User's Guide to the Hamilton Spectrograph


Table of Contents


Introduction
Quick Reference
Hardware
CCD Characteristics
Apertures
Grating Tilt & Dewar Height
Filter Wheel & Shutter
Calibration Sources
Photon Integrator
Image Rotator
Iodine Cell & Slit Room Controller
Guide Camera & Filter Wheel
Software
Data Taking System
Hamilton Motor Controller
Showmidpoint
Eventsounds
Hamilton Focus
More Info:
Spectral Format
Navigating the Spectrum
Table of Orders
Setup Procedures
Checklists
Observing Hints
Throughput

Data Archive
Mt. Hamilton Homepage

CCD Characteristics

As of the first quarter 2012 (beginning 1 February 2012) the dewar 4 CCD is the only detector available for use with the Hamilton Spectrograph. Dewars 6 and 8 have been retired.

The dewar 4 CCD is a 4096 x 4096, 12-micron pixel device. The respective readnoise, dark current and QE are given in the table below. (See also detailed characteristics and specifications for Dewar 4.)

Detector Readout Speed Amplifier Gain
(e-/DN)
Readnoise
(e-)
Readout Timea
(m:ss)
Dark Current
(e-/pixel/hour @ -80 C)
Dewar 4 Fast Right 0.92 3.2 0:53 2
Dewar 4 Fast Left 0.91 3.4 0:53 2
Dewar 4 Slow Right 0.88 2.4 2:56 2
Dewar 4 Slow Left 0.82 2.5 2:56 2
aReadout Times for Dewar 4 are for the full CCD chip using both amplifiers. Using a single amplifier to read the full chip will take approximately twice as long.
Other Notes:
Dewar 4 is linear in response up to 55,000 DN in all readout modes. Readnoise, gain and linearity measurements were done in Feb 2011. Bias level should be ~1000 DN for all detectors in all readout modes. If it is significantly different contact a staff member.

Retired Detector CCD Characteristics

Prior to the first quarter 2012, three CCD's are available for use with the Hamilton: dewars 4, 6 and 8. Their performance and characteristics differed significantly. In addition to the characteristics of the dewar 4 CCD (described above), the characteristics of dewars 6 and 8 are described here in the interests of supporting archival and legacy programs. Dewars 6 and 8 are 2048 x 2048, 15-micron pixel devices.

Dewar 4 is Fairchild Dewar#4
Dewar 6 is Loral 2k x 2k
Dewar 8 is LBNL 2k x2k

N.B. The QE for dewar 8 in the above plot was measured at -115 c. QE may be slightly lower at lower temperatures. (Statistics courtesy of the Lick Detector Lab)

Dewar 6 is a thinned, back-illuminated device with somewhat better blue response, and is much less susceptible to particle events.

Dewar 8 is an unthinned, high-resistivity chip with excellent red response and narrower line profiles (narrow-slit FWHM of about 1.45 pixels as compared to about 2.2 pixels for dewar 6), but particle events are much more common and tend to leave longer trails.

Dewar 6 shows fringing in the red, and has a few bad columns; dewar 8 has no fringing and no bad columns. Their respective readnoise and dark current, and their comparative QE's are given in the table and plot below. (See also detailed characteristics and specifications for Dewar 6 and Dewar 8.)

Detector Readout Speed Amplifierb Gain
(e-/DN)
Readnoise
(e-)
Readout Time
(m:ss)c
Dark Current
(e-/pixel/hour)
Dewar 8 Slow Left 1.2 5.7 1:31 40 -- 57 (@ -135 C)
Dewar 8 Slow Right 1.2 10.9 1:31 40 -- 57 (@ -135 C)
Dewar 8 Fast Left 1.3 10.1 0:31 40 -- 57 (@ -135 C)
Dewar 8 Fast Right 1.3 17.0 0:31 40 -- 57 (@ -135 C)
Dewar 6 Slow Right 1.1 10.0 1:31 16 (@ -118 C)
Dewar 6 Fast Right 1.2 18.0 0:31 16 (@ -118 C)
bDewars 6 and 8 each have two readout amplifiers, of which only one is used at a time to read out the CCD. It is highly recommended to use the Left amplifier for each detector, as it has significantly less readnoise.
cReadout Time is for the full CCD chip and does not include a special erase of the chip after readout for dewar 8 (special erase takes 8 sec). The time to erase the Dewar 8 CCD before the exposure begins is ~13 seconds for slow readout, and ~8 seconds for fast readout.
Other Notes:
Dewar 6 left amplifier is not functioning as of December 2009.
Dewar 8 measurements made during Jan 2009, dewar 6 during Apr 2009 by T. Lowe. Dewar 6 slow readout measurements made by R. Stover Jan 2010.
Bias level should be ~1000 DN for all detectors in all readout modes. If it is significantly different contact a staff member.


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Last modified: Wed Nov 28 19:00:00 PST 2012