UPdec-Webb: A Data Set for Coaddition of JWST NIRCam Images

Abstract

We present the application of the image coaddition algorithm, upsampling and point-spread function (PSF) deconvolution coaddition (UPDC), for stacking multiple exposure images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Near-Infrared Camera. By addressing the PSF effect, UPDC provides visually enhanced and sharper images. Furthermore, the antialiasing and superresolution capabilities of UPDC make it easier to deblend sources overlapped on images, yielding a higher accuracy of aperture photometry. We apply this algorithm to the SMACS J0723 imaging data. Comparative analysis with the Drizzle algorithm demonstrates significant improvements in detecting faint sources, achieving accurate photometry, and effectively deblending (superresolution) closely packed sources. As a result, we have newly detected a pair of close binary stars that were previously unresolvable in the original exposures or the Drizzled image. These improvements significantly benefit various scientific projects conducted by JWST. The resulting data set, named “UPdec-Webb,” can be accessed through the official website of the Chinese Virtual Observatory.

Keywords

• Deconvolution
• High angular resolution
• Space observatories
• Near infrared astronomy
• Galaxy clusters