A new accurate CTE photometric correction formula for ACS/WFC

We present a new CTE photometric correction formula based on observation of 47Tuc obtained during Cycles 17, 18 and 19. Images were taken with two filters and different exposure times, in order to sample a wide range of background levels. In addition, the Cycle 19 program included imaging of a denser field near the center of 47Tuc with the F502N filter. Thanks to the increased number of stars available for the analysis, we are able to characterize CTE losses down to the lowest background levels (down to ~0.2e) without significant loss of accuracy with respect to higher sky levels. The data from these three Cycles allow us to derive a new form of the correction formula that is significantly more accurate that those previously published. The formula may be used to correct stellar photometry for CTE losses on drizzled images taken after SM4. We compare the results of our new CTE correction to previous versions of the correction formula for ACS/WFC, and with the pixel-based CTE correction that is currently available as part of CALACS. The formula presented in this ISR and the pixel-based correction are in substantial agreement at high stellar fluxes and for relatively high background levels. However, the former is significantly more accurate than the latter for faint stars superimposed to a low sky background.