Contributors

Stephen, Noah

Summary

It appears that Basler offers GigE cameras with over 2x improved sensitivity to the typical LIGO infrared laser wavelength. This camera is the "acA1300-60gmNIR" and it appears to be 2 to 5 times more sensitive at 1064 nm.

We do not have any of these cameras, and might want to consider getting our hands on one to evaluate its utility in lab settings (or perhaps even in site GigE camera installations).

Detailed Findings

As discussed in the Basler technical documentation, there are 3 different sensors that Basler packages into their cameras.

--> ref. https://www.baslerweb.com/en/vision-campus/camera-technology/nir-cameras/

"The NIR-optimized cameras with NIR-optimized 2 MP (CMV2000) and 4 MP (CMV4000) sensors from CMOSIS, or the 1.3 MP sensor (EV76C661) from e2V, still manage quantum efficiencies close to 40% in the 850nm range. Compared to non-NIR-optimized cameras, this represents a doubling of the sensitivity value at this wavelength."

Examining these sensors closer, the better QE at 1000 nm wavelength is from the 1.3 MP sensor (EV76C661) from e2V. This is notable because LIGO uses 1064 nm wavelength, and the highest QE reported in the datasheets is at 1000 nm.

The camera which uses this sensor is the "acA1300-60gmNIR" which is available in either C-mount lens interface, or CS-mount lens interface.

--> ref. https://www.baslerweb.com/en/products/cameras/area-scan-cameras/ace/aca1300-60gmnir/

Methods

Begin at a given camera's Basler webpage. See example below.

--> ref. https://www.baslerweb.com/en/sales-support/downloads/document-downloads/basler-ace-aca2000-50gmnir-emva-data/

Navigate to "Documents" tab and then to "EMVA Data". There are two attachments in this section:

• the overview pdf, which gives a rundown of the specs of each camera and the cameras using each sensor
• the sensor-specific pdf, which gives technical data from the tests collected for a number of articles of each sensor, which corresponds to the indicated sensor

By using the camera-specific pdf, you can identify the quantum efficiency at NIR wavelenghts up to 1000 nm.

Alternatively, if you know you want a specific sensor or specification, you can identify the cameras using the overview pdf, or using the Vision System Configurator

--> ref. https://www.baslerweb.com/en/products/tools/vision-system-configurator/#/selection/camera/

Next Steps

We'll use this log as a starting point to compile the resolutions, sensitivities, and any other parameters for each existing LIGO GigE camera and each possible improved camera.

We will also continue our work in identifying all of the necessary components that could help us construct a mobile setup which enables interchangeability of the various GigE cameras that are at our disposal (WIP).