Abstract
At the heart of all astronomical instruments is some form of detector to convert electromagnetic energy into an electrical signal. Having indicated that the dominant detector in modern astronomy is the charge-coupled device (CCD), it is important to consider these remarkable detectors in more detail. We begin with a brief historical review of CCDs from invention to present day, an amazing story by itself, and then cover the basic principles of how CCDs work. Practical details will follow in the next chapter.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References and Suggestions for Further Reading
Amelio, G.F. (1974) Charge-coupled devices, Scientific American, February.
Beletic, J.E.; Beletic, J.W.; and Amico, P. (2006) Scientific Detectors for Astronomy 2005: Explorers of the Photon Odyssey, Astrophysics & Space Science Library, Springer-Verlag, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Benyon, J.D.E.; and Lamb, D.R. (1980) Charge-coupled Devices and Their Applications, mcGraw-Hill, New York.
Boulade, O.; Vigroux, L.; Charlot, X.; Borgeaud, P.; Carton, P-H.; de Kat, J.; Rousse, J.Y.; Mellier, Y.; Gigan, P.; Crampton, D.; and Morbey, C.L. (1998) Megacam: The next-generation wide-field imaging camera for CFHT, in S. D’Odorico (ed.), Optical Astronomical Instrumentation. SPIE, Bellingham, WA [Proc. SPIE, 3355, 614–625].
Boyle, W.S.; and Smith, G.E. (1971) Charge-coupled devices: A new approach to MIS device structures, IEEE Spectrum, 8(7), 18–27.
Burke, B.; Jorden, P.; and Vu, P. (2005) CCD technology, Experimental Astronomy, 19, 69–102. [Compact review from MIT/Lincoln Labs, e2v technologies, and Fairchild Imaging.]
Gorjian, V.; Wright, E.; and McLean, I.S. (1997) Drift scanning using infrared arrays: A powerful method for background-limited imaging. Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac., 109, 821–826.
Gunn, J.E.; Carr, M.; Rockosi, C.; Sekiguchi, M.; Berry, K.; Elms, B.; de Haas, E.; Ivezić, Ž.; Knapp, G.; Lupton, R. et al. (1998) The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Photometric Camera, Astron. J., 116, 3040–3081.
Holland, S.E.; Groom, D.E.; Palaio, N.P.; Stover, R.J.; and Wei, M. (2003) Fully depleted, back-illuminated charge-coupled devices fabricated on high-resistivity silicon, IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, 50, 225–238. See also http://www-ccd.lbl.gov/
Howell, S.B. (2006) Handbook of CCD Astronomy, second edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
Janesick, J.R. (2001) Scientific Charge-Coupled Devices, SPIE, Bellingham, WA. [Excellent detailed book on all aspects of CCDs.]
Janesick, J.; and Blouke, M. (1987) Sky on a chip: The fabulous CCD, Sky & Telescope, September, 74, 238–242.
Janesick, J.R.; Hynecek, J.; and Blouke, M.M. (1981) A virtual phase imager for Galileo, in Solid State Imagers for Astronomy: Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instr. Eng. (SPIE), 290, 165–173.
Jorden, P.R.; Pool, P.; and Tulloch, S.M. (2004) Secrets of E2V Technologies CCDs, in P. Amico, J.W. Beletic, and J.E. Beletic (eds.), Scientific Detectors for Astronomy, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Kristian, J.; and Blouke, M. (1982) Charge-coupled devices in astronomy, Scientific American, October, 247, 66–74.
Mackay, C.D. (1986) Charge-coupled devices in astronomy, Annual Reviews of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 24, 255–283.
MacKay, C.D. (1992) The Role of Charge Coupled Devices in Low Light Level Imaging, AstroMed Press & Publications, Cambridge, UK
Mackay, C.D.; Tubbs, R.N.; Bell, R.; Burt, D.J.; Jerram, P.; and Moody, I. (2001) Subelectron read noise at MHz pixel rates, Proc. SPIE, 4306, 289–298.
McLean, I.S. (1989) Electronic and Computer-Aided Astronomy: From Eyes to Electronic Sensors, Ellis Horwood/John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK
Rieke, G.H. (2003) Detection of Light from the Ultraviolet to the Submillimeter, second edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
Sequin, C.H.; and Tompsett, M.F. (1975) Charge Transfer Devices, Academic Press, New York.
Tonry, J.L.; Burke, B.E.; and Schechter, P.L. (1997) The orthogonal transfer CCD, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac., 109, 1154.
Web sites
Bonn shutters: http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~ccd/shutters/
For low light level CCDs: http://www.e2v.com/products/ccd-and-cmos-imaging-and-semiconductors/imaging-scientific-sensors.cfm
For orthogonal transfer CCDs: http://pan-starrs.ifa.hawaii.edu/public/ and http://www.noao.edu/wiyn/ODI/index.htm
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Praxis Publishing Ltd, Chichester, UK
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
(2008). Charge-coupled devices. In: Electronic Imaging in Astronomy. Springer Praxis Books. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-76583-7_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-76583-7_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-76582-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-76583-7
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)