SPS: a software simulator for the Herschel-SPIRE photometer

¹ UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh, EH9 3HJ, UK e-mail: sib@roe.ac.uk
² Astrophysics Group, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK e-mail: p.chanial@imperial.ac.uk
³ Cardiff School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Queens Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK e-mail: matt.griffin@astro.cf.ac.uk

Received: 26 January 2009
Accepted: 10 June 2009

Abstract

Aims. Instrument simulators are becoming ever more useful for planning and analysing large astronomy survey data. In this paper we present a simulator for the Herschel-SPIRE photometer. We describe the models it uses and the form of the input and output data.

Methods. The SPIRE photometer simulator is a software package which uses theoretical models, along with flight model test data, to perform numerical simulations of the output time-lines from the instrument in operation on board the Herschel space observatory.

Results. A description of the types of uses of the simulator are given, along with information on its past uses. These include example simulations performed in preparation for a high redshift galaxy survey, and a debris disc survey. These are presented as a demonstration of the sort of outputs the simulator is capable of producing.