World’s most sensitive astronomical camera developed
September 30th, 2009 - 12:42 pm ICT by ANIWashington, September 30 (ANI): A team of scientists has developed the world’s most sensitive astronomical camera.
The camera was developed by a team of Universite de Montreal researchers In Canada, led by physics PhD student Olivier Daigle.
Marketed by Photon etc., a young Quebec firm, the camera will be used by the Mont-Megantic Observatory and NASA, which purchased the first unit.
The camera is made up of a CCD controller for counting photons; a digital imagery device that amplifies photons observed by astronomical cameras or by other instruments used in situations of very low luminosity.
The controller produces 25 gigabytes of data per second.
Electric signals used to pilot the imagery chip are 500 times more precise than those of a conventional controller.
This increased precision helps reduce noise that interferes with the weak signals coming from astronomical objects in the night sky.
The controller allows to substantially increase the sensitivity of detectors, which can be compared to the mirror of the Mont-Mégantic telescope doubling its diameter.
“The first astronomical results are astounding and highlight the increased sensitivity acquired by the new controller,” said Daigle.
“The clarity of the images brings us so much closer to the stars that we are attempting to understand,” he added.
A thriving Quebec company Photon etc. developed a commercial version of the controller devised by Daigle and his team and integrated it in complete cameras.
NASA was first to place an order for one of these cameras and was soon followed by a research group from the University of Sao Paulo, and by a European-Canadian consortium equipping a telescope in Chili. (ANI)
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Tags: astronomical objects, astronomical results, canadian consortium, ccd controller, chili, clarity, closer to the stars, conventional controller, digital imagery, electric signals, gigabytes, luminosity, mont megantic, nasa, night sky, observatory, quebec company, research group, telescope, universite de montreal
