What Is EMCCD Technology

 

Definition of EMCCD Technology EMCCD technology is a digital scientific detector innovation first introduced to the imaging community by Andor Technology Plc. in early 2000, followed by a spectroscopy version in early 2005. At the time, Andor coined the term ‘Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Device (EMCCD)’ to amply describe the underlying process that defines this novel new technology platform.* EMCCD is a quantitative digital camera technology that is capable of detecting single photon events whilst maintaining high Quantum Efficiency, achievable by way of a unique electron multiplying structure built into the sensor. Unlike a conventional CCD, an EMCCD is not limited by the readout noise of the output amplifier, even when operated at high readout speeds. This is achieved by adding a solid state Electron Multiplying (EM) register to the end of the normal serial register; this register allows weak signals to be multiplied before any readout noise is added by the output amplifier, hence rendering the read noise negligible. The EM register has several hundred stages that use higher than normal clock voltages. As charge is transferred through each stage the phenomenon of Impact Ionization is utilized to produce secondary electrons, and hence EM gain. When this is done over several hundred stages, the resultant gain can be (software) controlled from unity to hundreds or even thousands of times. * The term has since become the industry standard, used by almost every manufacture and user of this technology. Source of the article above : http://www.emccd.com/what_is_emccd/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QuantEM:512SC EMCCD Camera Full Field-of-View Fluorescence Microscopy The QuantEM:512SC is the only scientific camera in the world that offers electron-multiplying (EM) gain with true quantitative stability across 16 bits at 10-MHz, 5-MHz, and 1.25-MHz operation speeds. A linearized and quantitative EM gain slider provides a much more intuitive, easily quantifiable EMCCD camera, while a self-calibrating EM gain feature ensures that the camera delivers the proper amounts of user-specified EM gain and remains quantitative over time. Key Camera Features Datasheets and Technical Resources Imaging Software and Drivers Published Articles and Research Contact Us EMCCD Cameras   |   CCD Cameras   |   Multichannel Imaging Systems   |   Retired Demo Cameras Primary Applications Quantitative FRET Multiprobe Experiments Ratiometric Ion Imaging Confocal Microscopy Live-Cell Fluorescence Imaging source: http://www.photometrics.com/products/emccdcams/quantem.php