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Scientific Imaging Applications

Astronomy

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:

View Our Newest Astronomy Application Notes

Adaptive Optics

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.
Adaptive Optics Set-up

AO systems use a fast waveguide sensor for measuring the wavefront error and a feedback system to provide a compensating signal to a deformable optic. The accuracy and the speed of the entire system relies on the sensor's ability to provide fast frame rate at high signal-to-noise ratio. For example, recently developed EMCCD cameras are capable of providing >1000 fps with less than 1 e- rms read noise for this application.  

 Lucky Imaging

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, PI/Acton has the right solution.

Product features include:
  • 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)
  • World's first high-resolution, back-illuminated, deep depletion CCD detector (PIXIS: 1024BR) for imaging in NIR 
  • 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

Recommended products:

PhotonMAX™
  • Deep cooling with lifetime vacuum guarantee
  • Back-illumination and electron multiplication gain for single photon sensitivity
  • Real time frame access capability  
  • Fiber optics data interface for long distance operation from up to 300 meters

NEW...QuantEM

  • PAR™ (Photometrics Active Regulation) feedback system, patent pending - provides unprecedented EM gain stability for truly quantitative electron multiplication
  • ACE™ (Advanced Clocking Enhancement) technology, patent pending - minimizes unwanted EMCCD background events
    • Linearized EM gain and automatic EM gain calibration
    • Excellent bias stability
  • FireWire (IEEE 1394A) connectivity and extensive third-party software support - provides ease of integration and ease of use

Cascade™

  • Cascade: 128+ provides >510 frames-per-second; ideal for adaptive optics
  • Cascade: 1K offers high-resolution and good blue response
  • Back/front-illumination and electron multiplication gain for single photon sensitivity
  • Real time frame access capability 
  • Fiber optics data interface for long distance operation from up to 300 meters

PIXIS®

  • Deep cooling with lifetime vacuum guarantee
  • Read noise as low as 2.5 e- rms 
  • UV enhanced back-illuminated CCDs
  • Large 26.7 x 26.7mm field of view CCDs
  • Back-illuminated, deep depletion detector for negligible etaloning and high-sensitivity in the NIR 
  • True 16-bit dynamic range to capture both dim and bright areas in the same image

VersArray

  • Large format CCDs for wide field of view
  • Read noise as low as 2.5 e- rms
  • Liquid nitrogen cooling for the lowest dark current
  • Best linearity and dynamic range in the industry