The CCD Controller and Detector

TL;DR

This paper discusses the design, testing, and commissioning of CCD controllers and detectors used in the Italian National Telescope 'Galileo', emphasizing low-noise operation and detector characterization for optimal scientific instrument performance.

Contribution

It presents the development and testing of CCD controllers and detectors tailored for the TNG, highlighting the importance of low-noise control and detector characterization.

Findings

Successful assembly and testing of CCDs in cryostats

Selection of suitable detectors for TNG instruments

Ongoing commissioning and performance evaluation

Abstract

All the scientific instruments of the Italian National Telescope "Galileo" (TNG). as well as the tracking systems and the Shack-Hartmann wavefront systems use CCDs as detectors. The CCD procurement is crucial to optimize the instruments performance, and, of course, equal importance assumes the design and realization of controllers able to drive various kinds of CCDs with a very low readout noise. Detectors characterization is of fundamental importance when they have to be used in scientific instrumentation. Various CCDs have been assembled in cryostats and tested at our laboratory in order to select the suitable detector for the optical instruments of the TNG. The relevant phases of the group activity are here described, as well as the commissioning at the telescope and the work that is in progress.