A new amplifier has been evaluated and shown to produce approximately 3 electrons read noise. These devices have been fabricated and will be used in the forthcoming 8kx8k prime focus mosaic camera now under development. Devices have been tested in both front illuminated and back illuminated modes with excellent measured performance. Ouellette has designed a filter change, guider, and shutter module for the 90Prime 8kx8k mosaic. It includes six 6 filters, a camera shutter being built at the University of Bonn, focus mechanisms, one or two guider cameras, and interfaces between the optical assembly and the dewar.
Fabrication is now underway.
The processes have now been utilized on several devices from other observatories to restore previously unusable CCDs to operation. The CCD Laboratory's backside thinning and coating capabilities have been the subject of several technology transfer projects aimed at moving the University of Arizona processes to commercial vendors. Three companies have successfully utilized transferred technology and now offer products based on these processes. Lesser and Fuentes have developed an Modulation Transfer Function test system which allows MTF evaluation of imagers at any wavelength. It utilizes an MTF calibrated mask and UV lens, a motorized focus mechanism, and is coupled to an existing light source.