Testing the e2v CCD47-20 as the new sensor for the SOFIA target acquisition and tracking cameras

Manuel Wiedemann; Jürgen Wolf; Hans-Peter Röser

doi:10.1117/12.856284

5 August 2010 Testing the e2v CCD47-20 as the new sensor for the SOFIA target acquisition and tracking cameras

Manuel Wiedemann, Jürgen Wolf, Hans-Peter Röser

Proceedings Volume 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III; 773337 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856284
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The telescope of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has three target acquisition and tracking cameras, the Wide Field Imager (WFI), Fine Field Imager (FFI) and Focal Plane Imager (FPI). All three cameras use Thompson TH7888A CCD sensors (now offered by e2v) which are quite suitable in terms of their geometry and readout speed. However, their quantum efficiency and dark current rate are not comparable to newer CCD sensors now widely used in astronomy. The Deutsches SOFIA Institut (DSI) under contract of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has therefore initiated an upgrade project of the cameras with high-sensitivity and low dark current CCD sensors, the e2v CCD47-20 BI AIMO. The back-illuminated architecture allows for high quantum efficiency, while the inverted mode operation lowers the dark current significantly. Both features enable the cameras to use fainter stars for tracking. The expected improvements in sensitivity range between 1.2 and 2.5 stellar magnitudes for the three cameras. In this paper we present results of laboratory and on-sky tests with the new sensor, obtained with a commercial camera platform.

Citation Download Citation

Manuel Wiedemann, Jürgen Wolf, and Hans-Peter Röser "Testing the e2v CCD47-20 as the new sensor for the SOFIA target acquisition and tracking cameras", Proc. SPIE 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III, 773337 (5 August 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856284

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