Greg Card | Searcharxiv

arXiv2022

GONG third generation camera: Detector selection and feasibility study

Aging GONG second generation cameras (Silicon Mountain Design(TM) cameras) were planned to be replaced after their long service of more than a decade. This prompted a market-wide search for a potential replacement detector to meet the GONG science requirements. This report provides some history of the search process, a comparison between CMOS and CCD type sensors and then a quantitative evaluation of potential candidates to arrive at final selection. Further, a feasibility study of the selected sensor for adaptation to GONG optical system was done and sensor characteristics were independently verified in the laboratory. This technical report gives description of these studies and tests.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2010

The Sunrise Mission

The first science flight of the balloon-borne \Sunrise telescope took place in June 2009 from ESRANGE (near Kiruna/Sweden) to Somerset Island in northern Canada. We describe the scientific aims and mission concept of the project and give an overview and a description of the various hardware components: the 1-m main telescope with its postfocus science instruments (the UV filter imager SuFI and the imaging vector magnetograph IMaX) and support instruments (image stabilizing and light distribution system ISLiD and correlating wavefront sensor CWS), the optomechanical support structure and the instrument mounting concept, the gondola structure and the power, pointing, and telemetry systems, and the general electronics architecture. We also explain the optimization of the structural and thermal design of the complete payload. The preparations for the science flight are described, including AIV and ground calibration of the instruments. The course of events during the science flight is outlined, up to the recovery activities. Finally, the in-flight performance of the instrumentation is briefly summarized.

astro-ph.IM↗