Fast readout of the Skipper CCD for astronomy and quantum imaging

A. J. Lapi; F. Chierchie; G. Fernandez Moroni; L. Stefanazzi; E. Paolini; J. Estrada; A. Drlica-Wagner; E. Marrufo Villalpando; Javier Tiffenberg

doi:10.1117/12.2631791

29 August 2022 Fast readout of the Skipper CCD for astronomy and quantum imaging

A. J. Lapi, F. Chierchie, G. Fernandez Moroni, L. Stefanazzi, E. Paolini, J. Estrada, A. Drlica-Wagner, E. Marrufo Villalpando, Javier Tiffenberg

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12191, X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy X; 121910V (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2631791
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2022, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Abstract

The Skipper is a special type of charge-coupled device (CCD) that allows pixel measurements with sub-electron noise levels due to its non-destructive readout operation. Over the last decade, these sensors have been used as particle detectors on a variety of experiments, such as the direct detection of galactic dark matter and neutrino experiments. Skipper CCD achieves low-noise by reading multiple times, and sequentially, the pixel charge packet, which translates to longer readout times. This becomes a limiting factor for those applications that require sub-electron detection and faster readout speeds. A novel analysis method for reducing the total pixel readout time is presented in this work. The method relies on analyzing the time-domain properties of the video signal including the clock feedthroughs and their shapes to optimize the clock transitions that define the pixel. The analysis technique is experimentally demonstrated using a standard scientific detector and also with a Skipper CCD with single photon sensitivity. In both cases the sensors are operated and readout using the Low Threshold Acquisition (LTA) controller with an updated firmware for faster clock sequencing. A good compromise between noise performance and total readout time was achieved. This will allows the use of the Skipper CCD and/or the LTA for astronomy, quantum imaging, and other applications that require faster readout times than previous uses of the sensor and the controller.

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A. J. Lapi, F. Chierchie, G. Fernandez Moroni, L. Stefanazzi, E. Paolini, J. Estrada, A. Drlica-Wagner, E. Marrufo Villalpando, and Javier Tiffenberg "Fast readout of the Skipper CCD for astronomy and quantum imaging", Proc. SPIE 12191, X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy X, 121910V (29 August 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2631791

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KEYWORDS

Charge-coupled devices

Clocks

Video

Sensors

CCD image sensors

Astronomy

Single photon

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