S OP H I A : 2 048B
The SOPHIA™: 2048B camera from Princeton Instruments (PI) is fully integrated, ultra-low noise 2048 x 2048, 15 µm pixel
CCD camera designed expressly for the most demanding quantitative scientific applications from astronomy to x-ray imaging.
Designed utilizing our exclusive ArcTec™ thermoelectric cooling technology, SOPHIA is the only camera that offers cooling down
to -90° C just with air assist. The all-metal, hermetically sealed design, with the industry’s only lifetime vacuum guarantee, ensures
maintenance-free operation. High QE and ultra-low-noise electronics make the SOPHIA: 2048B camera ideal for demanding,
low light applications. The eXcelon and back-illuminated technology of the camera delivers the highest sensitivity while reducing
etaloning that occurs in standard back-illuminated CCDs. Multiple speed operations up to 16 MHz allow these cameras to be usedfor steady state as well as fast kinetics studies.

FEATUREeXcelon® technology			2048 x 2048 imaging array; 15.0 mm x 15.0 mm
pixels. Scientific grade CCD
All-metal, hermetic vacuum seals;
Lifetime vacuum guarantee
Deep cooling with ArcTec™ technology
Single fused silica vacuum window
Optional UV phosphor coatings
Large 45 mm integrated shutter
Low noise electronics
Flexible readout design
Software selectable system gains
Kinetics
USB3.0 data interface
Optional: LightField® (for Windows 8/7, 64-bit)
Or WinView/Spec (for Windows 8/7/XP, 32-bit)
PICAM (64-bit) / PVCAM (32-bit)
software development kits (SDKs)

BENEFITS
Higher QE in the UV and near IR regions; Extremely low etalonging:
100x lower dark charge than back-illuminated deep depletion.
High spatial resolution and large field of view
Low noise, few defects, linear response.
No out-gassing (as in epoxy seals) which can compromise vacuum performance;
Worry free operation.
Low dark noise allows detection of faint signals
Minimizes reflection losses from UV to IR; No optical losses due to multiple optical surfaces;
Optional AR coating and wedge windows available.
Enhances sensitivity throughout the UV to below 200 nm.
No vignetting even at low f-numbers. Easily acquire bias and dark reference.
Best performance for low light level applications.
Three readout speeds and three readout (single, dual and quad) configurations for utmost
flexibility for highest SNR and fastest image acquisition
Flexibility to optimize signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range.
Custom readout mode offers microsecond resolution.
Plug-and-play operation with desktops or laptops;
Optional fiber optic interface for remote operation.
Flexible software packages for data acquisition, display and analysis;
LightField offers intuitive, cutting edge user interface, IntelliCal® and more.
Compatible with Windows 8/7/XP, and Linux;
Universal programming interfaces for easy custom programming.

Applications: semiconductor failure analysis, astronomy, photometry, laser beam profiling, luminescence and fluorescence imaging, andBose-Einstein Condensate (BEC)

SOPHIA:2048B eXcelon

Rev. N1 Preliminary

Page 1 of 6Princeton Instruments | 3660 Quakerbridge Rd | Trenton, NJ 08619 USA | +1 609-631-4000 | www.princetoninstruments.com | info@princetoninstruments.com

SPECIFICATIONS
Features

SOPHIA: 2048B eXcelon

SOPHIA: 2048B

Back-illuminated CCD.
Highest sensitivity in the visible region. Highsensivity in the NIR. Extremely low etaloning.
100x lower dark charge than the BR.

Back-illuminated CCD. Highest sensitivity in the visible
region.

Princeton Instruments’ proprietary CCD,
grade 1, AIMO

e2v CCD 230-42
back-illuminated, grade 1, AIMO

TBD

TBD

CCD Image Sensor
Dark current
e-/p/s @ -90°C
CCD UV coating
Quantum efficiency
CCD format

Optional UV coating
See graph, next page2048 x 2048 imaging pixels; 15.0 x 15.0 mm pixels; 100% fill factor

Imaging area
Lens mount
Deepest cooling temperature

30.7 x 30.7 mm (optically centered)F-mount with integral 45 mm shutter< -90°C (typical), with OASIS 3 liquid circulator< -90°C (typical), with air±0.05°C
Thermoelectric air or liquid cooling (OASIS 3 required)
150 ke- (typical)
1000 ke- (typical)
16 MHz , 4 MHz and 400 KHz

Thermostating precision
Cooling method
Full well:
Single pixel
Output node
ADC speed/16 bits*
System read noise per port
@ 100 kHz@ 1 MHz		@ 4 MHz
Vertical shift speed
Non-linearity
Software selectable gains
Operating systems supported
Data interface
I/O signals
Operating environment
Certification
Dimensions / Weight

4.5 e- rms (typical)
8.5 e- rms (typical)
22 e- rms (typical)
24 msec/row (programmable)<2% @ 100 kHz
1, 2, 4 e-/ADU (low noise input)

Windows 8/7 (64-bit) and Linux (64-bit), Windows 8/7/XP (32-bit)
USB3.0 (5m interface cable provided); Optional Fiberoptic interface is available for remote operation
Two MCX connectors for programmable frame readout, shutter, trigger in+5 to +30°C non-condensing
CE
251.6 mm (9.91“) x 129 mm (5.08“) x 142.8 mm (5.62“) (L x W x H) / 6.5 kg (14.3 lbs)

Binning

READOUT TIME**with 4-port readout

All specifications subject to change
Contact your local sales representative for
information on the availability of the BR model.
SOPHIA:2048B eXcelon

Rev. N1 Preliminary@ 16 MHz@ 4 MHz@ 400 kHz

1x1

0.311

1.1

11.07

2x2

0.135

0.345

3.025

4x4

0.070

0.130

0.948

8x8

0.045

0.065

0.344

16 x 16

0.035

0.042

0.150

Page 2 of 6Princeton Instruments | 3660 Quakerbridge Rd | Trenton, NJ 08619 USA | +1 609-631-4000 | www.princetoninstruments.com | info@princetoninstruments.com

qe DATA
100%

90%80%Quantum Efficiency (%)

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%20%10%0%
250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700750800

850

9009501000

1050

Wavelength (nm)B_eXcelon

B

With optional UV coating(for non-eXcelon cameras only)

NOTE:
Graph shows typical Quantum Efficiency (QE) data measured at - 25°C. QE decreases at normal operating temperatures.
For the best results for your application, please discuss the specific parameters of your experiment with your sales representative.

SOPHIA:2048B eXcelon

Rev. N1 Preliminary

Page 3 of 6

Princeton Instruments | 3660 Quakerbridge Rd | Trenton, NJ 08619 USA | +1 609-631-4000 | www.princetoninstruments.com | info@princetoninstruments.com

VACUUM WINDOW AR COATINGS
10095

Transmission (%)

90
85
80
NIR -AR75

NO -AR70

MgF265BBAR (400 -1100nm)

60
55
50

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Wavelength (nm)NOTES:
 Standard anti-reflection (AR) coating options shown on graph Designed by Acton Optics, our BBAR coating offers unmatched performance for 400 nm - 1100 nm
 Custom wedge window options and other AR coatings are also available
Contact your local sales representative for more information

SOPHIA:2048B eXcelon

Rev. N1 Preliminary

Page 4 of 6

Princeton Instruments | 3660 Quakerbridge Rd | Trenton, NJ 08619 USA | +1 609-631-4000 | www.princetoninstruments.com | info@princetoninstruments.com

eXcelon Performance
0.15

25

QE Data measured at +25˚C
0.1

20

0.05

Amplitude

Amplitude

15

10

0-0.055-0.1

eXcelon

0

B/I

-0.15
600-5

330

370

410

450

490

530

570

610

650

690

730

770

810

850

Wavelength (nm)% QE Increase (eXcelon : BI)

B_eXcelon provides superior QE over the standard
back illuminated (“B”) version in the UV-NIR range.

8909309701010 1050 1090

650700750800850900950

10001050

1100

Wavelength (nm)

Etaloning Performance Comparison - eXcelon : B/I
NOTES: QE data at +25°C. The PIXIS: 512_eXcelon QE data represents calculated + measured values.

B_eXcelon provides significantly lower etaloning (unwantedfringes) compared to standard back illuminated (“B”) version.

Data taken with white light source through a monochromator comparing etaloning performance ofeXcelon vs. back-illuminated CCDs.

SOPHIA:2048B eXcelon

Rev. N1 Preliminary

Page 5 of 6

Princeton Instruments | 3660 Quakerbridge Rd | Trenton, NJ 08619 USA | +1 609-631-4000 | www.princetoninstruments.com | info@princetoninstruments.com

2.59
65.8

1.05
26.7

3.07
78.1

0.87
22.2

4.23
107.4

5.08
129.0

SOPHIA: 2048 (air/LIQUID cooled)

8.42
213.7

1.57
40.0

1.80
45.8

5.62
142.8

2.38
60.3

9.91
251.6

0.35
9.0
0.13 WINDOW
3.2
1.87
47.5

FOCAL PLANE

Weight: 6.5 kg (14.3 lbs)

SOPHIA:2048B eXcelon

Rev. N1 Preliminary

Page 6 of 6

Princeton Instruments | 3660 Quakerbridge Rd | Trenton, NJ 08619 USA | +1 609-631-4000 | www.princetoninstruments.com | info@princetoninstruments.com