<title>Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) Digicon Detector System Concepts</title>

Abstract

A next logical step in the progression of state-of-the-art detector systems for use in astronomical observations is seen to be the development of an intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) system, involving the incorporation of a thinned backside-illuminated CCD as the anode of a Space Telescope design Digicon tube. This concept extends the demonstrated fundamental photon counting accuracy, low background, sensitivity, and stability of the Digicon to the two-dimensional capabilities of CCDs. In particular, the CCD-Digicon combination enables (1) the use of magnetic deflection in order to take full advantage of the basic resolution elements in the system and to enhance the uniformity of elemental response, and (2) charge pulse centroiding to substantially increase the number of effective detector resolution elements without straining manufacturing techniques as would be required to produce such amounts of physical array cells. Results of recent investigations into the feasibility and characteristics of these techniques are presented.