KEYWORDS: Electron multiplying charge coupled devices, Prototyping, Vibration, Cameras, Design and modelling, Clocks, Temperature metrology, Dark current, Interfaces, Charge-coupled devices
With recent advances in large-scale space telescope missions, new sensors and technologies are made available for use in space for the first time. With the recent developments for the Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) instrument of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (NGRST), Electron Multiplying CCD (EMCCD) readout electronics and sensors are being qualified for extended use in space. To make this new remote sensing technology available for a wider range of missions, a new space camera version has been developed, with the first units outfitted with the Teledyne-e2v CCD201-20 EMCCD sensor. This novel camera, equipped with proprietary Camera Proximity Electronics (CPE), is built with a balance of space-qualified components and commercial off the shelf components with flight heritage to optimize cost, performance, and reliability. In addition to direct imaging and characterization of exoplanets, the sensitivity of this camera is also enabling Space Situational Awareness applications. The first imaging, random vibration and TVAC testing results of this new 1U camera platform named nüSpace will be presented.
The science goals of current and upcoming large telescopes require the highest level of adaptive optics (AO) performance. To address these requirements, an electron-multiplying CCD (EMCCD), the HNü240, has been developed based on the Teledyne-e2v CCD220 240x240 pixel detector with Nüvü Caméras’ re-designed EMCCD electronics. The HNü240 delivers a full-detector frame rate of up to 3015 frames per second with 35.5 𝜇s first-pixel latency, sub-electron noise and flexible readout sequences that can be tailored to different wavefront sensor designs. The sealed-body design and fully airless cooling prevent unwanted airflow while eliminating thermal gradients on the camera body. Details of the HNü240’s design, performance results and applications to AO systems in exoplanet detection, quantum key distribution and space situational awareness will be discussed.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Coronagraph is a JPL-led space-based instrument that will be the most sensitive instrument ever built for direct imaging and characterization of exoplanets in the visible. The instrument contrast is expected to be better than 1e-9, which implies that it will be capable of seeing exoplanets with an apparent magnitude < 30. With such a low brightness, only a few photons per hour will be perceived by its optical detectors. Two cameras will be used on the instrument for wavefront sensing, direct imaging and spectroscopy, with frame rates ranging from 1000 fps to less than 0.01 fps. For such a broad range of operating modes and industry leading noise figure, JPL has selected the 1024x1024 CCD201- 20 EMCCD from Teledyne-e2v as the image sensor for the two coronagraph cameras and appealed to Nüvü Caméras to adapt its most recent space controller design for the mission specifics. The new version of the camera readout electronics co-developed with ABB Space System group brings important improvements over the version flown at the edge of space in CSA’s 2018 STRATOS campaign namely on reliability, functionality, thermal control, power, volume and mass whilst preserving its unique noise performance. This paper presents an overview of the project and addresses the development of the delivered flight modules.
We present the progress in characterization of a Nuv¨ u Cam ¨ eras CCD Controller for Counting Photons ¯ (CCCP) designed for extreme low light imaging in space environment with the 1024×1024 Teledyne-e2V EMCCD detector (the CCD201-20). The EMCCD controller was designed using space qualified parts before being extensively tested in thermal vacuum. The performance test results include the readout noise, clock-induced charges, dark current, dynamic range and EM gain. We also discuss the CCCP’s integration in the coronagraph of the High-Contrast Imaging Balloon System project: a fine-pointing and optical payload for a future Canadian stratospheric balloon mission. This first space qualified EMCCD controller, named CCCPs, will enhance sensitivity of the future low-light imaging instruments for space applications such as the detection, characterization and imaging of exoplanets, search and monitoring of asteroids and space debris, UV imaging, and satellite tracking.
KEYWORDS: Clocks, Electron multiplying charge coupled devices, Charge-coupled devices, Signal processing, Spectrographs, Signal to noise ratio, Spectral resolution, Photon counting
Scientific EMCCD cameras have demonstrated excellent imaging performance under extreme low light conditions. Photon counting capability combined with a very low dark current offered by the CCD technology have made EMCCDs the detector of choice for high-performance applications such as time resolved spectroscopy and low light imaging. However, future astronomical instrumentation requires high spatial resolution while commercially available EMCCD devices are limited by a relatively modest area format of (1kx1k). To address this requirement, the Universitė de Montrėal and Teledyne-e2v have jointly developed a 4kx4k EMCCD, the CCD282. This paper presents the results of cryogenic characterization of the CCD282 operated with Nüvü Camēras’ CCD Controller for Counting Photons version 3. The advantages of a novel large format EMCCD over existing technology for high resolution spectroscopy are discussed.
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