Astronomical imaging with L3CCDs: Detector performance and high-speed controller design

L3CCDs represent a major step in CCD performance with great potential for astronomical applications because of their ability to work at very high pixel rates with negligible readout noise. This paper describes the results of tests on some of the L3CCDs now available and discusses how the operating conditions may be optimised for a variety of different applications. In particular, at high gain they can be used for photon counting work at photon rates well in excess of one photon per pixel per second. Readout rates which can be as high as 35MHz are entirely practical for a number of astronomical applications. This paper describes some of the compromises and trade-offs that have to be made in designing high-speed controllers to work effectively with these devices. The importance of integrating high-speed controllers for astronomy with significant amount of real-time processing power is also discussed.