We present the evolutions of the C-BLUE One family of cameras (formerly introduced as C-MORE), a laser guide star
oriented wavefront sensor camera family. Within the Opticon WP2 european funded project, which has been set to develop
LGS cameras, fast path solutions based on existing sensors had to be explored to provide working-proven cameras to ELT
projects ready for the first light schedule. Result of this study, C-BLUE One is a CMOS based camera with 1600x1100
pixels (9um pitch) and 481 FPS refresh rate. It has been developed to answer most of the needs of future laser based
adaptive optics systems (LGS) to be deployed on 20-40m-class telescopes as well as on smaller ones. We present the main
features of the camera and measured performance in terms of noise, dark current, quantum efficiency and image quality
which are the key parameters for the application. The camera has been declined also in fast smaller format
(800x600x1500FPS) and large format (3200X2200x250FPS) to cover most of the AO applications.
MCT-based cameras are very competitive when it comes to ultra-low light imaging, however it is crucial for less demanding applications to have a non-cryogenic and cost-effective solution. Progress in band-gap engineering has enabled to shift the detection cut-off wavelength of InGaAs by tuning the indium composition of the InxGa1-xAs compound. Operating with a double TEC coupled to air and water cooling, the C-RED 2 Extended Range cameras are an alternative to MCT for specific applications in astronomy and free space optics. We will present the performances of these new VGA extended range InGaAs cameras with sensitivity from 1.1 μm to 1.9 μm and from 1.2 μm to 2.2 μm.
The development of extended range detectors based on InGaAs technology is a recent breakthrough in imaging. Taking advantage of the technological bricks developed for the C-RED 2 camera, First Light Imaging has integrated extended range InGaAs sensors and explored the possibilities offered by this technology. The C-RED 2 ER camera can support two detectors with shifted sensitivity. The cameras and their performances are described in detail in this paper. The C-RED 2 ER camera can operate with different readout modes and achieve high-speed frame processing to optimize the output image. The camera is capable of running at 600 full frames per second with image corrections applied. This is particularly relevant, as the lattice mismatch artefacts of the extended InGaAs technology can be a major drawback for its use in imaging and sensing applications. It is expected that the shifted spectral sensitivity of the C-RED 2 ER cameras will enable the development of systems dedicated to hyperspectral imaging, for waste sorting in particular. A proof of concept device based on a First Light Imaging camera was developed to demonstrate the performances of high-speed SWIR cameras when integrated in a push-broom type device. The result of this experiment is briefly reported in this paper.
After releasing reference camera solutions in the visible and infrared for natural guide star wavefront sensing with unbeaten performances, we will present the first results of First Light Imaging’s C-BLUE One (formerly introduced under the name “C-MORE”), the first laser guide-star-oriented wavefront sensor camera. Within the Opticon WP2 european funded project which has been set to develop LGS cameras, fast path solutions based on existing sensors had to be explored to provide working-proven cameras to ELT projects ready for the first light schedule. Result of this study, C-BLUE One is a CMOS based camera with 1600x1100 pixels (9um pitch) and up to 660 FPS refresh rate. It has been developed to answer most of the needs of future laser based adaptive optics systems (LGS) to be deployed on 20-40m-class telescopes as well as on smaller ones.
Free space communications (FSO) is interesting for distant applications where high bandwidth is needed while using a fiber is not possible. However these links have to face several issues, and the most important one is the beam scintillation due to the propagation through a turbulent media, the atmosphere. Several mitigation strategies have been developed, but the best way to suppress scintillation is to use adaptive optics, widely used now in astronomy. The main difficulty for FSO is to probe the wavefront fast enough to have a good turbulence correction. This was not possible due to the lack of wavefront sensors working in the SWIR. C-RED 3 is a 640x512 SWIR camera running at 600FPS full frame and has the legacy of all the developments of astronomical infrared fast wavefront sensors on top of specific features for FSO (Low SWaP, Low Cost). We will present the performances of this new camera and demonstrate how it fulfills the needs of FSO adaptive optics.
Infrared wavefront sensors are now implemented in MCAO systems as reference (or truth sensors). After the successful development of C-RED One, the only commercial 320×256 3500 fps e-APD sub-e noise infrared camera, First Light Imaging developed the C-RED 2 InGaAs 640×512 fast camera with unprecedented performances in terms of noise, dark and readout speed based on the SNAKE SWIR detector from Sofradir. The C-RED 2 characteristics and performances at 600 fps are fully described in this paper. The C-RED2 development is supported by the "Investments in the future" program and the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur Region, in the frame of the CPER.
After the development of the OCAM2 EMCCD fast visible camera dedicated to advanced adaptive optics wavefront sensing, First Light Imaging moved to the SWIR fast cameras with the development of the C-RED One and the C-RED 2 cameras.
First Light Imaging’s C-RED One infrared camera is capable of capturing up to 3500 full frames per second with a subelectron readout noise and very low background. C-RED One is based on the last version of the SAPHIRA detector developed by Leonardo UK. This breakthrough has been made possible thanks to the use of an e-APD infrared focal plane array which is a real disruptive technology in imagery. C-RED One is an autonomous system with an integrated cooling system and a vacuum regeneration system. It operates its sensor with a wide variety of read out techniques and processes video on-board thanks to an FPGA. We will show its performances and expose its main features.
In addition to this project, First Light Imaging developed an InGaAs 640x512 fast camera with unprecedented performances in terms of noise, dark and readout speed based on the SNAKE SWIR detector from Sofradir. The camera was called C-RED 2. The C-RED 2 characteristics and performances will be described.
The C-RED One project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement N° 673944. The C-RED 2 development is supported by the "Investments for the future" program and the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur Region, in the frame of the CPER.
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