Characterization of solid state array cameras for the mid-IR
Abstract
We present a characterization of some processes affecting the performance of solid state array cameras designed for ground based astronomical imaging in the 8 13μm atmospheric window. Our discussion includes a novel model for electron-hole generationrecombination noise based on the probable pathlength of an electron in a photoconductor. We use the Berkeley mid-IR Array Camera as an example. For this camera, the results show that the total optical system composed of the camera, a 3m telescope, and the atmosphere has an efficiency of about 3%, a 1σ noise equivalent flux density of 25 mJy min-1/2arcsec-2 measured over a Δλ/λ=10% band width, and a noise equivalent expressed as the ambient temperature thermal black body noise of 23%.
- Publication:
-
International Journal of Infrared and Millimeter Waves
- Pub Date:
- November 1992
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF01010740
- Bibcode:
- 1992IJIMW..13.1709K
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Windows;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Infrared Imagery;
- Solid State Devices;
- Space Infrared Telescope Facility;
- Analog To Digital Converters;
- Black Body Radiation;
- Emissivity;
- Laplace Transformation;
- Photoconductivity;
- Quantum Efficiency;
- Instrumentation and Photography;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Infrared Instruments;
- Infrared Imaging;
- Detector Arrays