iXon Ultra from Andor Technology For ultra-sensitive imaging applications, Andor Technology offers the EMCCD cameras iXon Ultra 888 (1024 x 1024 x 13 µm pixels) and iXon Ultra 897 (512 x 512 x 16 µm pixels) with USB interface. The EMCCD sensor is housed in a sealed vacuum chamber so that temperatures down to -100°C can be achieved with thermoelectric cooling.
Features
- Effective read noise < 1 electron with electron multiplying gain
- Two EMCCD sensors formats (1024 x 1024 x 13 µm , 512 x 512 x 16 µm)
- Rapid frame rates up to 26 frames/s (iXon Ultra 888), 56 frames/s (iXon Ultra 897); faster frame of several hundred frames/s for subimages and with pixel binning
- Several back illuminated sensors with > 90% quantum efficiency optimized for UV, VIS, and NIR
- Thermo-electrical cooling of EMCCD sensor down to -100 °C for negligible dark current
The iXon Ultra retains all the advanced performance features that have defined the industry-leading iXon range, such as deep vacuum cooling down to -100°C, extremely low noise and Andor's patented EM Gain Recalibration Technology (EMCAL) in addition to anti-ageing protection. RealGain provides quantitative linear and real EM gain calibration independent of sensor temperature. Andor's overclocked vertical shift speeds minimise both clock-induced charge noise and vertical smear during frame transfer. New optically centred crop mode unlocks unprecedented frame rate performance from centrally located sub-images. Count Convert functionality allows real-time data acquisition in units of electrons or incident photons. The iXon Ultra is designed to be the most flexible yet easy-to-use EMCCD on the market, optimised for a wide range of application requirements with a single click via OptAcquire. Other features of the iXon Ultra include plug-and-play USB connectivity, a low-noise conventional CCD mode and an additional Camera Link output that provides the unique ability to directly access data for on-the-fly processing, ideal for data-intensive applications.
The highly innovative iXon Ultra 888 megapixel EMCCD camera offers single photon sensitivity over a wide field of view at 26 frames per second. Building on a rich history of first-to-market innovation, the iXon Ultra 888 represents a massive performance boost for the largest EMCCD sensor available, as well as the first USB 3.0 enabled EMCCD camera. The iXon Ultra 888 has been fundamentally redesigned to enable a 3x increase in pixel readout speed to an unprecedented 30MHz, while maintaining quantum stability to drive full frame to video rate performance. With a sensor format of 1024 x 1024 and a pixel size of 13 µm, the iXon Ultra 888's resolution, field of view and unparalleled speed make it the most attractive and versatile EMCCD option for demanding applications.
The iXon Ultra platform takes the popular 512 x 512 frame transfer sensor and overclocks the readout to 17MHz, boosting speed performance to an outstanding 56 full frames/s while maintaining single-photon sensitivity and quantitative stability.
Key Applications
- Exoplanet Studies
- Lucky Imaging
- Speckle Imaging
- Photometry
- Guiding
- Adaptive Optics
- Astrophysics
- Low Light Apps
| Models | iXon 888 | iXon 897 | ||
| Core attributes | Field of view, sensitivity and speed | Sensitivity and speed | ||
| Sensor format | 1024 x 1024 | 512 x 512 | ||
| Sensor diagonal | 18.8 mm | 11.6 mm | ||
| QE Options | UVB (Ultra) | UVB (Ultra) | ||
| Pixel Size | 13 µm | 16 µm | ||
| Frame Rate | 26 fps (670 fps with 128 x 128 Crop Mode) | 56 fps (595 fps with 128 x 128 Crop Mode) | ||
| Read Noise | < 1 e- with EM Gain | < 1 e- with EM Gain | ||
| Pixel well depth | 80,000 e- | 180,000 e- | ||
| Interface | USB 3.0 | USB 2.0 | ||
| Download Specifications | ||||
Learning Centra Recourcen
Broad QE Profile
Delivering over 95% peak QE and offering broad coverage from UV through to NIR, iXon Ultra spectral response is suited to a wide range of science; from NIR photometry of cold dwarf stars, to quantum optics of degenerate gases, to imaging of ion traps. Fringe suppression options are available for NIR imaging with reduced etaloning.
The new ‘BB’ sensor option offers up to 20% higher sensitivity to photons across the blue region of the spectrum, ideal for fast imaging of quantum trapped ions, an important quantum computing qubit approach.
Upgrades/Accessories
- SRRF-STREAM-CAM - SRRF-Stream real time super-resolution functionality, compatible with iXon Ultra and iXon Life EMCCD platforms. Camera must be connected to acquisition PC workstation containing an NVidia GPU card (compute capability v3.0, or above, and 4GB or greater on-board GPU RAM)
- OPTMSK-L/OPTMSKOC-L/OPTMSK-OC-S - OptoMask accessory, used to mask unwanted sensor area during Crop Mode acquisition (refer to OptoMask Specification Sheet for further information).
- XW-RECR - Re-circulator for enhanced cooling performance
- ACC-XW-CHIL-160 - Oasis 160 Ultra compact chiller unit
- OA-CF - C-mount to Nikon F-mount adapter
- OA-COFM - C-mount to Olympus adapter
- OA-CTOT - C-mount to T-mount adapter
- ACC-ASE-06887 - 15 m Active USB 3.0 connector cable (power supply not required) Icron for Ultra 888
- ACC-ASE-08762 - 50 m Fibre Optic USB 3.0 extender solution inc. power supply (Adnaco) for Ultra 888
- ACC-ASE-07860 - 100 m Fibre Optic USB 3.0 extender solution inc. power supply (Adnaco) for Ultra 888
