Pyxel 1.0: an open source Python framework for detector and end-to-end instrument simulation

Arko, Matej; Prod'homme, Thibaut; Lemmel, Frédéric; Serra, Benoit; George, Elizabeth; Kelman, Bradley; Pichon, Thibault; Biancalani, Enrico and Gilbert, James (2022). Pyxel 1.0: an open source Python framework for detector and end-to-end instrument simulation. In: Proc. SPIE 12187, Modeling, Systems Engineering, and Project Management for Astronomy X (Angeli, George Z. and Dierickx, Philippe eds.), SPIE, Bellingham, WA, article no. 1218705.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629241

Abstract

Detector modelling is becoming more and more critical for the successful development of new instruments in scientific space missions and ground-based experiments. Specific modelling tools are often developed from scratch by each individual project and not necessarily shared for reuse by a wider community. To foster knowledge transfer, reusability and reliability in the instrumentation community, ESA and ESO joined forces and developed Pyxel, a framework for the simulation of scientific detectors and instruments. Pyxel is an open-source and collaborative project, based on Python, developed as an easy-to-use tool that can host and pipeline any kind of detector effect model. Recently Pyxel has achieved a new milestone: the public release and launch of version 1.0 which simplified third-party contributions and improved ease of use even further. Since its launch, Pyxel has been experiencing a growing user community and is being used to simulate all kinds of detectors beyond the traditional Charged-Coupled Devices and CMOS devices, for example Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKID) and Avalanche Photo Diode (APD) devices. We give a tour of Pyxel’s version 1.0 changes and new features including a new interface, parallel computing, and new detectors and models. We continue with an example of using Pyxel as a tool for model optimization and calibration. Finally, we describe an example of how Pyxel and its features can be used to develop a full-scale end-to-end instrument simulator.

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