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

* Adjourn

* Happy Hour / possibly an organized Dinner to Follow

Links

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Related Papers or References

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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.
  • Importance to this community to prove EM operation with deep-depletion (DD) CCDs?
• First Light (France) is an alternative commercial EMCCD camera vendor.

Follow-on Action Items

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