What is the optimum integration time


For the dark and FCS straylight measurements an integration time of 256 sec
is necessary to determine accurate signals. The signal accuracy depends on the
stability of the signal level and the amount of disturbing glitches. It is
found that after 256 sec the signal is sufficiently stable within a few
percent. In addition, it is ensured that enough data is collected to determine
the mean value after glitch removal.

Consequently, sky measurements for which the sky signal is of the order of
the dark signal (see page "When to include a dark measurement") a minimum
integration time of 256 sec is recommended for sky and heated FCS
measurements. For brighter sky signals we recommend minimum times of:

detector	t_int
P1		128
P2		128
P3		256
C100		256
C200		128

Our recommendations do not assume application of any advanced drift
corrections. The recommended integration times should ensure a stable
signal at the end of a measurement within a few percent of the hypothetical
signal level at t=infinity.

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