The L3Vision CCD220 with its OCam test camera for AO applications in Europe

摘要

ESO and JRA2 OPTICON have jointly funded e2v technologies to develop a custom CCD for Adaptive Optic Wave Front Sensor (AO WFS) applications. The device, called CCD220, is a compact Peltier-cooled 240×240 pixel frame-transfer 8-output back-illuminated sensor. Using the electron-multiplying technology of L3Vision detectors, the device is designed to achieve sub-electron read noise at frame rates from 25 Hz to 1,500 Hz and dark current lower than 0.01 e-/pixel/frame. The development has many unique features. To obtain high frame rates, multiple EMCCD gain registers and metal buttressing of row clock lines are used. The baseline device is built in standard silicon. In addition, two speculative variants have been bui deep depletion silicon devices to improve red response and devices with an electronic shutter to extend use to Rayleigh and Pulsed Laser Guide Star applications. These are all firsts for L3Vision CCDs.rnThese CCD220 detectors have now been fabricated by e2v technologies. This paper describes the design of the device, technology trade-offs, and progress to date. A Test Camera, called "OCam", has been specially designed and built for these sensors. Main features of the OCam camera are extensively described in this paper, together with first light images obtained with the CCD220.