Implementation and testing of SIRTF's infrared array camera (IRAC)

ABSTRACT The Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) is one ofthree science instruments that will fly aboard the SpaceInfrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) mission scheduled for launch in December, 2001.IRAC is a four-channel camera that provides simultaneous 5.12 x 5. 12 arc-minute images at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8,and 8 microns. The pixel size is 1 .2 arcsec in all bands. Two adjacent fields ofview in the SIRTF focalplane are viewed by the four channels in pairs (3.6 and 5.8 microns; 4.5 and 8.0 microns). All four detectorarrays in the camera are 256 x 256 pixels in size, with the two short wavelength channels using InSb andthe two longer wavelength channels using Si:As IBC detectors.The IRAC will be used to obtain data applicable to resolving a number of scientific issues. Two of themost important are galaxy formation and evolution during the early stages ofthe universe, and the searchfor brown dwarfs and super-planets in the galaxy.Development and flight ofthe IRAC is ajoint project ofthe Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory(SAO), the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Ames ResearchCenter (ARC), the University of Arizona (UA), and the University of Rochester (UR). The instrument wasdesigned, built and tested at Goddard Space Flight Center in accordance with the requirements establishedby the IRAC Science Steering Committee (SSC). This paper summarizes the "as built" design of IRACalong with important integration and testing results.Keywords : Infrared Array Camera, Space Infrared Telescope Facility, remote sensing, Indiumantimonide (InSb) arrays, Arsenic-doped silicon (Si:As) arrays.