Forum 03/13/2003

“From Outerspace to Innerspace: CCDs in astronomy and microscopy”

Bob Leach – Astronomer, SDSU

Optical astronomers and electron microscopists have a lot of overlap in their interest in using CCDs: large detecting area, photometric tability, digitized readout, low noise and high detective quantum efficiencies. Several approaches that astronomers have been developing for the last several years to address these needs will be briefly discussed, particularly with respect to large area. Some of the requirements that electron microscopists place on CCD operation such as readout speed and rapid sample viewing will be discussed within the context of controller electronics and software that our group has developed for Gatan.