OPTICAM triple-channel astronomical image acquisition control software and external triggering synchronization system
OPTICAM triple-channel astronomical image acquisition control software and external triggering synchronization system
We present the development of software to control the multichannel image acquisition process and the design of an external timing module (ETM) for the OPTICAM system (Castro et al., 2019). The ETM is used to generate high-speed synchronized pulses for OPTICAM's three different sCMOS cameras and is based on an ESP32-S2 micro-controller. The graphical user interface (GUI) of this instrument is also described, which allows users to enter the configuration parameters of the observations and execute actions such as starting and stopping image acquisition sequences or initializing cameras. 3 mini PCs are in charge of reading each one of the cameras, respectively. The software and hardware tools presented here have been successfully implemented at the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (OAN-SPM), Mexico. By analyzing the recorded image sequences, it is possible to perform high-precision multi-channel photometric measurements of astrophysical objects that exhibit high temporal variability, revealing information about periodicities, inter-band delays, and quasi-periodic oscillations.
External triggering, Graphical user interface, Image acquisition software, Stars: imaging, Techniques: photometric, Telescopes
Castro, A.
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Zavala, I.
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Colorado, E.
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Herrera, J.
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Castro Segura, N.
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Michel, R.
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Altamirano, D.
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Altamirano-Dévora, L.
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Sierra, G.
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Echevarría, J.
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Hernández-Landa, J.
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5 December 2023
Castro, A.
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Zavala, I.
13467eb7-f1b9-4a0b-ac24-44f32c8d91af
Colorado, E.
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Herrera, J.
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Castro Segura, N.
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Michel, R.
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Altamirano, D.
d5ccdb09-0b71-4303-9538-05b467be075b
Altamirano-Dévora, L.
0038a215-6155-4540-abd2-a7f35d37132d
Sierra, G.
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Echevarría, J.
3697c3bd-f93c-446e-81f6-0e79c3e2feb1
Hernández-Landa, J.
012a9094-12d2-477a-837c-03f77462df0d
Castro, A., Zavala, I., Colorado, E., Herrera, J., Castro Segura, N., Michel, R., Altamirano, D., Altamirano-Dévora, L., Sierra, G., Echevarría, J. and Hernández-Landa, J.
(2023)
OPTICAM triple-channel astronomical image acquisition control software and external triggering synchronization system.
Astronomy and Computing, 46, [100773].
(doi:10.1016/j.ascom.2023.100773).
Abstract
We present the development of software to control the multichannel image acquisition process and the design of an external timing module (ETM) for the OPTICAM system (Castro et al., 2019). The ETM is used to generate high-speed synchronized pulses for OPTICAM's three different sCMOS cameras and is based on an ESP32-S2 micro-controller. The graphical user interface (GUI) of this instrument is also described, which allows users to enter the configuration parameters of the observations and execute actions such as starting and stopping image acquisition sequences or initializing cameras. 3 mini PCs are in charge of reading each one of the cameras, respectively. The software and hardware tools presented here have been successfully implemented at the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (OAN-SPM), Mexico. By analyzing the recorded image sequences, it is possible to perform high-precision multi-channel photometric measurements of astrophysical objects that exhibit high temporal variability, revealing information about periodicities, inter-band delays, and quasi-periodic oscillations.
Text
Software_and_Timing_Module
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 27 November 2023
e-pub ahead of print date: 1 December 2023
Published date: 5 December 2023
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This paper is based upon observations carried out at the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional on the Sierra San Pedro Mártir (OAN-SPM), Baja California, México, which is operated by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). A.C. acknowledges support from the Royal Society Newton International Fellowship (grant NF170803). D.A. and N.C.S. acknowledge support from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), UK grant ST/V001000/1. We thank Felipe Montalvo, Gustavo Melgoza, Hortensia Riesgo, and Francisco Guillén for their valuable support as telescope operators during the first light and commissioning of OPTICAM. Thanks are also due to Ilse Plauchu-Frayn, Tomás Verdugo, Tomás Calvario, José L. Ochoa, Luis Ortiz, Francisco Valenzuela, Edgar Cadena, and the rest of the technical staff for the support received.
Funding Information: IRAF is distributed by the National Optical Observatories, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.
Keywords:
External triggering, Graphical user interface, Image acquisition software, Stars: imaging, Techniques: photometric, Telescopes
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 487516
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/487516
ISSN: 2213-1337
PURE UUID: 00c76c3a-774f-4b29-b127-d36205dcdda9
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 22 Feb 2024 17:39
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 03:27
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Contributors
Author:
A. Castro
Author:
I. Zavala
Author:
E. Colorado
Author:
J. Herrera
Author:
N. Castro Segura
Author:
R. Michel
Author:
L. Altamirano-Dévora
Author:
G. Sierra
Author:
J. Echevarría
Author:
J. Hernández-Landa
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