
  • Flat Fielding
  • Direct Imaging
  • Long-Slit Grism Spectroscopy
  • Short Slit Grism Spectroscopy
  • Coronographics
  • Tip-Tilt Image Correction System
  • Preparing Offset Guide Star Charts
  • Data Archiving
  • Shutting Down the System
  • Accessing the History File
• A Detailed Look at the Hardware
  • System Overview
  • The CASPIR Dewar
  • The Array and Its Read-out Methods
    • Readout Method 1: Fast Sampling
    • Readout Method 2: Relative Sampling
    • Readout Method 3: Double-Correlated Sampling
    • Readout Method 4: Triple Correlated Sampling
    • Readout Method 5: Fowler Sampling
    • Well Depth Considerations
    • Linearity Correction
    • Setting Array Voltages
  • Transputer Preprocessor
  • Instrument Mounting Box
    • Acquisition System
    • Calibration Lamp Module
• A Detailed Look at the Control Software
  • Control Environment
  • The CASPIR Command
    • CASPIR/APERTURE=position
    • CASPIR/UTILITY=position
    • CASPIR/FILTER=desired_filter
    • CASPIR/UFILTER=position
    • CASPIR/LFILTER=position
    • CASPIR/LENS=position
    • CASPIR/STATUS_NOW
    • CASPIR/[NO]REPORT
    • CASPIR/MODE=mode_number
    • CASPIR/IMETHOD=method_number
    • CASPIR/ICYCLES=cycle_count
    • CASPIR/ITIME=time_value
    • CASPIR/IFNDR=read_count
    • CASPIR/IPERIOD=time_value
    • CASPIR/METHOD=method_number
    • CASPIR/CYCLES=cycle_count
    • CASPIR/TIME=time_value
    • CASPIR/FNDR=read_count
    • CASPIR/PERIOD=time_value
    • CASPIR/REPEATS=repeat_count
    • CASPIR/RUN
    • CASPIR/DARK
    • CASPIR/BIAS
    • CASPIR/DO=filespec
    • CASPIR/[NO]TIPTILT
    • CASPIR/[NO]STAGE_OFFSET
    • CASPIR/XY_SCALE_FACTOR=value
    • CASPIR/ABORT
    • CASPIR/ISUBTRACT=filename
    • CASPIR/IDIVIDE=filename
    • CASPIR/IZMINIMUM=value
    • CASPIR/IZMAXIMUM=value
    • CASPIR/[NO]IZAUTOSCALE
    • CASPIR/SUBTRACT=filename
    • CASPIR/DIVIDE=filename
    • CASPIR/ZMINIMUM=value
    • CASPIR/ZMAXIMUM=value
    • CASPIR/[NO]ZAUTOSCALE
    • CASPIR/SHOW=image_name
    • CASPIR/DISPLAY [=status_screen]
    • CASPIR/INFORMATION
    • CASPIR/OBJECT_NAME=[string]
    • CASPIR/VOLTAGES [=keyword]
    • CASPIR/BSET=(bias_line=bias_voltage [,...])
    • CASPIR/CSET=(clock_name=(high_voltage, low_voltage), [,...])
    • CASPIR/DETECTOR=detector_state
    • CASPIR/VPREAMP=value
    • CASPIR/VREFOFF=value
    • CASPIR/VSIGOFF=value
    • CASPIR/[NO]DEBUG
    • CASPIR/HIBERNATE
    • CASPIR/INITIALIZE
    • CASPIR/LCA
    • CASPIR/TIMING=filename
    • CASPIR/RSPEED=readout_speed
    • CASPIR/[NO]DIFFERENCE_MODE
    • CASPIR/[NO]CHANNEL_STATISTICS
    • CASPIR/[NO]SLOG
    • CASPIR/GAIN=gain_value
    • CASPIR/POSTAMP_GAIN=gain_value
    • CASPIR/PREAMP_GAIN=gain_value
    • CASPIR/ADC_BW=bandwidth
    • CASPIR/[NO]SIMULATE
    • CASPIR/SIM0=filename
    • CASPIR/SIM1=filename
    • CASPIR/SIM2=filename
    • CASPIR/SIM3=filename
    • CASPIR/SIM4=filename
    • CASPIR/SIM5=filename
    • CASPIR/PORT=port_number
    • CASPIR/[NO]TELESCOPE
  • The FIGDISP Image Displays
  • Temperature Control
    • TEMPERATURE/ABORT
    • TEMPERATURE/[NO]DEBUG
    • TEMPERATURE/DISPLAY [=status_screen]
    • TEMPERATURE/[NO]REPORT
    • TEMPERATURE/INFORMATION
    • TEMPERATURE/STATUS_NOW
    • TEMPERATURE/RESET
    • TEMPERATURE/CLEAR
    • TEMPERATURE/INTERVAL=time_value
    • TEMPERATURE/SET_POINT=temperature_value
    • TEMPERATURE/TOLERANCE=temperature_value
    • TEMPERATURE/PLOT
    • TEMPERATURE/HARDCOPY
    • TEMPERATURE/[NO]LINE
    • TEMPERATURE/XMINIMUM=time_value
    • TEMPERATURE/XMAXIMUM=time_value
    • TEMPERATURE/[NO]XAUTOSCALE
    • TEMPERATURE/YMINIMUM=temperature_value
    • TEMPERATURE/YMAXIMUM=temperature_value
    • TEMPERATURE/[NO]YAUTOSCALE
    • TEMPERATURE/GAIN=gain_value
    • TEMPERATURE/RATE=rate_value
    • TEMPERATURE/RSET=rset_value
  • The IMB Command
    • IMB/CONFIGURE
    • IMB/TURRET=keyword
    • IMB/FOCUS
    • IMB/X_ABSOLUTE=integer_number
    • IMB/Y_ABSOLUTE=integer_number
    • IMB/XY_ZERO
    • IMB/X=real_number
    • IMB/Y=real_number
    • IMB/XY_HOME
    • IMB/XY_INCREMENT
    • IMB/CALIBRATION=keyword
    • IMB/ARGON=[ON/OFF]
    • IMB/XENON=[ON/OFF]
    • IMB/INCANDESCENT=ON/OFF]
    • IMB/LAMP_SELECT=keyword
    • IMB/FLIP_MIRROR=[IN/OUT]
    • IMB/DISPLAY=keyword
    • IMB/INFORMATION
    • IMB/STATUS_NOW
    • IMB/[NO]REPORT
    • IMB/ABORT
    • IMB/[NO]DEBUG
  • The Telescope Paddle
• Imaging Data Reduction
  • Introduction
  • Preparations
  • Forming BIAS and DARK Frames
    • BIAS Frames
    • DARK Frames
  • Linearity Correction
  • Flatfielding
  • Sky Subtraction
  • Fixing Bad Pixels
  • Removing ``Cosmic Rays''
  • Preliminary Mosaicing
  • Coordinate Overlays
  • Quick-Look Aperture Photometry
• Full Mosaicing
  • Introduction
  • Building a Database from a Dataset
  • Specifying the Relative Spatial Offsets
    • Interactive Specification of the Offsets for Grid Data
    • Interactive Specification of the Offsets for Multiply-Overlapped Data
  • Merging Registration Files Into Larger Databases
  • Creating the Final Images
  • Handling Larger Images
  • CASPIR Image Composite Database Format
• Long-Slit Grism Data Reduction
  • Introduction
  • Forming BIAS and DARK Frames
  • Linearity Correction
  • Defining The Geometrical Transformation
  • Combining Individual Images
  • Flatfielding
  • Fixing Known Bad Pixels
  • Interactively Cleaning Bad Pixels
  • Applying The Geometrical Transformation
  • Slit Illumination Correction
  • Extraction of 1D Spectra
  • Flux Calibration
  • Division By A Flat Spectrum Star
  • Plotting The Final Spectrum
• Cross-Dispersed Grism Data Reduction
  • Introduction
  • Forming BIAS and DARK Frames
  • Linearity Correction
  • Defining The Geometrical Transformation
  • Combining Individual Images
  • Flatfielding
  • Fixing Known Bad Pixels
  • Interactively Cleaning Bad Pixels
  • Applying The Geometrical Transformation
  • Slit Illumination Correction
  • Extraction of 1D Spectra
  • Flux Calibration
  • Merging Spectral Segments
  • Division By A Flat Spectrum Star
  • Plotting The Final Spectrum
• Error Recovery
  • Infrared System Software
  • SBRC ACE-2 Drive Electronics
  • MOPRA System Software
  • Lakeshore Temperature Controller
  • Console Room Lights
• VMS/UNIX Equivalents
• System Performance
• Miscellaneous Near-Infrared Data
• Wheel Contents
• Photometric Standards
• Spectroscopic Standards
• Kurucz Model Stellar Spectra
• Common Infrared Spectral Features
• Wavelength Calibration Data
• Filter Transmission Functions
• Dichroic Mirror Transmission
• Terrestrial Atmospheric Transmission
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