Test Results On Intensified Charge Coupled Devices

CCD imaging arrays have been evaluated for application in a photon counting astronomical sensor. The results obtained show that CCD devices presently being manufactured exhibit noise corresponding to less than 100 rms electrons and gains of approximately 103 at an accelerating voltage of 10kV and greater than 5 x 103 at 25kV. These results demonstrate that the CCD devices, when operated in an intensified mode, can be used for photon counting. In addition, the measured charge transfer efficiencies are in excess of 0.9999, signal saturation levels are as high as 9.9 x 105 electrons per pixel and peak quantum efficiencies are greater than 75%. With these characteristics, the arrays will make excellent analog detectors surpassing commercial vidicon performance in small format applications. Successful proximity focussed intensified charge coupled devices (ICCD) have been fabricated, although problems still exist with contamination and possible structural failures in the CCD's during tube manufacture.