Open Access

Table 2

Main MISTRAL modes.

Mode Shutter Reading mode Dispersor Slit Calib. mirror Wave. calib. lamp Spectral flat field lamp
(1) Bias Closed 50 kHz N/A N/A Off Off Off
(2) Preview image Open 3Mhz Off Off Off Off Off
(3) Science image Open 50 kHz Off Off Off Off Off
(4) Imaging flats Open 50 kHz Off Off Off Off Off
(5) Search slit position Open 3Mhz Off On Off Off Off
(6) Centering on the slit Open 3 Mhz Off Off Off Off Off
(7) Science spectrum Open 50 kHz On On Off Off Off
(8) Calibration arc Open 50 kHz On On On On Off
(9) Calibration Tungsten Open 50 kHz On On On Off On

Notes. (1) To measure the electronic offset signal. (2) To center targets in the image (imaging mode), and to focus the telescope. Fast reading with relatively high reading noise. These images are not saved. (3) To take science images. (4) To take flat field images, to correct for the pixel-to-pixel differential response. This has to be done preferentially on the sky (see below) and for each filter, as the response is very different from one filter to the next. (5) To locate the slit x-position on the CCD before moving the telescope to then center the target within the slit. The slit is seen thanks to the sky surface brightness. Rapid reading mode. (6) To move the target at the slit position. Rapid reading mode. Images are not saved. (7) To take the spectrum of the science target (blue or red disperser). In principle to be done without other filters in the beam (but can be done for special reasons), and with an order separation filter for the red disperser. (8) To take wavelength spectral calibrations in order to transform the x-position into wavelength. (9) To take spectral flat fields to correct for the CCD differential pixel-to-pixel response.

Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.

Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.

Initial download of the metrics may take a while.