ROSA: a high cadence, synchronized multi-camera solar imaging system

TL;DR

ROSA is a high-speed, synchronized multi-camera system for solar imaging that enables detailed, high-temporal-resolution studies of the solar atmosphere, facilitating multi-wavelength observations with rapid data acquisition.

Contribution

The paper introduces ROSA, a novel synchronized multi-camera solar imaging system with high cadence and low noise, capable of capturing rapid solar phenomena at unprecedented temporal resolution.

Findings

Successful commissioning of ROSA in August 2008

ROSA can acquire data at over 200 Hz when windowed

Approximately 12 TB of data can be collected in 8 hours of observation

Abstract

Rapid Oscillations in the Solar Atmosphere (ROSA) is a synchronized, six camera high cadence solar imaging instrument developed by Queen's University Belfast. The system is available on the Dunn Solar Telescope at the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico, USA as a common-user instrument. Consisting of six 1k x 1k Peltier-cooled frame-transfer CCD cameras with very low noise (0.02-15 e/s/pixel), each ROSA camera is capable of full-chip readout speeds in excess of 30 Hz, or 200 Hz when the CCD is windowed. Combining multiple cameras and fast readout rates, ROSA will accumulate approximately 12 TB of data per 8 hours observing. Following successful commissioning during August 2008, ROSA will allow multi-wavelength studies of the solar atmosphere at high temporal resolution.