Searcharxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · astro-ph/9607107

An SSPM-Based High-Speed Near-Infrared Photometer for Astronomy

S. S. Eikenberry·G. G. Fazio·S. M. Ransom
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

We describe the design, operation, and performance of a new high-speed infrared photometer using the Solid-State Photomultiplier (SSPM) detector. The SSPM was developed by Rockwell International Science Center and has single-photon counting capability over the 0.4-28 micron wavelength range, intrinsic time response of order 1 ns, and low detector noise (Petroff, 1987). We have operated a 200x200-micron back-illuminated SSPM in a liquid-helium cooled dewar with a room-temperature transimpedance amplifier output. Single photon pulses can be easily distinguished above the amplifier noise. The individual photon pulses are binned at a selectable time resolution ranging from $5 μ$s to 64 ms, and then written to Exabyte tape. In the first astronomical application of such a device, we have made observations of the Crab Nebula pulsar and Her X-1 at near-infrared wavelengths (J-, H-, and K-bands), and we present the instrument sensitivities established by these observations. We discuss other astronomical observations which are either planned or currently underway. Finally, we present design specifications and predicted performances for a second-generation SSPM high-speed infrared photometer.

Explore related subjects

astro-ph

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

S. S. Eikenberry, G. G. Fazio, S. M. Ransom. 1996-07-22. An SSPM-Based High-Speed Near-Infrared Photometer for Astronomy. https://doi.org/10.1086/133816

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2024

A survey of debris trails from short-period comets

We observed 34 comets using the 24 micron camera on the Spitzer Space Telescope. Each image contains the nucleus and covers at least 10^6 km of each comet's orbit. Debris trails due to mm-sized or larger particles were found along the orbits of 27 comets; 4 comets had small-particle dust tails and a viewing geometry that made debris trails impossible to distinguish; and only 3 had no debris trail despite favorable observing conditions. There are now 30 Jupiter-family comets with known debris trails, of which 22 are reported in this paper for the first time. The detection rate is >80%, indicating that debris trails are a generic feature of short-period comets. By comparison to orbital calculations for particles of a range of sizes ejected over 2 yr prior to observation, we find that particles comprising 4 debris trails are typically mm-sized while the remainder of the debris trails require particles larger than this. The lower-limit masses of the debris trails are typically 10^11 g, and the median mass loss rate is 2 kg/s. The mass-loss rate in trail particles is comparable to that inferred from OH production rates and larger than that inferred from visible-light scattering in comae.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2024

Deformation procedure for scalar fields in cosmology

This work offers an extension of the deformation procedure introduced in field theory to the case of standard cosmology in the presence of real scalar field in flat space-time. The procedure is shown to work for many models, which give rise to several different cosmic scenarios, evolving under the presence of first-order differential equations which solve the corresponding equations of motion very appropriately.

astro-ph↗