Analysis of EMCCD gain estimation techniques for use in astronomical instruments
Date
2023-09-14Author
McErlean, Donal
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Abstract
Electron-multiplied Charge Coupled Devices (EMCCDs) are used in many astro nomical instruments where they provide much improved signal to noise compared to
conventional CCDs. However, the gain provided by electron-multiplication may not
be known with precision, leading to errors in the measurements. Several techniques
to estimate the gain of EMCCDs are researched and investigated in this work, includ ing some techniques previously only used for microscopy. Investigation and analyses
were completed in a simulation environment, in a laboratory environment, and us ing data collected by an astronomical instrument (Galway Astronomical Stokes
Polarimeter), where accurate gain estimation of the EMCCD detectors is important
for the polarimetry results from the instrument.