Balor sCMOS
Capture More. Further. Faster.
Key Specifications

Key Applications

P Low noise sCMOS
P 16.9 MP - very large field of view
P Exceptionally fast 18.5 ms readout
P Up to 54 fps
P Vacuum protected - minimal downtime
P Shutter-free technology
P IRIG-B GPS timestamp every 10 ns

P Orbital debris & asteroid tracking
P Large sky surveys
P Solar studies
P Exoplanet discovery
P Supernovae detection
P Atmospheric studies
P Speckle/lucky imaging

andor.oxinst.com

Introducing Balor
A Revolutionary, Very Large Field of View, Fast
Readout sCMOS Detector for Astronomy
Many challenges in modern astronomy require not only highresolution, large field of view and superb sensitivity - they also
require speed. However, large area CCD technology is verymuch performance-limited in this regard, typically requiring
more than 40 seconds to readout a single frame with low noise.
The NEW Balor sCMOS platform addresses this fundamental
application shortfall, perfect for measuring photometricand astrometric variability across timescales ranging frommilliseconds to tens of seconds.

Exceptionally fast 18.5 ms readout. Avoid lengthy readout periods…
Capture photons instead!
Balor 17F-12, utilizing a sensor that is unique to Andor, is capable of ripping along at up to 54 frames per
second at full 16.9 MP resolution, whilst remarkably, maintaining an exceptionally low < 3 electrons readnoise. The large 12 µm pixels offer large well depth and an on-chip multi-amplifier design means the wholephotometric range, from the noise floor up to the saturation limit, can be captured with one image, ideal for
quantifying across a range of magnitudes.
With a 70mm sensor diagonal, Balor 17F-12 is the largest commercially available sCMOS camera, designedfor ‘dynamic astronomy’ applications such as Orbital Debris tracking, Solar Astronomy, Solar System Object
detection, Exoplanet Discovery, Atmospheric Studies and Fast Time Resolution Astrophysics. Balor also lends
itself particularly well to the ‘atmospheric freezing’ techniques of Lucky/Speckle Imaging, enabling resolution
enhancement of ground-based astronomy over a much larger field of view than is readily achievable throughuse of adaptive optics.

The perfect solution for Large Sky Surveys thatmeasure photometric and astrometric variability
across timescales ranging from milliseconds totens of seconds.

Cover Image Credit: The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope has produced the highest resolution image of the Sun’s surface ever takenusing Balor sCMOS. In this picture taken at 789 nm, we can see features as small as 30 km (18 miles) in size for the first time ever. The
image shows a pattern of turbulent, “boiling” gas that covers the entire sun. The cell-like structures – each about the size of Texas – arethe signature of violent motions that transport heat from the inside of the sun to its surface. Hot solar material (plasma) rises in the brightcenters of “cells,” cools off and then sinks below the surface in dark lanes in a process known as convection. In these dark lanes we canalso see the tiny, bright markers of magnetic fields. Never before seen to this clarity, these bright specks are thought to channel energy
up into the outer layers of the solar atmosphere called the corona. These bright spots may be at the core of why the solar corona is morethan a million degrees! This image covers an area 36,500 x 36,500 km (22,600 x 22,600 miles, 51 x 51 arcseconds). Credit: NSO/AURA/NSF
2Introduction | Features | Applications | Specifications | Ordering & Drawings

Balor in Irish Mythology
Long ago, in ancient times, supernatural beings called theFomorians ruled over Ireland. Balor, the deadliest and mostfeared of the Fomorian kings, wreaked destruction on anythingthat dared to cross his deadly gaze. But in the battle of Mag
Tuired, Balor fell when a spear was cast through his eye. Facedown, his body burned a hole in the earth, which filled withwater to become Loch na Súl: The lake of the eye.
As a new day dawns, the great Balor has been resurrected tohelp physicists fight a different battle. A battle of exploration
beyond the boundaries of the frontiers of science. Find out
more here.

Features & Benefits Summary
Feature49.5 x 49.2 mm sensor

Benefit
Very large field of view from 16.9 Megapixel, 12 μm pixel pitch sensor.

18.5 millisecond readout

Readout a 4k x 4k sensor 2500x faster than a CCD. Spend time capturing
scarce photons instead!

Up to 54 fps

Unique solution for a range of high time-resolution observing challenges,
without compromising noise or FOV.

Extended Dynamic Range
and > 99.7% Linearity

Superb quantitative accuracy across a wide range of magnitudes within asingle image.

Readout noise ~ 2.9 e-

Exceptionally low noise, even at max frame rate, suited to short exposure, low
light observational challenges.

80 000 e- well depthHigh well depth for quantification of bright signals.

UltraVacTM •1
CoaXPress as standard
Rolling and Global shutter
supported

Critical for sustained vacuum integrity and to maintain unequalled coolingand QE performance, year after year.
4 Lane CXP-6 interface enabling the highest frame rates over distances up to
30 m.
Maximum exposure and readout flexibility across all applications. Global
shutter for snapshot capture of fast moving/changing events.

No mechanical shutter

Balor requires no mechanical shutter, thus avoids the downtime associatedwith shutter replacements

IRIG-B GPS timestamp

Image GPS timestamp with 10 ns resolution for syncing across multiple
instruments and multiple observation sites.

Fully Enclosed Casing(optional)

Reduced thermal bloom from Liquid Cooled Only variant; minimal effect on
nearby optics and enclosed environmental temperature.

3

Key Features

V

Fast Sensor Readout

No Mechanical Shutter

Taking only 18.5 milliseconds per full frame
readout, Balor 17F-12 can measure variability
across a wide range of timescales, including
fast solar dynamics. Also possible to maximize
SNR by using longer exposures (10 - 60 s) andstill achieve frame cycle times much faster than
CCDs - ideal for exoplanet discovery!

Applications that involve frequent cycling of
mechanical shutters, such as exoplanet studies,require routine shutter replacements and associateddown time. Balor offers on-sensor Rolling andglobal shutter options, thus overcomes the need formechanical shutters. Furthermore, this avoids the
exposure gradient effects associated with that of aniris shutter, thus much better for accurate photometry.

Extended Dynamic Range

IRIG-B GPS Timestamp

Large pixel well-depth and an on-chip multi-amplifier
design means the whole photometric range, fromthe noise floor up to the saturation limit, can be
captured with one image. The wide dynamic range iscomplemented by enhanced on-head intelligence todeliver linearity > 99.7%, for unparalleled quantitative
accuracy of measurement across the full signal range.
Such capability is ideal for photometric accuracy oflight curve measurements across a wide range ofmagnitudes.

GPS timestamp with 10 nanosecond
granularity, for temporal synchronisation
across multiple instruments or multiple
sites.

4

NTY

R

70 mm sensor diagonal covers more sky at highresolution, improving statistics of detection. Ideal forlarge sky surveys.

RA

sCMOS cameras from other manufacturers use O-ringACsealed, back-filled sensor enclosures, susceptible toU U M WA R
moisture ingress and requiring routine factory maintenance.
Andor is the only manufacturer of vacuum enclosed sCMOS
cameras, based on our proven UltraVacTM process, offeringsuperior cooling and ultimate sensor protection. Expect thevacuum to hold firm, year after year.
YEA

Very Large Field of View

OR sCMO
AL
S

Vacuum Sensor Enclosure

B

Introduction | Features | Applications | Specifications | Ordering & Drawings

Low Noise

Low Maintenance Astronomy

The parallel readout architecture and innovative
pixel design enables Balor to drive very low readnoise performance, < 3 e-, while still achieving
maximum readout speed. Ideal for detecting
weak signal from small Solar System objects.

The vacuum enclosure and shutter-free longevity
benefits of Balor are particularly relevant to the needsof astronomers, where cameras are often in remoteunmanned observing locations and need to operate
without service intervention, over long durations oftime. This ultimately translates not only into greater
experimental efficiency, but also into a lower cost ofownership.
5

Application Focus
Solar Studies

Introduction | Features | Applications | Specifications | Ordering & Drawings

Exoplanet Discovery

It is vital we attempt to understand the underlying
processes behind our nearest star! Balor allows
ground-breaking observations of the solar
atmosphere with unprecedented spatial and temporal
resolution. Solar astronomers can study the nuancesof dynamic events such as magnetic reconnection
with stunning accuracy, while also having the largeformat capability to view entire flux ropes andsunspots without mosaicking.

Orbital Debris
Orbital Debris, or Space Debris, are terms forthe mass of defunct human-made objects inEarth’s orbit, such as old satellites and spentrocket stages. There are about 500,000 piecesof ‘space junk’ down to items about 1.3 cm
wide in orbit. Of those, about 21,000 objects
are larger than 10 cm in diameter. Balor’s verylarge area offers a superb detector solution forground based Orbital Debris tracking, capableof searching more sky while maintaining highresolving capability. Low noise enables highquality data capture of even relatively small(and dim) objects, and rapid frame rates enabletemporal oversampling of fast moving/rotating
objects.

Enhanced SNR and Temporal Resolution
Photometric exposure times in tens of seconds are common fortransit or radial velocity measurements. When performed witha 4k x 4k format CCD with 4 output ports, a low noise readout
requires an additional 45 seconds on top of the exposure. Balor
has an 18.5 ms low noise readout, approximately 2500x fasterthan a CCD!
The exposure scheme below shows how, using a 10 sec exposure
time, the measurement cycle time can be significantly shortenedwith Balor. Even when we lengthen the Balor exposure time to 15
sec to achieve the same SNR as a back-illuminated CCD, the duty
cycle remains much shorter. Thus, Balor is an opportunity for enhanced SNR and temporal
resolution combined. Balor also avoids the need for routine replacement of mechanicalshutters.

Solar System Objects
A Near-Earth Object (NEO) is any small Solar Systembody whose orbit brings it into proximity with Earth.
Over 20,000 known Near Earth Asteroids have been
discovered, of which almost 1000 are larger than 1 km.
The inventory is much less complete for smaller objects,
which still have potential for large scale damage.
While asteroids are constantly eliminated from oursolar system, new asteroids continue to enter it! Thus,
NEO surveys are required as an ongoing disciplinein astronomy. The very large field of view, low noise
and fast readout of Balor are ideal for increasing theprobability of successful object detection, either via
direct visualisation or occultation.
6

Resolution Enhancement
Balor lends itself particularly well to ‘Atmospheric Freezing’
techniques of Lucky/Speckle Imaging, enabling resolution
enhancement of ground-based astronomy over a much larger field ofview than is readily achievable through use of adaptive optics. The 54
fps (full array) with 100% duty cycle means that enhanced resolution
images can be generated within a few seconds of acquisition.
Faster speeds through ROIs can be employed to perform enhanced
resolution photometry with sub-second temporal resolution.
7

Technical Data

Introduction | Features | Applications | Specifications | Ordering & Drawings

QE Curve and Scintillator Peak Emission

System Specifications •280

Large area, Front-illuminated sCMOS

Array Size

4128 (W) x 4104 (H)Pixel Size

12 x 12 μm

70Quantum efficiency / %Sensor Type49.5 mm x 49.2 mm (69.9 mm diagonal)

Image Area

Rolling Shutter and Global Shutter

Readout Modes

AR coated UV grade fused silica window (>98% transmission)

System window type

CoaXPress (4 Lane CXP-6)

Interface

Fire Row1, Fire Row N, Fire All, Fire Any, Arm, Shutter, Ext Trigger

I/O

Internal, External, External Start, External Exposure, Software

Trigger Modes

Global Shutter

0.35 e-/pix/sec (@ 0ºC)
0.08 e-/pix/sec (@-10ºC)
0.03 e-/pix/sec (@-30ºC)

0.5 e-/pix/sec (@ 0ºC)
0.15 e-/pix/sec (@-10ºC)
0.065 e-/pix/sec (@-30ºC)

2.9 e-

4.3 e-

etaloning effects across the40

important NIR wavelength range,

30

preserving accurate photometry

20

and spectroscopy

300

400

Linearity •6> 99.7%

Data Range

16-bitf-number

0.35 (Cone Angle 110o)

800

900

1000

1100

Imaging ROI: Rolling Shutter [Global Shutter]

ROI Size (W x H)

User-definable, 1 pixel granularity

Region of Interest

700

Frame Rates< 0.5% (@ half well depth)

Photon response non-uniformity (PRNU)

600

Max Frame Rate (fps)

61% (@ ~ 600 nm)

Peak QE •5500

Wavelength / nm

80 000 e-

Active area pixel well depth

16-bit(100% Duty Cycle•7)

16-bit4128 x 4104

54 [34]44 [34]2048 x 2048

108 [68]

88 [68]1920 x 1080

205 [126]

167 [127]

1024 x 1024

216 [132]

176 [134]

512 x 512431 [252]

350 [258]

Note: All frame rates assume internal trigger.

Cooling Options and Specifications •3

128 x 128

Balor has two variants for cooling: Liquid Cooled Only and Flexi Cooled. Flexi offers both air and liquid coolingcapability, and both variants offer the same liquid cooling temperature of -30oC. However, the Liquid Cooled Only
variant is supplied without air vents, useful for minimizing any residual thermal bloom from the camera body inextremely temperature controlled environments, such as in Radial Velocity experiments.
During air cooling, the user must be aware of the ambient air temperature and altitude at which the camera
is operated as both will have an impact on the extent of sensor cooling. The table below offers a guide to
selecting the available sensor cooling set points under different environmental conditions. The table also shows
the recommended liquid temperature with minimum flow rate of 2 L·min-1 in order to achieve -30oC sensor
temperature for both the Liquid Cooled Only and Flexi cooled systems.
Note, the water cooling system of the camera is rated to 5 bar (500kPa). If your water supply exceeds this value,then an overpressure safety device or regulator must be fitted to restrict the water pressure to less than or equal
to this rating.

1684 [785]1337 [840]1PCompatible with IRIG-B standard (GPS with 10 ns resolution)

3 I/O (TTL / Logic)
Connector type: D-type, provided with SMB - BNC cable
Fire (Output), External Trigger (Input), Shutter (Output), Aux Out 1*,
Aux Out 2* and ARM*. * Requires optional 7-way cable.

30°C

P Power< 3000 m

16°C

15°C

20°C

< 6000 m

16°C

5°C

10°C

Sea level

W

2 IRIG-B

25°C

Liquid cooling(recommended coolant
temperature)

0°C (Air)W

CoaXPress
CoaXPress (4 lane) offers the highest speed data interface

16°C

Altitude-10°C (Air)

Balor was initiated through the solar physics
research programmes undertaken at
Queen’s University Belfast, and developedin collaboration with staff in the Queen’s
Astrophysics Research Centre, University College
London, Armagh Observatory, Northumbria
University, University of Glasgow, University of
Sheffield, University of St Andrews, University of
Warwick and the US National Solar Observatory,
from funding provided by the Science andTechnology Facilities Council, part of UK
Research and Innovation.

Flexible Connectivity

Air cooling(maximum ambient air temperature)-30°C (Liquid)

Development of Balor

Note: All frame rates assume internal trigger.

W Water Cooling
Connection to recirculator or other water/liquid cooling system.
Max water pressure 5 bar/500kPa (please enquire for higher
pressure solutions).

Sensor Temperature

8

50

0

Rolling Shutter

Read Noise (e-) medianBalor 17F-12 does not suffer

10

Advanced Performance Specifications •2

Dark Current •4

60

3
2
P

Connection to PSUs refer to power requirements on page 12
Notes: Ensure 100 mm clearance around camera vents (Flexi model
only) and power supply vents.

1
9

Introduction | Features | Applications | Specifications | Ordering & Drawings

Creating the Optimum Product for You
BLR- F401 - W

Mechanical Drawings
1

example shown

2

Dimensions in mm [inches]

3

4

5

Estimated mass: 9.5Kg

Choose the sensor type option

Step 2.

There is one sensor type available for theBalor-X 17F-12:

SensorType
Step 3.

Software

Step 4.

Description

Code

16.9 Megapixel Front-illuminated
sCMOS camera

F401

CoolingA

Choose the cooling option

8.063
204.8

2.480
63 Estimiated
COG (Z axis)
1.445
36.7

Description

Code

Flexi Cooling model (liquid or air)(cooling -30ºC with liquid coolant; cooling-10ºC with air cooling)F

Liquid Cooled Only model(cooling -30ºC with liquid coolant)W

0.354 ±0.030
9.0 ±0.75 Dist window
surface to sensor

7.047
179.0

0.100 ±0.020
2.6 ±0.50 Dist flange
to window surface

0.118
3.0
X and Y axis COG within
this dimension

B

Select the required software
Balor-X 17F-12 requires at least one of the following software options:
Solis for Imaging 64-bit enabled application for Windows (8.1 and 10), offering complete functionality for data acquisitionand processing. AndorBasic provides macro language control of data acquisition, processing, display and export.
Andor SDK 3 A software development kit that allows you to control the Andor range of cameras from your own
application. Available as 32/ 64-bit libraries for Windows (8.1 and 10) and Linux. Compatible with C/C++, C#, Delphi,
VB.NET, LabVIEW, MATLAB and Python.
Linux: Linux CentOS 7.5 64-bit (with kernel version no higher than 4.6).

4.094
104.0

C

1.000
25.4

Step 1.

6

6.890
175.0

Mounting Points
1/4-20 UNC x 12.7mm
deep 8 plcs

Pixel 1:1
8 off Mounting Points
M5 x 10 deep on 172mm PCD

Select accessories
Description

Order Code

*Trigger cable, D-type to BNC, 7-way multi I/O timing interface cable gives access to all I/O functions.

ACC-ACZ-05612*CoaXPress cable: 25 m (4x cable composite)

ACC-ASE-14327

22.5°

45.0°

To interface with the internal liquid cooling a connection simialr to Legris3631 06 10 could be used.
This will allow for an adapter to be created that will interface with CPC valved components.

D

NOTE: ALL MATERIAL AND FINISHING PROCESSES MUSTCOMPLY WITH RoHS AND COSHH REGULATIONS
MATERIALNOTICE: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THISDRAWING IS PROPRIETARY TO ANDOR TECHNOLOGYAND SHALL NOT BE DISCLOSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART OR
USED FOR ANY DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE EXCEPT WHEN
SUCH USER POSSESSES DIRECT WRITTEN AUTHORISATIONFROM ANDOR TECHNOLOGYFINISHUNLESS
OTHERWISE
SPECIFIED:DIMENSIONS ARE IN MILLIMETERS [INCHES]*CoaXPress cables: 30 m cables (set of 4x individual cables supplied)

Accessories

IRiG-B BNC to SMA Cable: 2 m

ACC-ASE-14330
CABL-BNC020SMA

C
B
A
VERSION

13
N/AInternal request information update
Additional information requested by customer
Infroamtion regarding interface dimensions
DESCRIPTION

1

2

3

N/A

MMcA
MMcA
MMcA

EC

AUTHOR

28/03/19
14/12/16
18/11/16 CHECKEDDATE
AUTHOR
4

-0.2
-0.1

PS

DO NOT
SCALE PRINT

RAW

TITLE

+0.2
+0.1

SHEET
1 of 4

5

Interface Informa
PART NUMBER

DKIST Camera
6

FILE LOCATION: L:\NPI\Balor\3 - Mechanical\Production Build\Balor - Production Build

CSR*Please contact your local sales representative regarding other options such as different cable lengths, mounting types,
camera window options or other customizations you may require for system integration or your specific application. See also
our Camera Windows Selector Tool.

Have you found what you are looking for?
Need more sensitivity? (a) The Marana 4.2-11 back-illuminated sCMOS camera combines a large field of view
sensor with up to 95% QE, ideal for tracking the smallest objects and for measuring photometric variability onvery dim stars. (b) The iXon Ultra EMCCD platform offers single photon sensitivity and 95% back-illuminated QE,
further boosted by cooling to as low as -100oC, ideal for the most light starved of faster frame rate applications(1 fps up to 100’s fps).
Need a larger dynamic range? (a) The iKon-XL 231 with CCD 231-84 sensor offers down to 2 e- read noiseand 350,000 e- well depth. (b) For high dynamic range at faster frame rates, the Marana sCMOS is capable ofmeasuring photometric variability with superb accuracy, across a wide range of magnitudes.
Need improved sensitivity in the Near IR region? The iKon-XL 231 with CCD 231-84 sensor offers deepdepletion options that provide optimal sensitivity in the Near IR, ideal for photometry of cooler dwarf stars.
Need smaller pixels? For telescopes that are optimized for Nyquist with smaller pixels, the Neo and Zyla
sCMOS cameras offer sensors with 6.5 μm pixel pitch.
10

Weight (approx):

Liquid cooled only: ~10 kg
Flexi cooled: ~10 kg

Abbreviation

Meaning

COG

Centre of Gravity

PCD

Pitch Circle Diameter

UNC

Unified National Coarse
Thread Standard

Note: air vents are not present in the housing of the liquid cooled only
model (not shown). This option can be selected for minimal thermal bloom.

11Order Today
Need more information? At Andor we are committed to finding the correct
solution for you. With a dedicated team of technical advisors, we are able tooffer you one-to-one guidance and technical support on all Andor products.
For a full listing of our local sales offices, please see:andor.oxinst.com/contact

Our regional headquarters are:EuropeBelfast, Northern Ireland 			Phone +44 (28) 9023 7126			
Fax +44 (28) 9031 0792			

Japan
Tokyo
Phone +81 (3) 6732 8968
Fax +81 (3) 6732 8939

North America
Concord, MA, USA
Phone +1 (860) 290 9211			
Fax +1 (860) 290 9566			

China
Beijing
Phone +86 (10) 5884 7900
Fax +86 (10) 5884 7901

Items shipped with your camera

Footnotes

1x Cyton-CXP card
1x CoaXPress cable (3 m)
1x Trigger cable (BNC to SMB: 2 m)
1x Trigger cable (3-way, D-type to BNC: 1.5 m)
2x Country specific power cords
2x PSU (15 V: 1.5 m, 24 V:1.2 m)
1x User manuals in electronic format
1x Quickstart guide
1x Individual system performance booklet
2x Coolant hose insert

1. Assembled in a state-of-the-art facility, Andor’s UltraVac™ vacuum process combines a permanent
hermetic vacuum seal (no o-rings), with a stringent protocol and proprietary materials to minimize
outgassing. Outgassing is the release of trapped gases that would otherwise degrade cooling
performance and potentially cause sensor failure.
2. Figures are typical unless otherwise stated.
3. Specified minimum temperature with coolant assumes coolant temperature of 16°C at a flow rateof 2 litres per minute, measured at the camera head. Air cooling performance is at the ambient
temperature listed. Note that cooling performance may be affected by the distance between
camera head and coolant system.
4. Dark current are typical median values, measurement is averaged over the sensor area excluding
any regions of blemishes.
5. Quantum efficiency as supplied by the sensor manufacturer.
6. Linearity is measured from a plot of Signal vs. Exposure Time as per EMVA 3.0.
7. 100% duty cycle, after each row is read out, the next exposure is immediate.

Minimum Computer Requirements:

Operating & Storage Conditions:• 3.0 GHz quad core processor or equivalent• 16 GB RAM• Hard drive: 3 GB/sec or greater write speed
recommended for the data rate associatedwith the max. frame rates. 200 MB free harddisc to install software• x8 PCIe Gen 2 slot
• Windows (8.1 and 10) or Linux 64-bit OS

•
•
•
•

Operating ambient temperature: -30°C to +30°C
Operating Altitude: up to 6000 m
Relative Humidity: <70% (non-condensing)
Storage Temperature: -30°C to 50°C

FM40523

EMS91062

Power Requirements:• 100 - 240 VAC, 50 - 60 Hz• Power Consumption: 236 W max

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
LabVIEW is a registered trademark of National Instruments.
MATLAB is a registered trademark of The MathWorks Inc.
BALOR SS 0423 R1