Sub electron readout noise & photon counting devices

J.-L. Gach; Ph. Balard; O. Daigle; G. Destefanis; Ph. Feautrier; Ch. Guillaume; J. Rothman

doi:10.1051/eas/0937032

All issues

Volume 37 (2009)

EAS Publications Series, 37 (2009) 255-270

Abstract

Issue		EAS Publications Series Volume 37, 2009 Astrophysics Detector Workshop 2008


Page(s)		255 - 270
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1051/eas/0937032
Published online		11 June 2009

Astrophysics Detector Workshop 2008
P. Kern (ed)
EAS Publications Series, 37 (2009) 255-270

Sub electron readout noise & photon counting devices

J.-L. Gach¹, Ph. Balard¹, O. Daigle², G. Destefanis³, Ph. Feautrier⁴, Ch. Guillaume⁵ and J. Rothman³

¹ Aix-Marseille Université, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, 38 rue Fréderic Joliot Curie, 13388 Marseille, France
² Laboratoire d'Astrophysique Expérimentale, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succ. centre-ville, Montréal, (Québec), H3C 3J7, Canada
³ CEA/LETI, Minatec, 17 rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
⁴ Laboratoire d'Astrophysique, Observatoire de Grenoble, BP. 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
⁵ Aix-Marseille Université, Observatoire de Haute Provence, 04870 St. Michel l'Observatoire, France

Corresponding author: jean-luc.gach@oamp.fr

Abstract

We present recent advances on ultra low noise visible detectors at Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, photon counting and EMCCD developments in collaboration with Observatoire de haute provence, Laboratoire d'astrophysique de l'observatoire de Grenoble and Laboratoire d'Astrophysique Experimentale (Montreal). After a review of the progress with third generation Image Photon Counting Systems (IPCS), we present the OCAM camera, based on the E2V CCD220 EMCCD, part of the Opticon JRA2 programme, and the CCCP controller, a new controller for the 3DNTT instrument that reduces the clock induced charge of an EMCCD by a factor 10, making it competitive with IPCS detectors for very faint fluxes. We will finally present the RAPID project and the concept of photon counting avalanche photodiode CMOS device (in collaboration with CEA-LETI) which is foreseen to be the ultimate detector for the visible-IR range providing no readout noise, high QE and extremely fast readout.