COMICS camera filters
The following table lists the filters available in the camera section of COMICS, together with their sensitivities (noise equivalent flux densities). All sensitivities are for 1 sigma detections in 1 second of background-limited on-source integration. Extended source sensitivities are per arcsec2.
Important: Sensitivities assume chopping only; limiting fluxes will be sqrt(2) times higher if chopping and nodding are required. You must read the information on Overheads and observing technique before planning your observations.
| Filter | Wavelength (um) | Sensitivity (1sig 1sec) | Diffraction limit(1) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre | Width | (mJy) | (mJy/arcsec2) | ||
| N-band continuum filters | |||||
| N8.8 | 8.8 | 0.8 | 67 | 420 | 0.27 |
| N9.7 | 9.7 | 0.9 | 41 | 320 | 0.29 |
| N10.5 | 10.5 | 1.0 | 58 | 550 | 0.32 |
| N11.7 | 11.7 | 1.0 | 25 | 300 | 0.36 |
| N12.4 | 12.4 | 1.2 | 55 | 680 | 0.38 |
| N-band narrow filters | |||||
| UIR8.6 | 8.59 | 0.42 | 29 | 520 | 0.26 |
| ArIII | 8.98 | 0.13 | 35 | 590 | 0.28 |
| SIV | 10.46 | 0.16 | 40 | 680 | 0.32 |
| UIR11.2 | 11.24 | 0.60 | 32 | 530 | 0.35 |
| NeII | 12.81 | 0.21 | 75 | 1200 | 0.39 |
| Q-band filters | |||||
| Q17.7 | 17.7 | 0.9 | 320 | TBD | 0.54 |
| Q18.8 | 18.8 | 0.9 | 360 | TBD | 0.58 |
| Q20.5(2) | 20.5 | 0.9 | 820(3) | TBD | 0.63 |
| Q24.5 | 24.5 | 1.9 | 1100 | TBD | 0.75 |
(1) The diffraction-limited image size (in arcseconds) for an 8.2-m telescope.
(2) New filter installed in February 2004, replacig the old Q20.8-filter. Its sensitivity is yet to be measured, however, we are making it available for Open Use on a shared-risk basis. It is expected (based on its transmission curve and the theoretical atmospheric transparency in the relevant wavelength range) that its sensitivity will be similar to, or perhaps a little better than, that for the old Q20.8 with only a minor shift in the central wavelength (its width is more or less the same as that of the old Q20.8).
(3) These values are for the old Q20.8-filter [see (2) above].
August 2004