Entity
StarDICE Experiment
StarDICE is a multi-stage photometric calibration experiment aiming to link NIST laboratory standards to astrophysical flux measurements at 1 mmag accuracy, directly supporting next-generation surveys like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's LSST.
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## Overview
StarDICE is a photometric calibration experiment designed to establish a metrology chain linking laboratory standards (NIST photodiodes) to astrophysical flux references, targeting 1 millimagnitude (mmag) accuracy in griz colors (arXiv, StarDICE I & III & IV papers, 2026-09-23). The project is motivated by the needs of large-scale photometric surveys, particularly the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), which require photometric calibration that is stable and spatially uniform at the sub-per cent level even during non-photometric conditions (arXiv:2511.00182, September 23, 2026).
## Multi-Stage Metrology Chain
The experiment is built around a 5-stage metrology chain from NIST photodiodes to stars. Published components include:
- **StarDICE I**: Sensor calibration bench and absolute photometric calibration of a Sony IMX411 CMOS sensor (150 Mpixel), transferring calibration from NIST photodiodes to the sensor (arXiv:2211.04913).
- **StarDICE III**: Characterization of the photometric instrument using a Collimated Beam Projector, focused on precise measurement of filter bandpasses (arXiv:2410.24173).
- **StarDICE IV**: A method for correcting visible photometry from atmospheric gray extinction using thermal infrared observations, aimed at mitigating the effects of clouds during non-photometric conditions (arXiv:2511.00182).
## Strategic Importance
The Hubble diagram of type Ia supernovae provides key cosmological constraints on dark energy, but accuracy is currently limited by flux calibration of spectrophotometric standards (arXiv:2211.04913). StarDICE's efforts to reduce these systematic calibration uncertainties are directly relevant to next-generation cosmological surveys, including LSST operations at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
## Outlook
As a multi-paper, multi-stage instrumentation program, StarDICE is likely to continue producing incremental technical publications as it builds out its full calibration chain, with relevance to survey operations once Rubin/LSST becomes fully operational.