PhoSim Output

PhoSim produces a stream of FITS files as its output in an identical fashion to a real telescope. 

The files use the following conventions:

• The files follow the standard astronomical FITS convention for images, and one file is produced for each readout amplifier.

• The pixels are always organized in readout order (not necessarily related to the geometric orientation) and the values are given as unsigned integers or signed long integers (depending on the A/D system).

• The FITS header contains basic FITS information, standard astronomical header information (e.g. WCS), and substantial simulation state information

• The files have the naming convention {instrumentName}_a_{instrumentConfiguration}_{exposureID}.fits.gz

• instrumentName is the name of the instrument being simulated (e.g. LSST), visitID is a number to name the exposure sequence, instrumentConfiguration (is a string containing essential information (most likely a filter configuration) (e.g. f2), amplifierID is the name of the amplifier (e.g. R22_S11_C13), and exposureID is the number of exposure in the sequence (e.g. E002)

• A very useful optional output is the image of the electrons prior to readout. This is not possible with real telescopes, but lets the user to avoid routine bias/gain correction and amplifier reconstruction. This file has the naming convention: {instrumentName}_e_{instrumentConfiguration}_{exposureID}.fits.gz

FITS files can also be converted into more common formats, such as tiff, jpg, and gif.   See Image Magick, FITS liberator, Astropy, or various online conversion tools.