Astronomical Spectroscopy with Electron-Multiplied CCDs (EMCCDs)

Workshop Objective (draft): Understand the merits and limitations of EMCCDs in astronomical spectrographs and how to optimize their use

Workshop Goals (draft)

• 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 (modify TWiki as appropriate)

Agenda (draft) for a 1-Day workshop

30 min break / continental breakfast

Morning Sessions (start at 9:30a?)

• Real-world experience with EMCCDs in astronomy (2-3 talks) (1 hour)
  • CHIMERA / WFIRST testing / 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)

Lunch (Noon?)

Afternoon Sessions (1pm?)

• Projects in development using EMCCDs (~3-4 talks) (1 hour)
  • FIREBALL / GEONIS / NGDBSP / CHIMERA++
• New science frontiers / outlandish concepts (2-3 talks?) ( 30 min)
• Lab demonstrations needed and/or planned tests (1 hour)
  • VERVE? / JPL testbed(s)? / Dark Current / CIC / Low-T CTE /
• EMCCD calibration and data processing unique concerns (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

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Related Papers

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Minutes

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Follow-on Action Items

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