Smart readout of nondestructive image sensors with single-photon sensitivity

TL;DR

This paper introduces a smart readout method for nondestructive image sensors that optimizes noise and speed, enabling faster, high-resolution imaging suitable for advanced scientific and astronomical applications.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel dynamic readout technique for Skipper CCDs that reduces noise and readout time, enhancing their applicability in various high-precision fields.

Findings

Achieved deep sub-electron noise levels in Skipper CCDs.

Demonstrated dynamic adjustment of readout noise based on pixel charge.

Showed competitive performance compared to EMCCD and other sensors.

Abstract

Image sensors with nondestructive charge readout provide single-photon or single-electron sensitivity, but at the cost of long readout times. We present a smart readout technique to allow the use of these sensors in visible-light and other applications that require faster readout times. The method optimizes the readout noise and time by changing the number of times pixels are read out either statically, by defining an arbitrary number of regions of interest (ROI) in the array, or dynamically, depending on the charge or energy of interest (EOI) in the pixel. This technique is tested in a Skipper CCD showing that it is possible to obtain deep sub-electron noise, and therefore, high resolution of quantized charge, while dynamically changing the readout noise of the sensor. These faster, low noise readout techniques show that the skipper CCD is a competitive technology even where other technologies such as Electron Multiplier Charge Coupled Devices (EMCCD), silicon photo multipliers, etc. are currently used. This technique could allow skipper CCDs to benefit new astronomical instruments, quantum imaging, exoplanet search and study, and quantum metrology.