Individual photon counting using e2v L3 CCDs for low background astronomical spectroscopy

Wen, Yiting; Rauscher, Bernard J.; Baker, R.; Clampin, Mark; Fochie, Peter; Heap, Sara R.; Hilton, G. C.; Jorden, Paul; Linder, D.; Mott, Brent; Pool, P.; Waczynski, Augustyn; Woodgate, B. E.

doi:10.1117/12.670447

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…However, charges are generated as the EMCCD is read out. Clock Induced Charges (CIC), a well know source of noise affecting all kinds of CCDs, were typically measured in the range of 0.1 to 0.01 electron per pixel per frame [6][7][8] (for a 512 x 512 CCD97 frame transfer EMCCD from E2V Technologies) and quickly dominate the dark current or even the photon flux as the frame rate in increased. Thus, in order to make photon counting efficient at low flux with an EMCCD, the CIC must be reduced to a minimum.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CCCP: a CCD controller for counting photons

et al. 2008

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CCCP, a CCD Controller for Counting Photons, is presented. This new controller uses a totally new clocking architecture and allows to drive the CCD in a novel way. Its design is optimized for the driving of EMCCDs at up to 20MHz of pixel rate and fast vertical transfer. Using this controller, the dominant source of noise of EMCCDs at low flux level and high frame rate, the Clock Induced Charges, were reduced to 0.001 -0.0018 electron/pixel/frame (depending of the electron multiplying gain), making efficient photon counting possible. CCCP will be deployed in 2009 on the ESO NTT through the 3D-NTT 1 project and on the SOAR through the BTFI project.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CCCP: a CCD controller for counting photons

et al. 2008

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“…In 2004, Daigle et al 10 studied how an e2v CCD97 camera, "operating in pure photon counting mode would behave based on experimental data." In 2006, Wen et al 11 evaluated an e2v CCD201 for space astronomy and published images of a test pattern showing that the EMCCD operated as a photon counter. Over the ensuing decade, steady progress has been made, and today it is possible to buy a commercial EMCCD camera from NuVu Cameras that uses shaped clocks and high readout rates to achieve CIC < 0.002 cts pix −1 frame −1 .…”

Section: Emccd Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

ATLAST detector needs for direct spectroscopic biosignature characterization in the visible and near-IR

et al. 2015

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Are we alone? Answering this ageless question will be a major focus for astrophysics in coming decades. Our tools will include unprecedentedly large UV-Optical-IR space telescopes working with advanced coronagraphs and starshades. Yet, these facilities will not live up to their full potential without better detectors than we have today. To inform detector development, this paper provides an overview of visible and near-IR (VISIR; λ = 0.4 − 1.8 µm) detector needs for the Advanced Technology Large Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST), specifically for spectroscopic characterization of atmospheric biosignature gasses. We also provide a brief status update on some promising detector technologies for meeting these needs in the context of a passively cooled ATLAST.

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“…As development of UVOIR photon counting detectors advance in technology readiness for spaceflight application, sources of electrical noise become vanishingly small (cf: Mazin et al, 2013;Nikzad et al, 2012;Wen et al, 2006;Perryman et al, 1999;Romani et al, 1999). As a consequence, in the coming decade, photon noise from the IPD will become the primary limit on space observatory performance across the UVOIR spectrum for both broad-band and spectroscopic applications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Breakthrough capability for UVOIR space astronomy: Reaching the darkest sky

Greenhouse

Benson

Englander

et al. 2015

Advances in Space Research

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We describe how availability of new solar electric propulsion (SEP) technology can substantially increase the science capability of space astronomy missions working within the near-UV to far-infrared (UVOIR) spectrum by making dark sky orbits accessible for the first time. We present a proof of concept case study in which SEP is used to enable a 700 kg Explorer-class observatory payload to reach an orbit beyond where the zodiacal dust limits observatory sensitivity. The resulting scientific performance advantage relative to a Sun-Earth L2 point orbit is presented and discussed. We find that making SEP available to astrophysics Explorers can enable this small payload program to rival the science performance of much larger long development-time systems. We also present flight dynamics analysis which illustrates that this concept can be extended beyond Explorers to substantially improve the sensitivity performance of heavier (7000 kg) flagship-class astrophysics payloads such as the UVOIR successor to the James Webb Space Telescope by using high power SEP that is being developed for the Asteroid Redirect Robotics Mission. Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of COSPAR. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/3.0/).

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Individual photon counting using e2v L3 CCDs for low background astronomical spectroscopy

Cited by 14 publications

References 0 publications

CCCP: a CCD controller for counting photons

CCCP: a CCD controller for counting photons

ATLAST detector needs for direct spectroscopic biosignature characterization in the visible and near-IR

Breakthrough capability for UVOIR space astronomy: Reaching the darkest sky

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