The following pages contain information on the performance of Wide Field Camera 3 and its components.
Flight Detectors
UVIS
- Components: 2x2Kx4K thinned, backside illuminated, UV optimized e2v CCDs
- Wavelength Range: 200 to 1000 nm
- Total Field of View: 162 x 162 arcsec (rhomboidal)
- Pixel format: 2 butted 2051x4096, 31-pixel gap (1.2").
- Pixel Size: 15x15 microns
- Plate Scale: 0.04 arcsec/pixel
- Nominal Operating Temperature: -83C
- Dark Current: ~9 e-/hr/pix (median) [Revised May 2019. See WFC3 IHB, Table 5.1]
- Readnoise: 3.1 e-
- Full Well: 63,000 -- 72,000 e- [See WFC3 IHB, Table 5.1]
- Gain: 1.52 - 1.56 e-/ADU
- Instrument Throughput: UVIS filters
IR
- Components: 1Kx1K Teledyne HgCdTe FPA, MBE grown, substrate removed
- Wavelength Range: 800 to 1700 nm
- Total Field of View: 123 x 136 arcsec (rectangular)
- Pixel format: 1024x1024 (1014x1014 active)
- Pixel Size: 18 microns
- Plate Scale: 0.13 arcsec/pixel
- Nominal Operating Temperature: 145 K
- Dark Current: 0.048 e-/sec/pix (median) [See WFC3 IHB, Table 5.1]
- Readnoise: 21 e- (CDS), 12 e- (16-read linear fit) [See WFC3 IHB, Table 5.1]
- Full Well: 77,900 e- [See WFC3 IHB, Table 5.1]
- Gain: 2.5 e-/ADU
- Instrument Throughput: IR filters
Instrument Testing
WFC3 has undergone several iterations of fully integrated instrument testing. This testing took place at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). During thermal vacuum (TV) testing, reference file data are collected and the instrument is characterized and calibrated. The first two TV sessions took place in the winter of 2004 and spring of 2007. TV3 testing is scheduled for early spring of 2008. The links below connect to pages giving the results from the various TV campaigns.
(Up to date calibration information is located in Howard Bushouse's Calibration Plan webpage. This page contains links to the science calibration test plan, SMS spreadsheets, and other associated documentation.)
TV3 Results
Spring 2008. This testing exercised both UVIS and IR flight detectors, and was used to collect data for the initial reference files.
TV3 testing took place in February and March of 2008. Both flight detectors were installed in the instrument.
ISR 2010-11: WFC3 TV3 Testing: Quantum Yield of the UVIS CCDs
Borders et al. 13 Jul 2010
ISR 2010-04: Amplitude of fringing in WFC3/UVIS narrowband red filters
M. Wong 18 May 2010
ISR 2009-10: WFC3/UVIS CTE-EPER Measurement
V. Kozhurina-Platais, B. Hilbert, A. Martel, and P. McCullough 22 Jun 2009
ISR 2008-46: WFC3 Ground P-flats
E. Sabbi et al. 12 Jun 2009
ISR 2009-09: The WFC3/UVIS Reference Files: 3. Updated Biases and Darks
T.Borders, S. Baggett, A.R. Martel, H. Bushouse 22 May 2009
ISR 2009-03: WFC3 TV3 Testing: UVIS-1' Crosstalk
S. Baggett 03 May 2009
ISR 2008-42: The WFC3/UVIS Reference Files: 2. Biases and Darks
A. R. Martel, S. Baggett, H. Bushouse, and E. Sabbi 02 Feb 2009
ISR 2009-01: The ground calibrations of the WFC3/UVIS G280 grism
H. Kuntschner, H. Bushouse, M. Kummel, and J. R. Walsh 22 Jan 2009
ISR 2008-49: WFC3 TV3 Testing: Red Leak Checks for the UV Filters
T. Brown 11 Dec 2008
ISR 2008-48: WFC3 TV3 Testing: System Throughput on the UVIS Build 1' Detector
T. Brown 10 Dec 2008
ISR 2008-37: WFC3 TV3 Testing: UVIS Science Monitor
H. Bushouse 25 Nov 2008
ISR 2008-47: WFC3 TV3 Testing: Quantum Yield in the UV
S. Baggett 20 Oct 2008
ISR 2008-21: WFC3 TV3 Testing: UVIS Channel Calibration Subsystem Performance
S. Baggett 17 Oct 2008
ISR 2008-44: WFC3 UVIS Shutter Vibration-Induced Image Blur
G. Hartig 25 Sep 2008
ISR 2008-40: WFC3 UVIS PSF Evaluation in Thermal-Vacuum Test #3
G. Hartig 26 Aug 2008
ISR 2008-32: WFC3 Optical Alignment Characterization in Thermal-Vacuum Test #3
G. Hartig 21 Aug 2008
ISR 2008-31: WFC3 Optical Wavefront Error Characterization in Thermal-Vacuum Test #3
G. Hartig 21 Aug 2008
ISR 2008-23: WFC3 TV3 Testing: UVIS-1′ Dark Frames and Rates
A. Martel 19 Aug 2008
ISR 2008-22: WFC3 TV3 Testing: UVIS-1′ and IR4 Noise Trends
A. Martel 19 Aug 2008
ISR 2008-17: UVIS Calsystem Photometric Filter Flat Field Atlas
E. Sabbi 15 Jul 2008
ISR 2008-13: WFC3 TV3 Testing: UVIS-1' Gain Results
S. Baggett 20 Jun 2008
ISR 2008-12: UVIS CASTLE Photometric Filter Flat Field Atlas
E. Sabbi 09 Jun 2008
ISR 2008-10: WFC3 TV3 Testing: UVIS Window Contamination
T. Brown, G. Hartig, S. Baggett 27 May 2008
ISR 2008-08: WFC3 TV3 Testing: UVIS Filtered Throughput
T. Brown 30 Apr 2008
ISR 2008-07: WFC3 TV3 Testing: UVIS Channel Glints
T. Brown 14 Apr 2008
ISR 2011-04: WFC3/IR Banding
M. J. Dulude, S. Baggett, H. Bushouse, & B. Hilbert 04 Feb 2011
ISR 2008-33: WFC3 TV3 Testing: IR Persistence
P. McCullough, S. Deustua 22 Jun 2010
ISR 2010-02: WFC3 TV3 testing: IR Crosstalk
A.C Viana and S. Baggett 25 Jan 2010
ISR 2010-01: WFC3 TV3 Testing: Subarray Photometry
P. McCullough 14 Jan 2010
ISR 2009-43: "Snowballs" in the WFC3-IR Channel: Characterization
B. Hilbert 03 Dec 2009
ISR 2008-46: WFC3 Ground P-flats
E. Sabbi et al. 12 Jun 2009
ISR 2008-39: WFC3 TV3 Testing: IR Channel Nonlinearity Correction
B. Hilbert 02 Jun 2009
ISR 2009-02: WFC3 TV3 Testing: Orbital Cycling Effects on IR Images
H. Bushouse 26 Mar 2009
ISR 2008-38: WFC3 TV3 Testing: IR Science Monitor
H. Bushouse 20 Feb 2009
ISR 2008-28: WFC3 IR Ground P-Flats
H. Bushouse 23 Dec 2008
ISR 2008-50: WFC3 TV3 Testing: IR Gain Results
B. Hilbert 16 Dec 2008
ISR 2008-24: WFC3 TV3 Testing: IR Channel Thermal Background Signal
B. Hilbert 16 Dec 2008
ISR 2008-30: WFC3 TV3 Testing: IR Channel Dark Current
B. Hilbert 25 Sep 2008
ISR 2008-41: WFC3 IR PSF Evaluation in Thermal-Vacuum Test #3
G. Hartig 16 Sep 2008
ISR 2008-32: WFC3 Optical Alignment Characterization in Thermal-Vacuum Test #3
G. Hartig 21 Aug 2008
ISR 2008-31: WFC3 Optical Wavefront Error Characterization in Thermal-Vacuum Test #3
G. Hartig 21 Aug 2008
ISR 2008-25: WFC3 TV3 Testing: IR Channel Read Noise
B. Hilbert 19 Aug 2008
ISR 2008-22: WFC3 TV3 Testing: UVIS-1′ and IR4 Noise Trends
A. Martel 19 Aug 2008
ISR 2008-16: The TV3 ground calibrations of the WFC3 NIR grisms
H. Kuntschner, H. Bushouse, J. R. Walsh, M. Kummel 14 Jul 2008
ISR 2008-09: WFC3 TV3 Testing: IR Channel Throughput
T. Brown 05 May 2008
ISR 2008-06: WFC3 TV3 Testing: IR Channel Baffle Scatter
T. Brown 09 Apr 2008
ISR 2008-05: WFC3 TV3 Testing: IR Channel Blue Leaks
T. Brown 31 Mar 2008
TV2 Results
Summer 2007. TV2 was performed with backup UVIS and IR detectors in place.
TV2 testing used a backup UVIS detector (build 2), and a backup IR detector (FPA129).
ISR 2009-01: The ground calibrations of the WFC3/UVIS G280 grism
H. Kuntschner, H. Bushouse, M. Kummel, and J. R. Walsh 22 Jan 2009
ISR 2007-27: WFC3 TV2 Testing: UVIS-2 Read Noise
A. R. Martel, S. Baggett 29 Nov 2007
ISR 2007-26: WFC3 TV2 Testing: UVIS-2 Dark Frames and Rates
A. R. Martel 02 Nov 2007
ISR 2007-24: WFC3 TV2 Testing: UVIS Filtered Throughput
T. Brown 26 Oct 2007
ISR 2007-22: WFC3 TV2 Testing: UVIS-2 Amp B Anomaly
S. Baggett, A. Waczynski 19 Oct 2007
ISR 2007-21: WFC3 TV2 Testing: UVIS Channel Glint
T. Brown 17 Oct 2007
ISR 2007-20: WFC3 TV2 Testing: System Throughput on the UVIS Build 2 Detector
T. Brown 11 Oct 2007
ISR 2007-19: WFC3 TV2 Testing: UVIS-2 Gain Results
S. Baggett 14 Sep 2007
ISR 2007-18: WFC3 TV2 Testing: Image Stability
T. Brown 28 Aug 2007
ISR 2007-17: WFC3 TV2 Testing: UVIS Shutter Stability and Accuracy
B. Hilbert 16 Aug 2007
ISR 2007-15: WFC3 Ambient-2 Testing: UVIS Readnoise
S. Baggett 16 May 2007
ISR 2007-14: WFC3 Ambient-2 Testing: Calibration Subsystem Performance
S. Baggett 07 May 2007
ISR 2007-13: UVIS CCD EPER CTE measurements performed during the April 2007 Ambient Calibration campaign (SMS UV02S01)
M. Robberto 30 Apr 2007
ISR 2007-11: WFC3 Ambient-2 Testing: UVIS Gain Results
S. Baggett 27 Apr 2007
ISR 2007-10: WFC3 Ambient Testing: UVIS Dark Current Rate
B. Hilbert 26 Apr 2007
ISR 2007-09: UVIS Channel Filter Ghosts after Filter Replacement
T. Brown 25 Apr 2007
ISR 2007-08: Searching for Scattered Light on the WFC3 UVIS Build 2 Detector
T. Brown 24 Apr 2007
ISR 2007-07: WFC3 System Throughput on the UVIS Build 2 Detector
T. Brown 19 Apr 2007
ISR 2007-05: WFC3 Science Calibration Plan. Part 6: Thermal-Vacuum #2 Test Procedures
H. Bushouse 01 Apr 2007
ISR 2008-20: Thermal Vacuum 2: measures of the IR background and on-orbit predictions (SMS IR01S08).
M. Robberto 16 Jul 2008
ISR 2008-19: WFC3 TV2 Testing: IR Intrapixel sensitivity
P. McCullough 16 Jul 2008
ISR 2008-15: The TV2 ground calibrations of the WFC3 NIR grisms
H. Kuntschner, H. Bushouse, J. R. Walsh, M. Kummel 13 Jul 2008
ISR 2008-04: WFC3 TV2 Testing: IR Channel Read Noise
B. Hilbert 22 Feb 2008
ISR 2008-03: WFC3 TV2 Testing: IR Channel Dark Current
B. Hilbert 29 Jan 2008
ISR 2008-01: WFC3 TV2 Testing: Calibration Subsystem Performance
S. Baggett 11 Jan 2008
ISR 2007-28: WFC3 TV2 Testing: IR Gain Results
B. Hilbert 05 Dec 2007
ISR 2007-25: WFC3 TV2 Testing: IR Channel Non-linearity Correction and Unstable Pixel Masking
B. Hilbert 01 Nov 2007
ISR 2007-23: WFC3 TV2 Testing: IR Channel Throughput
T. Brown 23 Oct 2007
ISR 2007-18: WFC3 TV2 Testing: Image Stability
T. Brown 28 Aug 2007
ISR 2007-16: WFC3 TV2 Testing: IR Channel Ghosts and Baffle Scatter
T. Brown 15 Aug 2007
ISR 2007-14: WFC3 Ambient-2 Testing: Calibration Subsystem Performance
S. Baggett 07 May 2007
ISR 2007-05: WFC3 Science Calibration Plan. Part 6: Thermal-Vacuum #2 Test Procedures
H. Bushouse 01 Apr 2007
TV1 Results
Winter 2004. WFC3's first TV test was performed with the flight UVIS detector and a backup IR detector in place.
TV1 testing used the flight UVIS detector (build 1), but a backup IR detector (FPA64).
Below is a list of ISRs supplying TV1 test results.
Explanation of filter ghost results by Tom Brown.
ISR 2005-27: The behaviour of the WFC3 UVIS and IR Analog-to-Digital Converters
M. Robberto and B. Hilbert 22 Sep 2005
ISR 2005-21: WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing: UVIS Broadband Flat Fields
H. Bushouse 01 Jun 2005
ISR 2005-20: WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing: UVIS Science Performance Monitor
H. Bushouse, O. Lupie 24 May 2005
ISR 2005-18: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing - Repeatability of the Channel Select Mechanism
T. Brown 10 May 2005
ISR 2005-17: Ground Tests of the WFC3 UVIS Grism
S. Larsen, H. Bushouse, J. R. Walsh 04 May 2005
ISR 2005-16: Scientific Impacts of UVIS Channel Filter Ghosts
H. Bond, T. Brown 15 Apr 2005
ISR 2005-13: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing - UVIS Readnoise and Dark Current
B. Hilbert, S. Baggett 28 Mar 2005
ISR 2005-11: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing - Image Stability
T. Brown 04 Mar 2005
ISR 2005-10: WFC3 UVIS PSF Evaluation in Thermal-Vacuum Test #1
G. Harting 03 Mar 2005
ISR 2005-09: WFC3 Thermal Vacuum and Ambient Testing: Calibration Subsystem Performance
S. Baggett 02 Mar 2005
ISR 2005-08: WFC3 Thermal Vac Testing: UVIS Gain Results
S. Baggett 24 Feb 2005
ISR 2005-05: WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing: UVIS Crosstalk
S. Baggett, R. Hill, G. Hartig, A. Waczynski, Y. Wen 09 Feb 2005
ISR 2005-04: WFC3 Flight Detector Alignment Characterization in Thermal-Vacuum Test #1
G. Hartig 05 Feb 2005
ISR 2005-02: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing - UVIS Channel Throughput
T. Brown, I. N. Reid 03 Feb 2005
ISR 2005-01: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing - UVIS Channel Ghosts
T. Brown 02 Feb 2005
ISR 2004-14: Stability and Accuracy of the WFC3 UVIS Shutter
B. Hilbert 20 Dec 2004
ISR 2004-13: WFC3 UVIS Dark Current and Readnoise from Ambient Testing
B. Hilbert, S. Baggett 10 Aug 2004
ISR 2004-12: Ambient Testing of UVIS Filter Ghosts
T. Brown, O. Lupie 26 Jul 2004
ISR 2004-11: WFC3 UVIS Crosstalk Images
S. Baggett, G. Hartig, E. Cheung 12 Jul 2004
ISR 2004-05: UVIS Throughput, as measured in the December 2003/January 2004 science verification/calibration campaign
N. Reid 17 May 2004
ISR 2004-04: Filter Ghosts in the WFC3 UVIS Channel
T. Brown 17 May 2004
ISR 2004-03: WFC3 Science Calibration Plan: Part 4, Test Procedures
N. Reid 27 Feb 2004
ISR 2004-02: WFC3 Science Calibration: Summary assessment of December 2003/January 2004 science verification/calibration campaign
N. Reid 24 Feb 2004
ISR 2004-01: Readnoise and Dark Current in WFC3 Flight CCD Ambient Data
S. Baggett, B. Hilbert 23 Feb 2004
ISR 2006-05: WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing: IR Flat Fields
M. Sosey and H. Bushouse 26 Sep 2006
ISR 2006-01: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing: IR Channel Subarray Photometry
B. Hilbert 18 May 2006
ISR 2005-30: Calibration of Temperature Related WFC3 Dark Current Variations
B. Hilbert and M. Robberto 15 Dec 2005
ISR 2005-29: WFC3 2004 Thermal Vacuum Campaign: IR channel linearity (flat field illumination - SMS IR04)
M. Robberto and B. Hilbert 07 Dec 2005
ISR 2005-27: The behaviour of the WFC3 UVIS and IR Analog-to-Digital Converters
M. Robberto and B. Hilbert 22 Sep 2005
ISR 2005-25: WFC3-IR Thermal Vacuum Testing: IR Channel Dark Current
B. Hilbert and M. Robberto 22 Aug 2005
ISR 2005-24: WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing: IR Science Performance Monitor
H. Bushouse, O. Lupie 17 Aug 2005
ISR 2005-22: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing - IR Channel Ghosts & Baffle Scatter
T. Brown 08 Jun 2005
ISR 2005-18: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing - Repeatability of the Channel Select Mechanism
T. Brown 10 May 2005
ISR 2005-15: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing - IR Channel Readnoise
B. Hilbert 12 Apr 2005
ISR 2005-14: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing - IR Channel Gain
B. Hilbert 11 Apr 2005
ISR 2005-12: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing - IR Channel Throughput
T. Brown, I. N. Reid, D. F. Figer 15 Mar 2005
ISR 2005-11: Results of WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing - Image Stability
T. Brown 04 Mar 2005
ISR 2005-09: WFC3 Thermal Vacuum and Ambient Testing: Calibration Subsystem Performance
S. Baggett 02 Mar 2005
ISR 2005-07: Ground Tests of the WFC3 NIR Grisms
S. Larsen, H. Bushouse, J. R. Walsh 23 Feb 2005
ISR 2005-06: WFC3 Thermal Vacuum Testing: IR Grism Focus and Tilt Anomalies
H. Bushouse, G. Hartig 10 Feb 2005
ISR 2005-04: WFC3 Flight Detector Alignment Characterization in Thermal-Vacuum Test #1
G. Hartig 05 Feb 2005
ISR 2005-03: WFC3 IR Channel Corrector Alignment
G. Hartig 04 Feb 2005
ISR 2004-03: WFC3 Science Calibration Plan: Part 4, Test Procedures
N. Reid 27 Feb 2004
ISR 2004-02: WFC3 Science Calibration: Summary assessment of December 2003/January 2004 science verification/calibration campaign
N. Reid 24 Feb 2004
Mini-Ambient Results
Just prior to TV1 testing, WFC3 underwent a limited set of tests with the instrument under ambient conditions. We referred to this testing as "mini-ambient".
UVIS Detector Oddities found during mini-ambient
This page gives examples of WFC3 detector characteristics noted prior to ambient testing. Examples of each type of behavior, along with links to any relevent ISRs, are provided below.
Summary of mini-ambient
ISR 2004-02: WFC3 Science Calibration: Summary assessment of December 2003/January 2004 science verification/calibration campaign
N. Reid
Ghosting
ISR 2004-04: Filter Ghosts in the WFC3 UVIS Channel
T. Brown and O. Lupie
Readnoise and Dark Current
ISR 2004-01: Readnoise and Dark Current in WFC3 Flight CCD Ambient Data
S. Baggett and B. Hilbert
Throughput
ISR 2004-05: UVIS Throughput, as measured in the December 2003/January 2004 science verification/calibration campaign
N. Reid
PSF Evaluation
ISR 2004-08: Preliminary WFC3 UVIS PSF Evaluation
G. Hartig and S. Baggett
Image Persistence
ISR 2004-09: Preliminary Assessment of Image Persistence in the WFC3 UVIS CCD Detector
G. Hartig and S. Baggett
TV Supporting Documents
Castle ETC, V1.8 (18.8 MB)
Castle ETC Manual (1.1MB)
OS (Castle) Input Spreadsheet (23KB)
SMS Input Spreadsheet, Version 2 (Nov '06) (38KB)
Old versions of input spreadsheets.
Image Quality
Image quality analysis of the UVIS channel during ground testing show 90-92% of the flux from a 250nm point source falling within a diameter of 0.35 arcsec. This decreases with increasing source wavelength, to 85-86% for a 810nm point source.
UVIS Flight Detector
-
ISR 2005-10: WFC3 UVIS PSF Evaluation in Thermal-Vacuum Test #1
G. Harting 03 Mar 2005 - ISR 2004-08: Preliminary WFC3 UVIS PSF Evaluation
G. Hartig 24 May 2004
Additional Performance Information