Wavelength range: 1 - 5.5 µm
Direct imaging mode, and grism spectroscopy mode.
High-speed imaging at
~12 full frames per second, or 16x8 subframe at ~30 kHz.
Broadband imaging filters:
¥ Standard J, H, K, LÕ, M passbands
¥ ÒKLÓ : 2.3 - 3.3 µm
Capability to use narrow-band filters e.g.:
C2 : 1.4, 1.8 µm
Paschen a : 1.88 µm
Brackett d : 1.96 µm
C2H2 : 2.0, 2.4, 2.6, 3.0, 3.8 µm
Brackett b : 2.63 µm
PAH: 3.3, 5.2 µm
HCN: 3.5 µm
In-flight atmospheric transmission at grism resolution R = 2000, with planned broadband filter passbands, and grism orders indicated by labeled horizontal bars.
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FLITECAM imaging sensitivity is shown for a point source, for each of the broadband filter bandpasses. The Minimum Detectable Continuum Flux (MDCF) density in µJy necessary to get S/N = 4 in 900s is plotted. The approximate magnitude value is also shown, based on magnitude = 0 for aÊLyr in all bands.
Fast imaging sensitivity: at fastest full frame rate (~12/s), S/N ~4 for magnitude ~ 9 in K-band. At 10 kHz subframe rate, K mag. ~2 (TBC).
The lower graph shows FLITECAM emission line sensitivity in grism mode, centered in the same bandpasses. MDLF is the Òminimum detectable line fluxÓ, 4s in 15 minutes (900s).
MDLF scales roughly as (S/N) /Ã t where t = net integration time
Calibration and setup overhead time is roughly 10%
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Beam size shown is the instrument FWHM size for nominal operating conditions, including in-flight image quality.
Format: 1024 x 1024 pixel array 0.48Ó x 0.48Ó pixels
SOFIA and all first light focal-plane instruments are now in development. All sensitivity and resolution data are preliminary, and based on anticipated performance of the observatory and the instruments. Actual performance of the SOFIA telescope and instrument combination will be established after flight operations begin. Telescope performance is expected to be upgraded during the first two years, and instrument performance may be upgraded, or additional modes or capabilities may be added.
PERFORMANCE ESTIMATES GIVEN HERE ARE BASED ON DATA SUPPLIED BY THE INSTRUMENT TEAMS. A POINT OF CONTACT FOR EACH INSTRUMENT IS PROVIDED.
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