Astronomical imaging can be broadly divided into two categories 1) steady state imaging where long exposures are required to capture ultra-low light level objects and 2) time resolved photometry where integration times range from milliseconds to few seconds. While slow-scan, back-illuminated CCD cameras (a.k.a. science cameras) generally serve steady-state applications well, our newly available EMCCD cameras are enabling newer and faster time-resolved applications, including:
In ideal conditions, the resolution of an optical system should only be limited
by the diffraction of the light waves and the diameter of the lens system.
However, even the world's best telescopes cannot achieve this due to turbulence
in the atmosphere. Adaptive Optics (AO) systems provide a way to
compensate for these errors. As a result, images with much better resolution
approaching the diffraction limit are now possible.
EMCCDs are also enabling another technique which is popularly
used to improve the optical resolution of telescopes, namely "lucky imaging." As the name suggests, the technique uses a subset of images from a large sequence to reconstruct a sharper, more detailed image of the target. Several papers have recently been published with data revealing more sensitive orders of magnitude using EMCCD
cameras in photon counting mode.
Solutions
from Princeton Instruments
Every day, PI imaging cameras are successfully utilized in high-tech
telescopes around the world. Whether your application requires slow scan
imaging that requires hours of integration or rapid, time-resolved photometry,
Princeton Instruments has the right solution.
Product features include:
New eXcelon sensor technology for the highest QE over broad UV-NIR region and low etaloning
Deep cooled EMCCD cameras for adaptive optics and time resolved photometry
PIXIS 2048 with 26.7mm x 26.7mm field of view camera with deep cooling and permanent vacuum guarantee (industry exclusive)
High frame rates up to thousands of frames-per-second for adaptive optics
Slow-scan, large format CCD cameras for true 16-bit performance
Support for real time frame access and Linux operating system
