Modeling the suitability of EMCCDs for spectroscopic applications

Simon Tulloch

doi:10.1117/12.789121

24 July 2008 Modeling the suitability of EMCCDs for spectroscopic applications

Simon Tulloch

Proceedings Volume 7021, High Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy III; 70212C (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789121
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

A model of EMCCDs has been developed to predict the areas of application where they offer superior performance to a conventional CCD. The sub electron read noise of an EMCCD makes it an obvious choice for observations that are normally detector noise limited, for example the detection of faint emission lines. In other regimes where photon noise is dominant, for example the measurement of absorption lines or emission lines superimposed on a bright continuum, EMCCDs offer less advantage. This model is used to generate a large number of synthetic spectral lines both in absorption and emission, including the effects of clock induced charge and multiplication noise. The line parameters are then measured by fitting a Gaussian profile and the 'goodness of fit' of this profile used to calculate the SNR of the measurement. The model allows the performance parameters of the EMCCD to be varied freely to see the effect on SNR. As a confidence check, the model is compared against actual images taken with an EMCCD camera in the laboratory.

Citation Download Citation

Simon Tulloch "Modeling the suitability of EMCCDs for spectroscopic applications", Proc. SPIE 7021, High Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy III, 70212C (24 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789121

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