Project Title:

Feasibility Study for a New Generation CCD Imager System

08.01-8961
Feasibility Study for a New Generation CCD Imager System
Photometrics Ltd.
2010 North Forbes Boulevard, Suite 103
Tucson
AR
85745
Aikens
Richard
29284
48,650
GSFC

Abstract:

This project will study the feasibility of constructing a new generation, low noise,
super high resolution CCD imaging system.  This system employs the 2048 x 2048 resolution
element, 3,060 mm2 photoactive area, low noise, backside illuminated, Tektronix CCD.
 This device represents a tremendous increase in the number of resolution elements
and photoactive area available over any type of solid state array detector.  Tektronix
has predicted that a readout noise of five electrons should be obtainable for this
CCD detector.  The first stage in this project will be the design of new low noise
preamplifiers needed to obtain this read noise.  In order to determine the electro-optical
properties of this new family of CCDs, as well as optimize the operating characteristics,
this project will focus on the currently available and more tractable, electrically
identical 5l2 x 5l2 Tektronix CCD.  Using the knowledge learned from the smaller
device evaluation, the technical requirements involved with implementing the larger
2048 x 2048 backside imager will be investigated.