Analysis of large astronomical detector controller systems and implications for future ESO detector systems

Abstract. Large astronomical instruments using tens to hundreds of optical or infrared science detectors pose specific challenges for detector control, where, in addition to performance, other engineering aspects such as scalability, power consumption, size, weight, and programmatic aspects such as cost and sustainability need to be considered. We analyze the approach existing instruments have taken for detector control. We focus this analysis on recent ground-based astronomical instruments using 10 or more detectors for science imaging or spectrography. From this analysis, we identify key technologies, such as cryogenic electronics, Ethernet-based interfaces, and fully digital detectors, for implementing efficient control of many detectors. We also propose a concept joining all identified technologies that could be considered for future large ESO instruments as a complement to ESO’s general detector controller, NGCII.