Micro-pixel accuracy centroid displacement estimation and detector calibration

Conventional centroid estimation fits a template point spread function (PSF) to image data. Because the PSF is typically not known to high accuracy, systematic errors exist. Here, we present an accurate centroid displacement estimation algorithm by reconstructing the PSF from Nyquist-sampled images. In absence of inter-pixel response variations, this method can estimate centroid displacement between two 32× 32 images to sub-micropixel accuracy. Inter-pixel response variations can be calibrated in Fourier space by using laser metrology. The inter-pixel variations of Fourier transforms of the pixel response functions can be conveniently expressed in terms of powers of spatial wavenumbers. Calibrating up to the third-order terms in the expansion, the displacement estimation is accurate to a few micro-pixels. This algorithm is applicable to a new mission concept of performing mirco-arcsecond level relative astrometry using a 1m telescope for detecting terrestrial exoplanets and high-precision photometry missions.