Data Acquisition and Control System for High-Performance Large-Area CCD Systems

TL;DR

This paper presents a software system for controlling, acquiring, and processing data from large-area CCD detectors used in astronomical telescopes, enhancing operational efficiency and data management.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive software suite for large-area CCD systems with DINACON-II controllers, covering acquisition, reduction, visualization, and diagnostics.

Findings

Successful operation at major telescopes for over seven years

Improved data acquisition and control capabilities

Enhanced diagnostics and system setup

Abstract

Astronomical CCD systems based on second-generation DINACON controllers were developed at the SAO RAS Advanced Design Laboratory more than seven years ago and since then have been in constant operation at the 6-meter and Zeiss-1000 telescopes. Such systems use monolithic large-area CCDs. We describe the software developed for the control of a family of large-area CCD systems equipped with a DINACON-II controller. The software suite serves for acquisition, primary reduction, visualization, and storage of video data, and also for the control, setup, and diagnostics of the CCD system.