Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “CCD Imaging”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5

Solid state imagers and their applications; Proceedings of the Meeting, Cannes, France, November 26, 27, 1985

Topics treated include the use of semiconductor imagers in high energy particle physics, an X-ray image sensor based on an optical TDI-CCD imager, and an electron-sensitive CCD readout array for a circular-scan streak tube. Papers are presented on the pan-imager, high resolution linear arrays, the reduction of reflection losses in solid-state image sensors, a high resolution CCD imager module with swing operation, large area CCD image sensors for scientific applications, and new readout techniques for frame transfer CCDs. Consideration is given to advanced optoelectronical sensors for autonomous rendezvous/docking and proximity operations in space, the testing and characterization of CCDs for the Rosat star sensors, an advanced radial camera for the Hubble Space Telescope, and scanning or staring infrared imagers.

Declerck, Gilbert J.↗

Computer-aided analysis of CCD linear image sensors

Special test equipment and techniques to collect and process image information from charge coupled devices (CCDs) by digital computer were reviewed. The video channel was traced from the CCD to the direct memory access bus of the Interdata Computer. Software was developed to evaluate and characterize a CCD for (1) dark signal versus temperature relationship, (2) calculation of temporal noise magnitude and noise shape for each pixel, (3) spatial noise into the video chain due to dark signal, (4) response versus illumination relationship (gamma), (5) response versus wavelength of illumination (spectral), (6) optimization of forcing functions, and (7) evaluation of an image viewed by a CCD. The basic software differences and specific examples of each program operating on real data are presented.

Prince, S. S.↗

Indium antimonide infrared CCD linear imaging arrays with on-chip preprocessing

A description is presented of the fabrication of a new InSb CCD chip based on an improved process which eliminates the limitations inherent with the earlier techniques. This process includes planar junction formation and an aluminum and SiO2 material system which is amenable to state-of-the-art chemical and plasma delineation techniques. Further, the new chip integrates for the first time in monolithic format InSb IR detectors with an InSb CCD. The reported experiments represent the first operation of an InSb infrared CCD array. In addition to fuller characterization of the 20-element charge-coupled infrared imaging device, several factors which influence device performance are currently being addressed. These include surface state density, the CCD output circuit, and storage time (dark current).

Thom, R. D.↗

Virtual phase imager for Galileo

A CCD imaging array with a new virtual-phase technology that has been developed for use in a slow-scan imaging system for NASA's Galileo mission to Jupiter is described. Among its features are an absence of interlevel shorts, simplicity of fabrication, low dark current (less than 0.4 nA/sq cm), high full well, high quantum efficiency in the front side illumination mode, large dynamic range (greater than 5000), good charge transfer efficiency (0.99997), excellent linearity (0.2%), uniform pixel response (1%), and improved radiation hardness. It is noted that its operating voltages must be constrained to narrow windows to maintain good charge transfer efficiency and avoid the production of spurious and leakage charge.

Janesick, J. R.↗

Spectral and multispectral imaging studies of lunar mantled mare deposits

Near-IR reflectance spectra (0.6-2.5 microns) and CCD images in the extended visible range (0.4-1.0 microns) obtained with Earth-based telescopes have been used to investigate the composition and origin of formations in the Schiller-Schickard region of the Moon. Of particular interest are the Schickard light plains, which represent an area of mantled mare basalt, or cryptomare. Here local pre-existing mare basalts were eroded and incorporated into a highlands-rich deposit by eject a from the Orientale Basin. Spectra observations of mature and immature highland and mare surfaces, as well as dark-halo crater materials provide information on the mafic mineralogy of features in the area. Analyses of the '1 micron' absorption band and spectral mixing models indicate that selected spots in the light plains contain on the order of 50 percent mare basalt. CCD image cubes can be used to map the amount of basalt in the light plains and evaluate changes with radial distance from Orientale.

Blewett, D. T.↗

An albedo map of P/Halley on 13 March 1986

An albedo map is presented of comet Halley from a 10 micrometer image taken from the Wyoming Infrared Observatory on 13 Mar. 1986, and a 7311 A CCD image taken from the Anglo-Australian Telescope about an hour later. To construct this map, the CCD image was first converted from 0.49 arcsec/pixel to 1 arcsec/pixel to match the scale of the 10 micron image, then both were calibrated in lambda F sub lambda units. According to the albedo map, most of the inner coma of Halley lies between gamma = 0.04 and 0.08. The overall smoothness of the map is remarkable considering the large dynamic range of the optical and IR maps, and the differences in spatial resolution and image processing.

Hayward, Thomas L.↗

Optical studies of gamma-ray burst fields. 3: GRB 790613 and GRB 781124

An optical photometric and proper motion study of the fields of the gamma-ray bursts GRB 790613 and GRB 781124 is presented. No objects were visible on our Charge Coupled Devices (CCD) images inside the GRB 790613 error box. About 15 objects are visible on our CCD images inside the GRB 781124 error box. Two of these objects were found to be faint galaxies. Two stars with sizeable proper motions were identified near, but outside of the GRB 781124 error box. No large proper motion objects were found in the area surrounding the GRB 790613 error box.

Harrison, Thomas E.↗

The application of infrared speckle interferometry to the imaging of remote galaxies and AGN

A 1.5 meter reflector, used for both infrared and optical astronomy, is also being used for infrared speckle interferometry and CCD imaging. The application of these imaging techniques to remote galaxies and active galactic nuclei are discussed. A simple model for the origin of speckle in coherent imaging systems is presented. Very careful photometry of the continuum of the galaxy M31 is underway using CCD images. It involves extremely intensive data reduction because the object itself is very large and has low surface brightness.

Olivares, Robert O.↗

A comparison of imaging methods for use in an array biosensor

An array biosensor has been developed which uses an actively-cooled, charge-coupled device (CCD) imager. In an effort to save money and space, a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera and photodiode were tested as replacements for the cooled CCD imager. Different concentrations of CY5 fluorescent dye in glycerol were imaged using the three different detection systems with the same imaging optics. Signal discrimination above noise was compared for each of the three systems.

Evaluation Studies↗

Observations of comets and asteroids

All available ground-based observational techniques are used to study the chemical and physical properties of the small bodies of the solar system, primarily comets and secondarily asteroids. The ultimate goal is to use these bodies to understand the formation and evolution of the solar system. The analysis of charge coupled device (CCD) images of comet P/Halley continued. This included a mojor revision of a paper on the periodicities of CN jets in Halley showing that their periodicity is 7.3 days, not 2.2 days. It also included an analysis of the continuum images which showed that the dust in jets is much redder than in the ambient coma. Calculations with Mie theory suggest that the particles that show the strongest effects of radiation pressure. Much effort was expended devising methods to estimate the level of sky background of the many images in which comet extends to the edge of the chip. Examined images of comet Wilson were taken over many months in 1987. Wilson, a dynamically new comet, shows none of the short-term variability or jet structure (either dusty jets or jets of radicals seen in Halley. This is presumably due to the lack of a mantle or the nucleus. Median-imaging of sky was as a technique for removing residual flat-fielding errors in CCD images. A Monte Carlo model and a convolution model were developed for studying temporal variability of gaseous daughter products.

Ahearn, Michael F.↗

On the rate at which comets split

We use time-resolved charge-coupled device (CCD) images to assess the frequency of splitting of comets. When blinked on a computer, the CCD images provide relatively high and uniform sensitivity to comoving companions. We find that 3 comets are split in a sample of 49, and estimate that the cometary splitting rate is S approximately 0.01 per year per comet or larger. This large rate suggests that splitting may be an important destructive process for the cometary nuclei.

Chen, Jun↗

Storm on Saturn

In September 1990, a white spot appeared on Saturn's atmosphere, which later spread over the entire equatorial region. The accompanying images were obtained as part of an effort to refine techniques for obtaining high resolution groundbased charge coupled device (CCD) images of the planets, and show the turbulent disturbance in Saturn's atmosphere. These broad red-band CCD images were obtained in November 1990 with the Catalina 1.5 m telescope. The planet was low in the sky at sunset, but the viewing was good enough to show detail in the equatorial region over all longitudes. Visibility of the features is enhanced by digital spatial filtering techniques. A storm of this magnitude has not been seen on Saturn since 1933.

Larson, Stephen M.↗

Talbot-Lau x-ray deflectometer: Refraction-based HEDP imaging diagnostic

Talbot-Lau x-ray interferometry has been implemented to map electron density gradients in High Energy Density Physics (HEDP) experiments. X-ray backlighter targets have been evaluated for Talbot-Lau X-ray Deflectometry (TXD). Cu foils, wires, and sphere targets have been irradiated by 10–150 J, 8–30 ps laser pulses, while two pulsed-power generators (∼350 kA, 350 ns and ∼200 kA, 150 ns) have driven Cu wire, hybrid, and laser-cut x-pinches. A plasma ablation front generated by the Omega EP laser was imaged for the first time through TXD for densities >1023 cm−3. Backlighter optimization in combination with x-ray CCD, image plates, and x-ray film has been assessed in terms of spatial resolution and interferometer contrast for accurate plasma characterization through TXD in pulsed-power and high-intensity laser environments. The results obtained thus far demonstrate the potential of TXD as a powerful diagnostic for HEDP.

Valdivia, M. P.↗

Reaching the Diffraction Limit - Differential Speckle and Wide-Field Imaging for the Gemini-N Telescope

Speckle imaging allows telescopes to achieve di raction limited imaging performance. The technique requires cameras capable of reading out frames at a very fast rate, e ectively `freezing out' atmospheric seeing. The resulting speckles can be correlated and images reconstructed that are at the di raction limit of the telescope. These new instruments are based on the successful performance and design of the Di erential Speckle Survey Instrument (DSSI) [2, 1]. The instruments are being built for the Gemini-N and WIYN telescopes and will be made available to the community via the peer review proposal process. We envision their primary use to be validation and characterization of exoplanet targets from the NASA K2 and TESS missions and RV discovered exoplanets. Such targets will provide excellent follow-up candidates for both the WIYN and Gemini telescopes [3]. Examples of DSSI data are shown in the gures below. We expect similar data quality in speckle imaging mode with the new instruments. Additionally, both cameras will have a wide- eld mode and standard SDSS lters. They will be highly versatile instruments and it is that likely many other science programs will request time on the cameras. The limiting magnitude for speckle observations, will remain around 13-14th at WIYN and 16-17th at Gemini, while wide- eld, normal CCD imaging operation should be able to go to much fainter, providing usual CCD imaging and photometric capabilities. The instruments will also have high utility as scoring cameras for telescope engineering purposes, or other applications where high time resolution is needed. Instrument support will be provided, including a software pipeline that takes raw speckle data to fully reconstructed images.

Gemini-N↗

Reaching the Diffraction Limit - Differential Speckle and Wide-Field Imaging for the WIYN Telescope

Speckle imaging allows telescopes to achieve diffraction limited imaging performance. The technique requires cameras capable of reading out frames at a very fast rate, effectively 'freezing out' atmospheric seeing. The resulting speckles can be correlated and images reconstructed that are at the diffraction limit of the telescope. These new instruments are based on the successful performance and design of the Differential Speckle Survey Instrument (DSSI).The instruments are being built for the Gemini-N and WIYN telescopes and will be made available to the community via the peer review proposal process. We envision their primary use to be validation and characterization of exoplanet targets from the NASA, K2 and TESS missions and RV discovered exoplanets. Such targets will provide excellent follow-up candidates for both the WIYN and Gemini telescopes. We expect similar data quality in speckle imaging mode with the new instruments. Additionally, both cameras will have a wide-field mode and standard SDSS filters. They will be highly versatile instruments and it is that likely many other science programs will request time on the cameras. The limiting magnitude for speckle observations will remain around 13-14th at WIYN and 16-17th at Gemini, while wide-field, normal CCD imaging operation should be able to go to much fainter, providing usual CCD imaging and photometric capabilities. The instruments will also have high utility as scoring cameras for telescope engineering purposes, or other applications where high time resolution is needed. Instrument support will be provided, including a software pipeline that takes raw speckle data to fully reconstructed images.

detector↗

Detection of CO(1-0) emission and optical imaging of the Seyfert galaxy/QSO Markarian 231

The detection of CO(J = 1-0) emission and optical imaging of the luminous infrared galaxy Markarian 231 are reported. The galaxy is extremely rich in molecular gas with MT(H2) approximately equal to 1.4 x 10 to the 10th solar masses, approximately 5 times the molecular gas content of the Galaxy. Markarian 231 is the most luminous object in the local universe (z approximately equal to or less than 0.1), with a far-infrared luminosity (lambda = 40-400 microns) of 2.1 x 10 to the 12th solar luminosities. THe CO detection yields a L(FIR)/M(H2) ratio of 150. A deep optical CCD image shows two striking tidal tails with total extent of about 75 kpc. The CCD image strongly suggests that Markarian 231 is an advanced merger system. If the molecular gas is highly concentrated in the nuclear region it may fuel an intense starburst and possibly feed the accretion onto an embedded QSO. The trigger for the intense activity observed in Markarian 231 appears to be the collision of two gas-rich spiral galaxies.

Sanders, D. B.↗

A survey of nebulae around Galactic Wolf-Rayet stars in the southern sky, 1

Images are presented from the first half of a survey of all Galactic Wolf-Rayet stars in the catalog of van der Hucht et al. (1981) residing in the southern skies. Previous surveys used only existing broad-band photographic plates. Encouraged by successes using CCD imaging with interference filters of the LMC and northern Galaxy (Miller & Chu 1993), we have expanded the survey to the southern hemisphere. In the first half of our southern survey, H alpha and (O III) narrow-band CCD images of fields centered on known Wolf-Rayet stars have indicated the existence of six new ring nebulae as well as revealing previously unobserved morphological features in the known ring nebulae. An example of this is an almost perfect ring of (O III) emission residing interior to the previously observed H alpha filaments of the Wolf-Rayet ring nebulae RCW 104. Our surveys to date indicate that 21% of all Wolf-Rayet stars have ring nebulae, with WN-type Wolf-Rayet stars having a greater likelihood for an associated ring.

Marston, A. P.↗

An investigation into periodicities in the morphology of CN jets in comet P/Halley

The paper presents an analysis of a set of CCD images of Comet Halley which were taken in the light of the CN radical to search for evidence of a 2.25-day and/or a 7.37-day periodicity in the evolution of the CN jets. It is found that, for a phase sorted set of CCD images, the geometry of the CN jets is more easily understood when a 7.37-day periodicity is assumed. The extent of the CN jets indicates a dominant periodicity that is greater than 2.25 days.

Hoban, S.↗