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Reticon - Bob Maddoux.

Reticon appear to be able to produce devices of the 2k square format, with pixels and front-illuminated; they also indicated that it is possible to produce devices. A yield of 70-80% was quoted on DC tests of the wafers. The noise figure quoted by them was (). They also indicated that their devices may be too flat, fringing in the red at the 20-30% level being evident. Working devices were being shipped to Lick by July this year (1993) who were undertaking some backside treatment ( coating) to improve the response. A degradation in response has been noted when using this treatment - it is thought that the is lost from the material which causes a loss in response. Better UV results have been obtained by using an atmosphere and a UV flood of the device.

They indicated that thinned devices would have the same noise/Gain performance and would utilise AR coatings for maximum peak response. Buttable devices would only be produced if a contract was forthcoming from the astronomical community. As Keck wanted a spectrographic CCD, there may be a possibility of producing a device of 2k square format with pixels. A QE of 40% down to about 200nm was quoted using a non-bias flash gate. A cost of was indicated for a 2k device. ($20K for a front-side illuminated device).

For fast-read CCDs they quoted a noise figure of at 420kHz as measured by one of their customers.

Reticon appear to have some way to go before being able to offer anything useful. They have made 2k devices, but have not completed the thinning/backside treatment; it seems as if they expect Lick to do this. Their range of devices is also limited; eg. no buttable chips.