Extreme faint flux imaging with an EMCCD

TL;DR

This paper introduces an EMCCD camera optimized for extreme faint flux imaging, achieving sub-electron read-out noise and low CIC, with successful laboratory and telescope testing demonstrating its capabilities.

Contribution

The paper presents a newly designed EMCCD camera with integrated control system, achieving unprecedented low noise levels for faint flux imaging applications.

Findings

Achieved sub-electron read-out noise levels.

Demonstrated low CIC in laboratory tests.

Successfully used on a 1.6-m telescope for scientific observations.

Abstract

An EMCCD camera, designed from the ground up for extreme faint flux imaging, is presented. CCCP, the CCD Controller for Counting Photons, has been integrated with a CCD97 EMCCD from e2v technologies into a scientific camera at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique Experimentale (LAE), Universite de Montreal. This new camera achieves sub-electron read-out noise and very low Clock Induced Charge (CIC) levels, which are mandatory for extreme faint flux imaging. It has been characterized in laboratory and used on the Observatoire du Mont Megantic 1.6-m telescope. The performance of the camera is discussed and experimental data with the first scientific data are presented.