DEVELOPMENT OF A 2000X8144-PIXEL MOSAIC CCD CAMERA

We have developed a 2000 X 8144-pixel mosaic CCD camera, which consists of a 2 X 8 array of 1000 X 101 18-pixel CCDs. We used packaged CCD chips commercially available from Texas Instruments of Japan and mounted them with a spacing between the CCD chips slightly smaller than the chip size. While gaps were introduced between the CCDs, this architecture made the construction of a camera of this size easy, and even opened a way to larger cameras. We established the technique of mounting CCD chips on a nonflat focal surface with the required accuracy. This camera is now used at the prime focus of the Kiso 105-cm Schmidt telescope for wide-field surveys.