Engineering topics

Baxter, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Baxter, D..

4 records

DOE OSTI2024

The DAMIC-M Low Background Chamber

The DArk Matter In CCDs at Modane (DAMIC-M) experiment isdesigned to search for light dark matter (m$_{χ}$ < 10 GeV/c$^{2}$)at the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (LSM) in France. DAMIC-Mwill use skipper charge-coupled devices (CCDs) as a kg-scale activedetector target. Its single-electron resolution will enable eV-scaleenergy thresholds and thus world-leading sensitivity to a range ofhidden sector dark matter candidates. A DAMIC-M prototype, the LowBackground Chamber (LBC), has been taking data at LSM since2022. The LBC provides a low-background environment, which has beenused to characterize skipper CCDs, study dark current, and measureradiopurity of materials planned for DAMIC-M. It also allows testingof various subsystems like readout electronics, data acquisitionsoftware, and slow control. This paper describes the technicaldesign and performance of the LBC.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

NASA NTRS1993

Discovery of an optical synchrotron jet in 3C 264

Observations with the Faint Object Camera on board the Hubble Space Telescope have revealed a new optical jet in the core of the elliptical galaxy NGC 3862 (3C 264). Morphologically, this jet is similar to the synchrotron jets seen in other galaxies, as it shows knots and bifurcations. The optical spectral index is also similar to that found in other jets. Thus, the nucleus of NGC 3862 appears to contain the fifth known example of an optical synchrotron jet. Since NGC 3862 is a typical radio-loud elliptical galaxy, it seems likely that many nonthermal jets found in the radio continuum may also have optical counterparts.

Crane, P.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Blue stragglers in the core of the globular cluster 47 Tucanae

High-resolution observations of the core of the globular cluster 47 Tucanae with the Faint Object Camera on the Hubble Space Telescope reveal a high density of 'blue straggler' stars, occupying the upper end of the main sequence from which all stars in the cluster should have long since evolved. Their presence in the dense core supports the hypothesis that they formed by stellar collision and coalescence, and, as the heaviest objects in the cluster, have drifted to the core.

Paresce, F.↗

NASA NTRS1991

In-flight performance of the Faint Object Camera of the Hubble Space Telescope

An overview of the Faint Object Camera and its performance to date is presented. In particular, the detector's efficiency, the spatial uniformity of response, distortion characteristics, detector and sky background, detector linearity, spectrography, and operation are discussed. The effect of the severe spherical aberration of the telescope's primary mirror on the camera's point spread function is reviewed, as well as the impact it has on the camera's general performance. The scientific implications of the performance and the spherical aberration are outlined, with emphasis on possible remedies for spherical aberration, hardware remedies, and stellar population studies.

Greenfield, P.↗