Laboratory And Astronomical Comparisons Of RCA, GEC And Thomson CCDs

D J Thorne; Paul R Jorden; N R Waltham; I G van Breda

doi:10.1117/12.968133

13 October 1986 Laboratory And Astronomical Comparisons Of RCA, GEC And Thomson CCDs

D J Thorne, Paul R Jorden, N R Waltham, I G van Breda

Proceedings Volume 0627, Instrumentation in Astronomy VI; (1986) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.968133
Event: 1986 Astronomy Conferences, 1986, Tucson, United States

Abstract

Although current interest is focussed on the emergence of large CCDs from Tektronix, for many applications smaller devices based on the TV imaging format are still relevant. Several manufacturers produce CCDs of this size, and deciding which to use for a particular application is of some importance. Over the past three years, the general purpose CCD camera system developed at' the Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO) has been used to test, optimise and compare various types of CCD with further work being carried out on a variety of telescopes. The results of this work are described, dealing not only with the obvious features such as noise and quantum efficiency, but the more subtle aspects such as low light level performance and temperature dependence. The astronomical relevance of the various factors is considered and suggestions made as to the suitability of each type of chip for various types of observation. Finally, the future of these TV format CCDs is considered in the light of the likely availability of much larger alternatives.

Citation Download Citation

D J Thorne, Paul R Jorden, N R Waltham, and I G van Breda "Laboratory And Astronomical Comparisons Of RCA, GEC And Thomson CCDs", Proc. SPIE 0627, Instrumentation in Astronomy VI, (13 October 1986); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.968133

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