Evalution of a CMDS imager as readout for imaging photon counters

Abstract

This work is motivated by a desire to check if CMOS detectors, which are somewhat inferior to CCDs in terms of noise and dark current, but are much simpler to use, could be used as readout in imaging photon counters. Tests have been made on the performance of a CMOS detector used as readout of an image intensifier. The main conclusions are that: a) the detector has adequate dynamic range as well as sensitivity for photon counting, b) with an optics for reduction by a factor about three between the intensifier and the readout, it is found that 10-20 micron wide slits are recorded with an rms width of - 0.14 pixels, i.e. - 11 microns on the slit-plane - this includes effects due to finite resolution of the intensifier, and c) the detector is capable of giving a rms precision of - 0.03 pixels ( - 0.7 microns) on centroids of images similar to those of intensified photon events.