One Billion Measurements and Counting for Observatory Using Andor Cameras
Andor iKon-M series camera's high quantum efficiency, stability and reliable thermoelectric cooling visualises the most luminous objects in the universe
Belfast, UK –Â A trio of 'off-the-shelf' Andor scientific cameras has made over one billion measurements of the most luminous objects in the universe to help Liverpool John Moores University stay at the forefront of time domain astrophysics. The three ultrasensitive iKon-M DU934 cameras are at the heart of the University's SkyCamA, SkyCamT and SkyCamZ wide-field STILT telescopes and have run continuously for more than five years.
SkycamA is an all-sky camera used in basic weather monitoring and is capable of detecting objects about as faint as the naked eye can observe. SkycamT was designed to detect objects 100 times fainter than the naked eye can see while the third camera in SkyCamZ can distinguish objects more than 100 times fainter than that. However, almost all cameras capable of this level of quantum efficiency require vacuum pump cooling and the team was very concerned about reliability, especially as the telescopes are stationed 2,000 miles away at the top of a mountain in La Palma, the Canary Islands.
"We could not afford to fly out every week to fix problems so the combination of industry-leading thermoelectric cooling down to -100°C, very high sensitivity, negligible dark current and low noise performance offered by the Andor iKon-M DU934 was ideal," says Neil Mawson, from the Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University. "The Andor cameras have performed faultlessly. What's more, the availability of a Linux SDK meant we could integrate the camera into our existing software systems with minimal effort."
Since the STILT (Small Telescopes Installed at the Liverpool Telescope) system was installed, over 1 billion measurements of the brightness and positions of over 25 million objects have been made and the Liverpool team is using data mining techniques to identify new, previously undiscovered objects, including variable stars, galaxies, exoplanets and transient phenomena. They have also examined the optical brightness changes in the jets emerging from 'Blazars', the most luminous objects in the universe, which is allowing them to start to understand how the jet base twists and changes over periods of a few months.
The STILT system has also provided complementary observations of a number of transient phenomena including gamma ray bursts (GRB), supernovae and novae (some of the most violent and energetic events in the universe). Some of the observations captured by the system actually provide earlier observations than the main telescope due to their wide fields of view detecting the events before the main telescope was instructed to observe them.
"With the ever increasing focus on understanding the extreme physics involved in stellar phenomena, such as Supernovae, exploration of the Time Domain has become a major new frontier in astrophysics," says Colin Duncan of Andor. "Liverpool John Moores University is one of the pioneers in this field and we are proud that their faith in the design and stability of the iKon-M has been repaid.
Andor's iKon-M 934 series cameras are designed to offer the ultimate in high-sensitivity, low noise performance, ideal for demanding imaging applications. These cameras are equipped with a high-resolution, 1024x1024 pixel back-illuminated and anti-reflection coated detector with a pixel size of 13ìm. Boasting up to 95% QEmax, high dynamic range and exceptionally low readout noise, the new Dual AR coating extends the QE performance significantly across the UV/visible region of the spectrum for the broadest possible spectral coverage from one sensor.
To learn more about the iKon series of scientific cameras, please visit the Andor website at http://www.andor.com.
About Andor
Andor is a global leader in the pioneering and manufacturing of high performance scientific imaging cameras, spectroscopy solutions and microscopy systems for research and OEM markets. Andor has been innovating the photonics industry for over 20 years and continues to set the standard for high performance light measuring solutions, enabling its customers to break new ground by performing light measurements previously considered impossible. Andor's digital cameras, are allowing scientists around the world to measure light down to a single photon and capture events occurring within 1 billionth of a second.
Andor now has over 400 staff across 16 offices worldwide, distributing products to over 10,000 customers in 55 countries. Andor's products are used in a wide range of applications including medical research to further the understanding of heart disease, cancer and neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Andor also has applications for forensic science and astronomy. Through continuous dialogue with customers and strong teamwork, Andor continues to innovate ground-breaking products that improve the world in which we live.
More information is available at www.andor.com.
About Oxford Instruments plc
Oxford Instruments designs, supplies and supports high-technology tools and systems with a focus on research and industrial applications. Innovation has been the driving force behind Oxford Instruments' growth and success for over 50 years, and its strategy is to effect the successful commercialisation of these ideas by bringing them to market in a timely and customer-focused fashion.
The first technology business to be spun out from Oxford University, Oxford Instruments is now a global company with over 2300 staff worldwide and is listed on the FTSE250 index of the London Stock Exchange (OXIG). Its objective is to be the leading provider of new generation tools and systems for the research and industrial sectors with a focus on nanotechnology. Its key market sectors include nano-fabrication and nano-materials. The company's strategy is to expand the business into the life sciences arena, where nanotechnology and biotechnology intersect.
This involves the combination of core technologies in areas such as low temperature, high magnetic field and ultra-high vacuum environments; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; x-ray, electron, laser and optical based metrology; atomic force microscopy; optical imaging; advanced growth, deposition and etching.
Oxford Instruments aims to pursue responsible development and deeper understanding of our world through science and technology. Its products, expertise, and ideas address global issues such as energy, environment, security and health.
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