Patent ID: 8054462
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: G01J

Abstract:
1. A method of performing spectrographic analysis, comprising: collecting light with a telescope; passing the light collected with the telescope to a spectrograph and generating therein a plurality of spatially dispersed horizontal bands of light; causing the plurality of spatially dispersed horizontal bands of light to be incident on a photocathode of an intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD); controlling an angle of incidence with which the plurality of spatially dispersed horizontal bands of light fall on the photocathode of the ICCD and thereby increase a quantum efficiency of the photocathode compared to a quantum efficiency of the photocathode without having controlled the angle of incidence such that a signal delivered by the ICCD is increased by at least a factor of two compared to a signal delivered by the ICCD without having so controlled the angle of incidence; and controlling the angle of incidence with which the plurality of spatially dispersed horizontal bands of light fall on the photocathode of the ICCD by passing the bands of light through a Fresnel lens.