ADC
Analog-to-Digital Converter
AOR
Astronomical Observation Request - an individual observation.
AORKEY
Astronomical Observation Request Key - a unique numerical identification of an observation.
AOT
Astronomical Observation Template - the IRAC observing mode.
BCD
Basic Calibrated Data, the Level 1 data product from each DCE that has been pipeline-processed and is fully calibrated.
CBCD
Corrected Basic Calibrated Data. This should be the starting point for further scientific analysis in
most cases.
Campaign
Unbroken time period when an instrument is powered on. Most instrument IRAC campaigns are
expected to be on the order of one week in length.
CTE
Charge Transfer Efficiency.
DCE
Data Collection Event, for IRAC a single 256x256 pixel image from a single detector.
DN
Data Number.
FET
Field Effect Transistor.
FOS
Flight Operations System.
FPA
Focal Plane Assembly, housing one IRAC detector.
InSb
Indium Antimonide, the detector material used in the short wavelength channels of IRAC (1 and
2).
IOC
In-Orbit Checkout, the two-month long testing period of the telescope following its launch.
ISSA
IRAS Sky Survey Atlas.
JPL
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
MIC
Multiple Instrument Chamber.
PAO
Period of Autonomous Operation, the interval between ground contacts for uplinking commands
and downlinking data, normally 12-24 hours.
PCS
Pointing Control System.
PRF
Point Response Function. The PRF is essentially the convolution of a box the size of the image
pixel with the PSF.
ROIC
Read-Out Integrated Circuit. It is the chip that contains the multiplexer (column and row scanners
and the buses), the unit cell amplifiers, and the output amplifiers. The chip containing the detector
diodes is bonded to it. It is often called simply the “mux."
SAO
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA.
SSC
Spitzer Science Center, Caltech, Pasadena, CA.
Si:As
Arsenic-doped Silicon, the detector material in the IRAC long-wavelength channels (3 & 4).
SV
Science Verification, a 35-day period after the IOC during which the science instruments and their observational modes were commissioned.
SWIRE
Spitzer Wide Area Infrared Survey.
WCS
World Coordinate System.
