Chapter 1 Introduction; Proem + Cameras; Emccd Technology And On-Chip Multiplication Gain - Princeton Instruments ProEM+ EMCCD User Manual

Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a ProEM+ EMCCD camera system from Princeton
Instruments. Your system has been thoroughly tested to meet Princeton Instruments'
exacting standards and to meet the demanding requirements of many low light level
imaging applications.
Please read the manual carefully before operating the camera. This will help you optimize
the many features of this camera to suit your research needs.
®
ProEM + Cameras
ProEM
technology that enables the multiplication of photon
generated charge right on the CCD. This approach offers an
effective alternative to traditional ICCD cameras for many
non-gated, low-light applications.
The ProEM+:512B features square, 16 μm x 16 µm pixels in
a 512 x 512, frame-transfer format. The ProEM+:512BK
also offers 16 μm x 16 μm pixels and frame-transfer format but has a custom 8.2 x 8.2 mm
imaging area with a special on-chip for 2 open, 98 masked and 410 open rows. The
ProEM+:1024B incorporates a larger 1024 x 1024, 13 µm pixels frame transfer CCD. The
ProEM+:1600
respectively) with 16 μm x 16 µm pixels. The cameras are available with or without
eXcelon
The back-illuminated EMCCDs with dual amplifiers ensure optimal performance not
only for applications that demand the highest available sensitivity but also for those
requiring a combination of high quantum efficiency and wide dynamic range. Deep
thermoelectric cooling and state-of-the-art electronics are employed to help suppress
system noise. The imaging cameras can be operated at 10 MHz for high-speed imaging or
more slowly for high-precision photometry, while the spectroscopy cameras can be
operated at up to 8 MHz. Supravideo frame rates are achievable via subregion readout.
Note: During the transition from ProEM to ProEM+, camera bodies were still labeled
ProEM. To determine if your camera is a ProEM+: in LightField, the camera icon will be
labeled ProEM+; in WinX, the Camera Type (on the Hardware Setup tab) will have a
"+" appended as in EEV CCD97B+ or E2V CCD207_10B+.

EMCCD Technology and On-Chip Multiplication Gain

The principal difference between an electron-multiplying CCD (EMCCD) and a
traditional CCD is the presence of an extended serial register in the new device (see
Figure 1). Electrons are accelerated from pixel to pixel in the extended portion of the
serial register (also referred to as a multiplication register) by applying higher-than-
typical CCD clock voltages. This causes secondary electrons to be generated in the
silicon by impact ionization. The degree of multiplication gain is controlled by increasing
or decreasing the clock voltages for this register (gain is exponentially proportional to the
®
+ cameras feature on-chip multiplication gain, a
(2) (4)
and 1600 are full frame format EMCCDs (1600 x 200 and 1600 x 400,
®
.
Chapter 1
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