We present results from the characterization and optimization of Skipper charge-coupled devices (CCDs) for use in a focal plane prototype for the Southern Astrophysical Research Integral Field Spectrograph (SIFS). We tested eight Skipper CCDs and selected six for SIFS based on performance results. The Skipper CCDs are 6k × 1k, 15 μm pixels, thick, fully depleted, p-channel devices that have been thinned to ∼250 μm, backside processed, and treated with an anti-reflective coating. We demonstrate a single-sample readout noise of <4.3 e− rms pixel−1 in all amplifiers. We optimize the readout sequence timing to achieve a readout noise of 0.5 e− rms pixel−1 after 74 non-destructive measurements, which can be accomplished in a region covering 5% of the detector area in a readout time of <4 minutes. We demonstrate single-photon-counting in all 24 amplifiers (four amplifiers per detector) with a readnoise of σN ∼ 0.18 e− rms pixel−1 after Nsamp = 400 samples, and we constrain the degree of nonlinearity to be ≲1% at low signal levels (0 e− to 50 e−). Clock-induced charge (CIC) remains an important issue when the Skipper CCD is configured to provide a large full-well capacity. We achieve a CIC rate of <1.45 × 10−3 e− pixel−1 frame−1 for a full-well capacity of ∼900 e−, which increases to a CIC rate of ∼3 e− pixel−1 frame−1 for full-well capacities ∼40,000–65,000 e−. We also perform conventional CCD characterization measurements such as charge transfer inefficiency (3.44 × 10−7 on average), dark current (∼2 × 10−4 e− pixel−1 s−1), photon transfer curves, cosmetic defects (<0.45% “bad” pixels), and charge diffusion (point-spread function < 7.5 μm) to verify that these properties are consistent with expectations from conventional p-channel CCDs used for astronomy. Furthermore, we provide the first measurements of the brighter-fatter effect and absolute quantum efficiency (≳80% between 450 and 980 nm; ≳90% between 600 and 900 nm) using Skipper CCDs.

中文翻译：

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SOAR 积分场摄谱仪 Skipper CCD 的表征和优化

我们展示了 Skipper 电荷耦合器件 (CCD) 的表征和优化结果，该器件用于南方天体物理研究积分场摄谱仪 (SIFS) 的焦平面原型。我们测试了 8 个 Skipper CCD，并根据性能结果选择了 6 个用于 SIFS。 Skipper CCD 是 6k × 1k、15 μm 像素、厚的、完全耗尽的 p 沟道器件，已减薄至 ∼250 μm、背面经过处理并采用抗反射涂层处理。我们展示了所有放大器中 <4.3 e− rms Pixel−1 的单样本读出噪声。我们优化了读出序列时序，以在 74 次无损测量后实现 0.5 e− rms Pixel−1 的读出噪声，这可以在 <4 分钟的读出时间内在覆盖探测器面积 5% 的区域中完成。我们在所有 24 个放大器（每个探测器四个放大器）中演示了单光子计数，在 Nsamp = 400 个样本后，读取噪声为 σN ∼ 0.18 e− rms Pixel−1，并且我们将非线性程度限制在低值时≲1%信号电平（0 e− 至 50 e−）。当 Skipper CCD 配置为提供大的全阱容量时，时钟感应电荷 (CIC) 仍然是一个重要问题。我们实现了 <1.45 × 10−3 e−pixel−1frame−1 的 CIC 速率，满阱容量为 ∼900 e−，这增加到 ∼3 e−pixel−1frame−1 的 CIC 速率全井容量~40,000–65,000 e−。我们还进行传统的 CCD 表征测量，例如电荷转移效率低（平均 3.44 × 10−7）、暗电流（∼2 × 10−4 e− Pixel−1 s−1）、光子转移曲线、外观缺陷（<0.45 ％“坏”像素）和电荷扩散（点扩散函数 < 7.5 μm），以验证这些属性与用于天文学的传统 p 通道 CCD 的预期一致。此外，我们使用 Skipper CCD 首次测量了亮胖效应和绝对量子效率（450 至 980 nm 之间≥80%；600 至 900 nm 之间≥90%）。