JWST MIRI flight performance: Detector Effects and Data Reduction Algorithms

TL;DR

This paper discusses the non-ideal behaviors of JWST MIRI detectors and presents algorithms developed to correct these effects, enhancing data quality for astronomical observations.

Contribution

It introduces new data reduction algorithms specifically designed for JWST MIRI detectors, based on pre-flight and flight data analysis.

Findings

Algorithms improve detector data quality

Refined calibration pipeline for MIRI detectors

Enhanced performance of mid-infrared observations

Abstract

The detectors in the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) are arsenic-21 doped silicon impurity band conduction (Si:As IBC) devices and are direct descendants of the Spitzer IRAC22 long wavelength arrays (channels 3 and 4). With appropriate data processing, they can provide excellent per-23 formance. In this paper we discuss the various non-ideal behaviors of these detectors that need to be addressed24 to realize their potential. We have developed a set of algorithms toward this goal, building on experience with25 previous similar detector arrays. The MIRI-specific stage 1 pipeline algorithms, of a three stage JWST cali-26 bration pipeline, were developed using pre-flight tests on the flight detectors and flight spares and have been27 refined using flight data. This paper describes these algorithms, which are included in the first stage of the28 JWST Calibration Pipeline for the MIRI instrument.