…SEE the Future

PhotonMAX: 512B
The PhotonMAX: 512B from Princeton Instruments/Acton is the most advanced, no-compromise electronmultiplying CCD (EMCCD) camera on the market today. Not only is it capable of single-photon sensitivity
at high frame rates, it minimizes dark current by thermoelectrically cooling a back-illuminated detector
up to -80°C without any water assistance.

Furthermore, its all-metal, hermetic vacuum seals areguaranteed for the lifetime of the camera- only such guarantee in the industry.

Its ultra-precise

electronics are designed to deliver the most stable results for the most demanding quantitative
applications. A 512 x 512-pixel, frame-transfer EMCCD and 10-MHz, 16-bit digitizer provide theperformance needed to measure fast kinetics. In fact, the PhotonMAX is a true "2-in-1" imaging solution,
boasting dual amplifiers that make the camera ideal for applications requiring either high speed or longexposures. The state-of-the-art camera interface offers circular buffers for real-time frame access andfocus. It also offers optional fiber optic data interface for remote operation.
Applications: Single-molecule detection, spectroscopy, chemi-luminescence, astronomy, adaptiveoptics, hyperspectral imaging, phosphor imaging and tomography

FeaturesBenefits

On-chip multiplication gain

Low-noise, impact-ionization process for single-photon sensitivity

Back-illuminated CCD>90% peak quantum efficiency offers the highest available sensitivity

Frame-transfer architecture

No need for mechanical shutter
Allows 100% duty cycle imaging for particle-tracking applications

Deep cooling

Thermoelectric air cooling to -80°C minimizes dark current and allows long exposure times
No need for bulky chilled-water circulators that cause condensation around the experiment optics
For vibration sensitive environments, a compact room temperature liquid circulator is available as an option

Lifetime vacuum

Permanent, all-metal vacuum seals guaranteed for lifetime of the camera
Maintenance-free operation

Single optical window

Vacuum window is the only optical surface between incident light and the CCD surface No losses due
to multiple optical surfaces

Dual amplifiers

Individually optimized signal chains for a true 2-in-1 camera configuration
Use the camera for applications that require high speed (“on-chip multiplication gain” amplifier)or long integration (“traditional” amplifier)16-bit digitization

Wide dynamic range to capture dim and bright signals in a single image
Offered at all speeds. Adjustable Analog gains to access full well capacity of the CCD.

10- and 5-MHz readout

Video rates at full-frame resolution (use ROI for hundreds of frames per second)

1-MHz readout

Slower speed of the “traditional” amplifier yields the performance of a traditional slow-scan CCDcamera

Kinetics readout mode

Powerful readout mode offers microsecond time resolution between sub-frames

PCI interface
The best data-interface design in the industry
Fiber optic interface (optional) Optional fiberoptic data interface for distances up to 300 meters, ideal for hazardous environments
Compatible with Windows® 2000/XP, Linux®, and Mac OS X
Software interface

Universal interface for easy custom programming
Real-time focus and image access via circular buffers
Full-feature LabVIEW™ VIs available

Triggering

Built-in, multiple-trigger modes
No external trigger boxes necessary
Acquire images using single trigger, multiple triggers, or bulb trigger (allows control of exposure time
via external TTL level)
Expose, readout, and shutter signals for synchronization with external devices
Programmable input/output ports for complete control

I/O signals
C-mount

Easily attaches to microscopes, standard lenses, or optical equipment
PhotonMAX:512B Rev C2

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CCD image sensor

e2v CCD97; back-illuminated, frame-transfer CCD with on-chip multiplication gain

CCD format

512 x 512 imaging pixels
16 x 16-μm pixels
8.2 x 8.2-mm imaging area (optically centered)“On-chip multiplication gain” amplifier

Read noise (typical)8 e- rms @ 1 MHz
15 e- rms @ 5 MHz

Full well (typical)~40 e- rms @ 5 MHz~55 e- rms @ 10 MHz
Read noise effectively reduced to <1 e- rms
with on-chip multiplication gain enabled
800 ke-Non-Linearity

<2%

<1%

Analog gain (typical)

12, 6, 3 e-/p/s

4, 2, 1 e-/p/s

Deepest cooling temperature-70°C ±0.05°C“Traditional” amplifier

200 ke--80°C ± 0.05°C

Dark current@ -70°C

0.005 e-/p/sec (typical)
0.01 e-/p/sec (maximum)

Spurious events (typical)

0.005 e-/pixel/frame clock induced events measured with 33msec exposure time and ~1000x
multiplication gain

On-chip multiplication gain

1 to 1000x
Software controlled in 4,096 steps

Digitization

16 bits @ 10 MHz, 5 MHz, and 1 MHz

Vertical shift rate

2 μsec/row*

Binning

Flexible binning capabilities in parallel direction; 1 through 6 binning in serial direction

Operating environment

0 to 30°C ambient, 0 to 80% relative humidity noncondensing
Notes: All specifications subject to change.
*All performance parameters such as full well, charge transfer efficiency, read noise and image quality are optimized at 2 usec/row. Contact
factory for faster vertical speed operation. It must be noted that faster vertical shift speeds adversely affect the quantitative performance.

QE Curve
10090

CCD Quantum Efficiency (%)…SEE the Future

PhotonMAX: 512B Specifications

8070
60
50

UV coating

40
30
20
100
200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

Wavelength (nm)PhotonMAX:512B Rev C2

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…SEE the Future

PhotonMAX Drawing

Princeton Instruments / Acton

Frame Rate

BinningRegion
512 x 512

256 x 256128 x 128

64 x 64

1x12954951552x256951552274x4981552272956x6130195262329(Frames per second)

Note: Frame rates are measured at 10 MHz digitizationand 2usec/row vertical shift speed

www.piacton.com
email: moreinfo@piacton.com
USA +1.877.4 PIACTON | Benelux +31 (347) 324989
France +33 (1) 60.86.03.65 | Germany +49 (0) 89.660.779.3
Japan +81.3.5639.2741 | UK +44 (0) 28.38310171

PhotonMAX:512B Rev C2

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