EMCCDs

&
Digital CDS techniques

Jean – Luc GACH

Observatoire de Marseille

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 1

 « L3CCD project »
Participants & Funding
z Started in mid 2002
z Active Participants:
- P. Balard (Marseille)
- O. Boissin (Marseille)
- O. Daigle (Montreal)
- J.L. Gach (Marseille)
- C. Guillaume (Haute Provence Observatory)

z Funding
- Lab funding (CNRS/UP): 31.1 k€ 35 %
- CNRS/INSU 7.7k€ in 2004 9%
- ESO 18 k€
12 k€ in 2004 33 %
- Canada (LAE) 20 k€ (30 kCAN$) 23 %
TOTAL 2004 88.8 k€

Estimated manpower cost 2002-2004: 630 k€

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 2
 Talk structure
z Needs for low noise CCDs
z EMCCDs theory
z EMCCDs results
z EMCCDs controller considerations
z Digital CDS theory
z Digital CDS results

Note : EMCCD = {E2V’s L3CCD, TI’s impactron}

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 3
 EMCCDs devices
z Avalaible EMCCDs
Device MF size Pitch Speed Price
µm MHz K€
CCD65 E2V 576x288 20x30 11 10
CCD60 E2V 128x128 24 11 ???
CCD87 E2V 512x512 16 11 10
CCD97 E2V 512x512 16 11 100
TC253 TI 656x496 7.4 12.5 0.5
TX285 TI 1kx1k 8 35 5
17 dec 2003 ESO conference 4
 Needs for low noise CCDs
z Simplified classical CCD noise formula:

Usually in low selectivity instruments, noise is

dominated by photon noise (background
contribution)
In high selectivity instruments, noise is dominated
by detector noise
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 Needs for low noise CCDs
z Low noise applications:
- Bright objects but short exposures
Time resolving applications (speckle, fast phenomenons…)
Wavefront sensing

- Faint objects & high selectivity

High spatial and/or spectral resolution spectroscopy

- Faint objects, high selectivity & short exposures

Scanning instruments (FP, FTS)

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 6

 Needs for low noise CCDs
z Possible solutions :
- Bright objects but short exposures
EMCCDs
- Faint objects & high selectivity
Digital CDS
EMCCDs
- Faint objects, high selectivity & short exposures
photon counting EMCCDs
3rd generation GaAs intensified Photon counting systems (IPCS)

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 7

 Needs for low noise CCDs
z Examples of performance: FP observations

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 8

 Needs for low noise CCDs
NGC 2403 – Integral field radial velocities

3 H obs., CFHT 3.6 m 1 H obs., OMM 1.6m

+MOSFP instrument + CIGALE instrument
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+Thin CCD (QE=90%) +GaAs IPCS (QE=25%)
 EMCCDs theory
z EMCCD structure

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 10

 EMCCDs theory
z Multiplication process

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 EMCCDs theory
z Per-stage multiplication probability

(from Robbins & Hadwen)

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 EMCCDs theory
z Electron multiplication is a stochastic
process !
z Output probability distribution: Total gain

(from Basden & al.) Nb of input

Mean gain : electrons
Nb of stages

17 dec 2003 ESO conference

Per-stage gain 13
 EMCCDs theory
z Probability distribution example with G=6650:

0,00016

0,00014
1 électron
0,00012 2 électrons
3 électrons
0,00010 4 électrons
Probabilité

0,00008
One output level will give
0,00006
several input possibilities…
0,00004

0,00002

0,00000

-0,00002
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000
Electrons

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 14

 EMCCDs theory
z The stochastic process adds noise to the classical shot
noise (convolution)
z In EMCCDs, output noise is:

z When G and N are big, F2 =2

(Excess noise factor F)2
z A high gains :

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 15

 EMCCDs theory
z Excess noise factor for a 536 stage amplification register

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 16

(from Robbins & Hadwen)
 EMCCDs theory
z Excess noise could also be interpreted as a QE
loss :

z Equivalent to a noiseless CCD with 50% less QE

z But QE is NOT a major issue at low fluxes (see
NGC 2403 observations presented before)

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 17

 EMCCDs theory
z Generalized SNR formula:

z If G is sufficient, readout noise contribution

is ~ 0

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 18

 EMCCDs theory
z Reducing the noise factor :
- incrase g (is it possible ? See later)
- photon counting
z If output signal > threshold level, we consider that
we have one (and only one) photon in the pixel.
z And what if several photons are on the same pixel
during exposure time ?
z Solution : avoid this by a fast readout

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 19

 EMCCDs theory
z Speed issues

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 20

 EMCCDs theory

0,00020

0,00018
Cut level
0,00016

0,00014

0,00012

E2V CCD 65
Probabilité

0,00010

0,00008 Gain ~ 6000

0,00006 One input electron
0,00004

0,00002

0,00000
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000
Electrons
Missed events = QE loss

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 21

 EMCCDs theory

1
0,9
0,8
0,7
0,6
0,5

0,4
RQE relatif

0,3

0,2 -
500
Seuilelectron
de 500 ecut
-
150
Seuilelectron
de 150 ecut

0,1
50 100 1000 10000 30000
Gain
17 dec 2003 ESO conference 22
At least 5σ cut is necessary…10σ is ideal (from previous IPCS data)
 EMCCDs theory
z Possible working modes for an EMCCD:
- No amplification (G=1)
the CCD is a normal CCD
- Low to medium amplification (1<G<1000)
The CCD has no readout noise but has excess noise
- High amplification (G>1000)
The CCD is used in photon counting mode.
No readout noise, no excess noise
possible non linearity at high fluxes
z It’s possible to switch between modes at any time!
17 dec 2003 ESO conference 23
 L3CCD results
z Various results of amplified mode operation
in the literature
z In this talk : Photon counting results
-Photon counting is the most demanding application in sensitivity
(raises defects of detector)
- Photon counting is also speed demanding

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 24

 L3CCD results
z Photon counting image (40ms exposure, 11
Mpixels/s, EEV CCD65 @ 183K)

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 25

 L3CCD results
CCD 65 @ 11Mpix/s Gain ~ 10k
293 K dark 183 K dark

Unwanted events will be reduced at lower gain, but

due to high output amplifier noise QE loss is
important

??? Dark is not dark ???

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 26
 L3CCD results
CCD 87 @ 223K 10Mpixels/s smaller gain (1k)
(lower output amplifier noise)
DARK
6311 counts

Horizontal cut

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 27

 L3CCD results
CCD 87 @ 223K 10Mpixels/s

825 +/- 28 photons light

7482 counts

Horizontal cut

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 28

 L3CCD results

V phase image &

storage increased by 3
volts
100 000 counts !
Horizontal cut

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 29

 L3CCD results
z 2 sources of unwanted events : serial and parallel registers
z Increasing gain will increase unwanted events (serial
register spurious charge). Therefore increasing g (per
stage gain) to improve noise factor is impossible (for
the moment…)

z unwanted events in the parallel registers are generated by

clock levels (spurious charge or clock induced charge).

z Mean level can be reduced actually to 0.02

event/pixel/frame
17 dec 2003 ESO conference 30
 L3CCD results
z Confirmed by ING tests with overscan

(Courtesy of S. Tulloch)
17 dec 2003 ESO conference 31
 L3CCD results
z CIC is charge multiplication in registers !
z Due to buried channel structure and hole
migration in MPP devices
Cloc kingdark
Surface
c urrent
recombination
Impac t ionisation Al Elecholes
Moving trodeto c hannel
stop SiO2
N Si

Cloc k
Depleted buried
Charge cgenerated
hannel
elec tron
Psubstrate
P well
17 dec 2003 ESO conference 32
 L3CCD results
z Need slow rise times, but short pulses (but
short pulses will also degrade CTE)

From Eastman Kodak. MPP classical CCD

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 33
 L3CCD results
z To avoid CIC :
- Drive the CCD in non MPP mode
- use slow slew rate clocks but short
pulses. For HV use sine wave clock
- run the CCD as slow as possible
- Use other phase geometry (TI chips may
have different properties) especially in first
amplification stages (smaller pixels).
- Use the lowest gain possible
17 dec 2003 ESO conference 34
 Controller considerations
z In most EMCCDs applications we want:
- high readout speed
- low CIC
- low readout noise (also to minimize gain &
CIC)

High speed = 10 (E2V) to 35 (TI) Mpixels/s !!

-> a classical controller won’t meet this constraints

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 35
 Controller considerations
z CCD amplifier :
need 20 to 40MHz bandwidth, low noise

C. Guillaume (Haute Provence Observatory) design gives 17 electron

noise at 40MHz bandwidth with 1800V/us slew rates

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 36

 Controller considerations
z Phases are RF signals (0 to 40 MHz). Need
coax feed & strict impedance matching or
in-house electronics.

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 37

 Controller considerations
z HV Phase design :
- sine wave drive
- 48V peak for E2V chips (less in the near future ?)
- Amplitude controlled (gain variation)
- HV phase capacitance 50 to 100pF

75 pF @ 20 MHz = 106 Ohms load

106 Ohms @ 50V peak drive = 470 mA peak drive !
470 mA @ 50V sine drive = 8.3 W @ 20 MHz (reactive
power – at driver level only)

on chip dissipation : CVf 2 =0.075W + phases resistance

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 38

 Controller considerations
z Vertical phases : need slew rate control or shape
control.
z Corot design (courtesy of C.Guillaume):

z Or full digital design

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 39
 Controller considerations
z ADC : 16bits impossible, 14bits @ 40MS/s, differential input.
z CDS : Digital CDS
z Sequencer : must drive sine and square waves in phase -> Direct
Digital Synthesis (DDS) design
z Interface : Hi-speed digital (RS422 or LVDS)

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 40

 Controller considerations
Serial
Microcontroller Bias gen BIAS
c om.
Amplitude (gain) control
DDS RF power HV phase
Driver
Sequenc er
Driver Horizontal
Sync s
phases
Rs422
or Vertic al
LVDS Shaper Driver
phases
drive
Digital 14 bits
40 MSPS Video
CDS
A/D
Low noise
wideband (40MHz) amp
17 dec 2003 ESO conference 41
 Controller considerations
z Actual status of L3CCD optimised controller @
Marseille observatory
- Amplifier validated
- HV phase & Horiz phase validated
- Sequencer validated
- Software & acquisition validated
Remains Vertical phase design (first design not
validated)

Expected fully working L3 optimised controller : 1st

quarter 2004 with CCD65, 2nd with CCD 87
17 dec 2003 ESO conference 42
 Digital CDS systems
z Developped in 1999 @ Marseille
Observatory & Haute Provence Observatory

z Actual status : prototype working

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 43

 Readout noise of a CCD+CDS system

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 44

 Real time Digital filter (DSP)

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 45

 Digital CDS systems
z System structure :

z Replaces straightforward an « old » analog CDS

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 46
 DARK CONDITION
Uncorrelated samples

CDS makes the mean

of the signal (1st order
filtering)

Black level These samples are

strongly correlated !
Pixel level

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 47

 Digital CDS systems

Black reference

Pixel value

Sample

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 48

 Perfect CDS noise floor

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 49

 Sample

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 50

 Digital CDS systems
z Frequency response

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 51

 Results

- One prototype working

- 1.7 electrons noise @ 50kpix/s obtained
with a « 3 electron noise » CCD (EEV 42-
20 read at 5e- with CDS)
- 100 ppm linearity (1000 ppm with CDS)

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 52

Future possible developments
– Use of lower intrinsic noise CCDs
– Use of more complex digital filters with
increase of DSP power
– Coupling with NDRO or multiple skipper amps
(Janesick, Atwood)

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 53

 Thank you for your attention !

17 dec 2003 ESO conference 54