PhoSim-NIRCam: Photon-by-photon image simulations of the James Webb Space Telescope’s Near-Infrared Camera. (arXiv:1905.06461v1 [astro-ph.IM])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Burke_C/0/1/0/all/0/1">Colin J. Burke</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Peterson_J/0/1/0/all/0/1">John R. Peterson</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Egami_E/0/1/0/all/0/1">Eiichi Egami</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Leisenring_J/0/1/0/all/0/1">Jarron M. Leisenring</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Sembroski_G/0/1/0/all/0/1">Glenn H. Sembroski</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Rieke_M/0/1/0/all/0/1">Marcia J. Rieke</a>
Recent instrumentation projects have allocated resources to develop codes for
simulating astronomical images. Novel physics-based models are essential for
understanding telescope, instrument, and environmental systematics in
observations. A deep understanding of these systematics is especially important
in the context of weak gravitational lensing, galaxy morphology, and other
sensitive measurements. In this work, we present an adaptation of a
physics-based ab initio image simulator: The Photon Simulator (PhoSim). We
modify PhoSim for use with the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) — the primary
imaging instrument aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This photon
Monte Carlo code replicates the observational catalog, telescope and camera
optics, detector physics, and readout modes/electronics. Importantly,
PhoSim-NIRCam simulates both geometric aberration and diffraction across the
field of view. Full field- and wavelength-dependent point spread functions are
presented. Simulated images of an extragalactic field are presented. Extensive
validation is planned during in-orbit commissioning.
Recent instrumentation projects have allocated resources to develop codes for
simulating astronomical images. Novel physics-based models are essential for
understanding telescope, instrument, and environmental systematics in
observations. A deep understanding of these systematics is especially important
in the context of weak gravitational lensing, galaxy morphology, and other
sensitive measurements. In this work, we present an adaptation of a
physics-based ab initio image simulator: The Photon Simulator (PhoSim). We
modify PhoSim for use with the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) — the primary
imaging instrument aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This photon
Monte Carlo code replicates the observational catalog, telescope and camera
optics, detector physics, and readout modes/electronics. Importantly,
PhoSim-NIRCam simulates both geometric aberration and diffraction across the
field of view. Full field- and wavelength-dependent point spread functions are
presented. Simulated images of an extragalactic field are presented. Extensive
validation is planned during in-orbit commissioning.
http://arxiv.org/icons/sfx.gif
