Application of conventional CCD cameras with Fabry-Perot spectrometers for airglow observations

Monica M. Coakley; Fred L. Roesler

doi:10.1117/12.187548

30 September 1994 Application of conventional CCD cameras with Fabry-Perot spectrometers for airglow observations

Monica M. Coakley, Fred L. Roesler

Proceedings Volume 2266, Optical Spectroscopic Techniques and Instrumentation for Atmospheric and Space Research; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.187548
Event: SPIE's 1994 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1994, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

This paper describes Fabry-Perot/CCD annular summing applied to airglow observations. Criteria are developed for determining the optimal rectangular format CCD chip configuration which minimizes dark and read noise. The relative savings in integration time of the imaging Fabry-Perot/CCD system over the pressure-scanned Fabry-Perot/PMT system is estimated for the optimal configuration through calculations of the signal to noise ratios for three extreme (but typical) cases of source and background intensity. The largest savings in integration time is estimated for the daysky thermospheric [O¹D] (6300 angstrom) case where the bright (approximately equals 5 X 10⁶R/A) Rayleigh-scattered background dominates the read noise. The long integration times required to obtain useful signal to noise ratios for the faint (approximately equals 10R) nightsky exospheric hydrogen Balmer-(alpha) (6563 angstrom) reduce the importance of the read noise term and yield large savings in integration time. The significance of the read noise term is greatly increased with the very short estimated integration times required for bright (approximately equals 200R) nightsky lines such as thermospheric [O¹D]. Alternate CCD formats and applications methods that reduce read noise and provide improved performance in the latter case are compared against the CCD annular summing technique.

Citation Download Citation

Monica M. Coakley and Fred L. Roesler "Application of conventional CCD cameras with Fabry-Perot spectrometers for airglow observations", Proc. SPIE 2266, Optical Spectroscopic Techniques and Instrumentation for Atmospheric and Space Research, (30 September 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.187548

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available