PreprintCC BY 4.0arXiv
Investigation and Mitigation of a Prominent Off-Axis Stray Light Path in Rubin Observatory Commissioning
Abstract
The "scratched tape" stray light feature is the most prominent and prevalent stray light artifact identified during the commissioning of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The scratched tape feature originates when light from large off-axis angles (~20 deg) passes between the mid-level and center-section light baffles, reflects off the primary mirror, and illuminates the LSST Camera focal plane. This scenario represented an unobstructed stray light path to the sky during Rubin commissioning due to delays in the integration of the dome slit light-wind screen. This document describes the identification, modeling, characterization, and mitigation of the scratched tape stray light artifact.
Versions
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BibTeX
@misc{drlicawagner2026investigation,
title = {{Investigation and Mitigation of a Prominent Off-Axis Stray Light Path in Rubin Observatory Commissioning}},
author = {Alex Drlica-Wagner and Alessio Taranto and Gabriele Rodeghiero and Joshua E. Meyers and John Andrew and Douglas R. Neill and Christian Aguilar and Brian Stalder and Robert H. Lupton and Aashay Pai and Lee S. Kelvin and Aaron E. Watkins and Luca Rosignoli and Hannah M. M. Pollek and Anastasia Alexov},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2606.31939},
eprint = {2606.31939},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.31939},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Investigation and Mitigation of a Prominent Off-Axis Stray Light Path in Rubin Observatory Commissioning
AU - Alex Drlica-Wagner
AU - Alessio Taranto
AU - Gabriele Rodeghiero
AU - Joshua E. Meyers
AU - John Andrew
AU - Douglas R. Neill
AU - Christian Aguilar
AU - Brian Stalder
AU - Robert H. Lupton
AU - Aashay Pai
AU - Lee S. Kelvin
AU - Aaron E. Watkins
AU - Luca Rosignoli
AU - Hannah M. M. Pollek
AU - Anastasia Alexov
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2606.31939
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.31939
AB - The "scratched tape" stray light feature is the most prominent and prevalent stray light artifact identified during the commissioning of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The scratched tape feature originates when light from large off-axis angles (~20 deg) passes between the mid-level and center-section light baffles, reflects off the primary mirror, and illuminates the LSST Camera focal plane. This scenario represented an unobstructed stray light path to the sky during Rubin commissioning due to delays in the integration of the dome slit light-wind screen. This document describes the identification, modeling, characterization, and mitigation of the scratched tape stray light artifact.
ER -