Reference Files

The background image subtraction step uses reference files only when processing Wide-Field Slitless Spectroscopy (WFSS) exposures. Two reference files are used for WFSS mode.

WFSS Background reference file

REFTYPE:WFSSBKG
Data model:WfssBkgModel

The WFSS background reference file contains a “master” image of the dispersed background produced by a particular filter+grism combination.

CRDS Selection Criteria

WFSSBKG reference files are selected by:

INSTRUME, DETECTOR, EXP_TYPE, FILTER, and PUPIL

Required Keywords

The following table lists the keywords that are required to be present in a WFSSBKG reference file. An asterisk following a keyword name indicates a standard keyword that is required in all reference files, regardless of type.

Keyword Model Name
AUTHOR* meta.author
DATAMODL* meta.model_type
DATE* meta.date
DESCRIP* meta.description
DETECTOR meta.instrument.detector
EXP_TYPE meta.exposure.type
FILENAME* meta.filename
FILTER meta.instrument.filter
INSTRUME* meta.instrument.name
PEDIGREE* meta.pedigree
PUPIL meta.instrument.pupil
REFTYPE* meta.reftype
TELESCOP* meta.telescope
USEAFTER* meta.useafter

Reference File Format

WFSSBKG reference files are FITS files with 3 IMAGE extensions and 1 BINTABLE extension. The FITS primary data array is assumed to be empty. The characteristics of the FITS extensions are as follows:

EXTNAME XTENSION NAXIS Dimensions Data type
SCI IMAGE 2 ncols x nrows float
ERR IMAGE 2 ncols x nrows float
DQ IMAGE 2 ncols x nrows integer
DQ_DEF BINTABLE 2 TFIELDS = 4 N/A

The DQ_DEF extension contains the bit assignments used in the DQ array. It contains the following 4 columns:

TTYPE TFORM Description
BIT integer The bit number, starting at zero
VALUE integer The equivalent base-10 value of BIT
NAME string The mnemonic name of the data quality condition
DESCRIPTION string A description of the data quality condition

Wavelength Range reference file

REFTYPE:WAVELENGTHRANGE
Data model:WavelengthrangeModel

The wavelength range reference file contains information about the range of wavelengths in the exposure. It is used, together with a source catalog, to create a mask giving the locations of source spectra in the target image and hence where the background regions are.

CRDS Selection Criteria

Wavelengthrange reference files are selected by:

INSTRUME, EXP_TYPE, PUPIL (NIRCam only), and MODULE (NIRCam only)