Progress on the simulation tools for the SOXS spectrograph: Exposure time calculator and End-to-End simulator

TL;DR

This paper reports on the development of simulation tools for the SOXS spectrograph, including an Exposure Time Calculator and an End-to-End simulator, to improve observational planning and data analysis at ESO-NTT.

Contribution

The paper introduces new computational models and interfaces for the ETC and E2E tools, enhancing simulation accuracy and integration for the SOXS instrument.

Findings

ETC accurately estimates Signal-to-Noise ratios under various conditions.

E2E simulates photon propagation from target to detector with detailed models.

Tools are integrated with external modules and pipeline workflows.

Abstract

We present the progresses of the simulation tools, the Exposure Time Calculator (ETC) and End-to-End simulator (E2E), for the Son Of X-Shooter (SOXS) instrument at the ESO-NTT 3.58-meter telescope. The SOXS will be a single object spectroscopic facility, made by a two-arms high-efficiency spectrograph, able to cover the spectral range 350-2000 nanometer with a mean resolving power R$\approx$4500. While the purpose of the ETC is the estimate, to the best possible accuracy, of the Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR), the E2E model allows us to simulate the propagation of photons, starting from the scientific target of interest, up to the detectors. We detail the ETC and E2E architectures, computational models and functionalities. The interface of the E2E with external simulation modules and with the pipeline are described, too. Synthetic spectral formats, related to different seeing and observing conditions, and calibration frames to be ingested by the pipeline are also presented.