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

Date and Time !! Rescheduled !! date pending in late July
Location: Hameetman Auditorium Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Caltech

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

Organizing Committee: R. Dekany, E. Hamden, R. Jensen-Clem, G. Kyne, N. Konidaris, C. Shapiro (JPL)
Invited (to be expanded): R. Demers (JPL), T. Goodsall (JPL), G. Hallinan, L. Harding (JPL), L. Hillenbrand, E. Kirby, N. Lingner, C. Martin, D. Mawet, S. Nikzad (JPL), R. Riddle, R. Smith, K. Wallace (JPL)
Confirmed: R. Dekany, all: update as appropriate
Cannot attend: D. Mawet

Agenda (draft)

Pre-Session (1 hr early, or previous afternoon) : "EMCCD 101” tutorial session

Continental breakfast (30 min)

Morning Sessions (start at 9:30a?)

  • Real-world experience with EMCCDs in astronomy (2-3 talks) (1 hour)
    • CHIMERA / WFIRST testing / Robo-AO / TMAS / Qucam + ISIS?
  • Scientific advantages and disadvantages of EMCCDs for spectroscopy (review talk or 2?) (1 hour)
    • (Sensitivity / architecture flexibility / operations / integrating modes / dynamic range / data management / calibration / etc.)
  • Technology roadmap / future devices / commercial intentions (unclear scope here - this may depend if we invite reps from camera vendors to participate) (30 min)

Patio Lunch (provided)

Afternoon Sessions (1pm?) -- To include several of the following

  • Projects in development using EMCCDs (~3-4 talks) (1 hour)
    • FIREBALL / GEONIS / NGDBSP / CHIMERA++
  • Panel Discussion - Erika Hamden, Moderator (1 hour)
  • EMCCD calibration and data processing unique concerns (30 min)?
  • Lab demonstrations needed and/or planned tests (1 hour)
    • VERVE? / JPL testbed(s)? / Dark Current / CIC / Low-T CTE /
  • New science frontiers / outlandish concepts (2-3 talks?) ( 30 min)
  • Possible discussion topics (1 hour)
    • Influencing vendors, commercial development / Coordinating EMCCD eval. and testing (incl. environ.) / Other EMCCD instrument functions (guiders, WFS’s, etc.) / Sky vs. Space backgrounds / Coincidence loss problems

Adjourn / Happy Hour

Links

  • Add other external links here

Related Papers

  • Add paper links here

Minutes

  • Add minutes here

Follow-on Action Items

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This topic: Cahill > WebHome > EMCCDSpectroscopy
Topic revision: r4 - 2015-05-08 - RichardDekany
 
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