Penn State Imaging X-Ray Spectrometer

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Abstract
We describe the design and performance of a charge coupled device (CCD) X-ray camera developed at Penn State. The camera uses an MIT Lincoln Labs frame-store CCD as the detector element. A laboratory version using a PC-based CCD controller and data acquisition system and a thermoelectric cooler has been completed and is being used for laboratory testing of the CCD. This is an extremely flexible system, with all clock waveforms and voltages, the operating temperature, and data acquisition and display under software control by the PC. Using this camera, we have measured read noise of less than 1.5 e- with the serial clocks running backwards to suppress dark current. The energy resolution at 5.9 keV with the CCD running in its normal configuration is 120 eV. The flexibility of the camera allows automated testing and parameterization of CCDs of arbitrary format. A flight version of this camera is also being built, and will be launched in late 1989 or early 1990 to make spectrally resolved images of the Puppis A supernova remnant.

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