JPCam: A 1.2Gpixel camera for the J-PAS survey
JPCam is a 14-CCD mosaic camera, using the new e2v 9k-by-9k
10microm-pixel 16-channel detectors, to be deployed on a dedicated 2.55m
wide-field telescope at the OAJ (Observatorio Astrofisico de Javalambre)
in Aragon, Spain. The camera is designed to perform a Baryon Acoustic
Oscillations (BAO) survey of the northern sky. The J-PAS survey strategy
will use 54 relatively narrow-band (~13.8nm) filters equi-spaced between
370 and 920nm plus 3 broad-band filters to achieve unprecedented
photometric red-shift accuracies for faint galaxies over ~8000 square
degrees of sky. The cryostat, detector mosaic and read electronics is
being supplied by e2v under contract to J-PAS while the mechanical
structure, housing the shutter and filter assembly, is being designed
and constructed by a Brazilian consortium led by INPE (Instituto
Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais). Four sets of 14 filters are placed in
the ambient environment, just above the dewar window but directly in
line with the detectors, leading to a mosaic having ~10mm gaps between
each CCD. The massive 500mm aperture shutter is expected to be supplied
by the Argelander-Institut fur Astronomie, Bonn. We will present an
overview of JPCam, from the filter configuration through to the CCD
mosaic camera. A brief outline of the main J-PAS science projects will
be included.