Astronomical Spectroscopy with Electron-Multiplied CCDs (EMCCDs)

Key Workshop Objective

• Understand the merits and limitations of EMCCDs in astronomical spectrographs and how to optimize their use

Workshop Goals

• 1) Understand the practical performance of current EMCCDs in astronomical applications.
• 2) Identify scientific opportunities uniquely enabled by large format EMCCDs.
• 3) Explore the design space of spectrograph (and mission) architectures suitable to exploit EMCCD advantages.
• 4) Communicate shared interests and build a richer community of instrumentalists knowledgeable with EMCCD technology.

Participation

Agenda (draft)

* Special breakfast (9a)

* Morning Sessions (start at 9:30a) - N. Konidaris, Session Chair

• Scientific advantages and disadvantages of EMCCDs for spectroscopy (1 hour) - Nick Konidaris
  • (Sensitivity / architecture flexibility / operations / integrating modes / dynamic range / data processing & management / calibration / etc.)
  • Technology roadmap / future devices / commercial intentions (TBC)
• Commercial EMCCD camera comparison (10:30a) - Rich Dekany
• Real-world experience with EMCCDs in astronomy (11p)
  • CHIMERA / WFIRST testing - Gregg Hallinan (confirmed) / Leon Harding (confirmed)

* Patio Lunch (provided, 12 noon)

* Afternoon Sessions (1pm) -- E. Hamden, Session Chair

• Projects in development using EMCCDs (1-2p)
  • FIREBALL / GEONIS / NGDBSP / VERVE - Erika Hamden & Gillian Kyne / Nick Konidaris / Kent Wallace
• Panel Discussion -- E. Hamden, Moderator (2-3p)
  • Lab demonstrations needed and/or planned tests
  • Technical issues: Dark Current / CIC / Low-T CTE / Lifecycle Issues
  • EMCCD calibration unique concerns

* Coffee Break (3p)

• New applications / concept / science frontiers (3:20p)
  • EMCCDs for Exoplanet Imaging / Adaptive Optics (Robo-AO) -- Rich Dekany
  • EMCCDs as Telescope Guiders -- Jennifer Milburn
  • EMCCDs for Wavefront Sensors -- Dimitri Mawet
• General Discussion (4p) -- Rich Dekany, Moderator
  • Possible topics include:
    • Influencing vendors, commercial development / Coordinating EMCCD eval. and testing (incl. environ.) / Sky vs. Space backgrounds / Coincidence loss problems / Outlandish new ideas
    • Publishing more results from our real astronomy with EMCCDs

* Adjourn

* Happy Hour at Rath al Fresco

Links

• Add other external links here

Related Papers or References

• Add paper links here

Minutes

• Messages to vendors
  • A lower noise output amplifier would help astronomers not have to run at as high a gain before entering the photon-counting regime.
    • Why are the current choices among commercial options so crumby?
  • Importance to this community to prove EM operation with deep-depletion (DD) CCDs?
• First Light (France) is an alternative commercial EMCCD camera vendor; OCAM2K camera being used in SPHERE for wavefront sensing.
• Other vendors for EMCCDs themselves?

• Panel Discussion Notes
  • Panel: S. Nikzad, L. Harding, R. Jensen-Clem, N. Konidaris, T. Goodsall, E. Hamden (Moderator)
  • Q1: What kinds of tests of EMCCDs are your groups performing?
    • EH/FIREBALL: concentrating on dark current measurements right now
    • SN: improving QE, particularly at short wavelengths + dark current, uniformity, and stability of performance; includes UV spectrometer studies
    • LH: testing for radiation damage, including impact on CIC, CTE, and dark current
    • C. Martin: this community would benefit from development of the optimal design independent of any one specific mission; how could we integrate efforts?
    • RJ-C: investigating photon arrival statistics for exoplanet search/study; issue: how are we sure that zero signal corresponds really to zero photons?
    • TG: starting to look into accurate measurement of quantum yield for UV applications (more than one e- per input photon).
  • Q2: What have peer reviewers said in response to recent flight proposals?
    • SN: reviewers want to see test data from actual assets you plan to fly (exact format, etc.); more evidence of successful out-of-band rejection; sounding rocket demonstrations sometimes criticized for not following exact science objectives as flight mission.
    • R. Smith: would cubesat or ISS demonstrations help prove readiness; SN: yes, but care should be taken to demonstrate the right device, based on mission planning.
    • NK: as reviewer and reviewee, some researchers see to take EMCCD performance for granted; need to honestly represent understanding of advantages and limitations
    • RD: as we've heard today, for key applications the advantages are real and we should disseminate this better in the broader astronomy community.

Follow-on Action Items

• Dekany: Add First Light to commercial vendor slide - 8/18/15