Specifications

Version 1.1 rev Jan 2013
Page 61
iXon Ultra
, Features and Functionality
3.4.3 - Capture Sequence for Fast Kinetics (FK) with an FT EMCCD
Fast Kinetics (FK) is a special readout mode that uses the actual EMCCD as a temporary storage medium and allows an
extremely fast sequence of images to be captured. The capture sequence is illustrated here:
Figure 20: Capture sequence (Fast Kinetics mode)
Step 1 Both the Image and Storage areas of the EMCCD are fully cleaned (the Keep Clean Cycle).
Step 2 The EMCCD stops the Keep Clean Cycle and the acquisition begins. The image builds up on the illuminated
sub-area of the EMCCD.
Step 3
The EMCCD remains in this state until the exposure time has elapsed, at which point the complete EMCCD
is clocked vertically by the number of rows for the sub area of the EMCCD.
Steps 4 & 5
The process is continued until the number of images stored equals the series length set by the user.
Step 6 At this point the sequence moves into the readout phase by rst vertically shifting the rst image to the
bottom row of the EMCCD. The EMCCD is then read out in the standard method.
3.4.3.1 - Points to consider when using Fast Kinetics mode
• Lightmustonlybeallowedtofallonthespeciedsub-area.Lightfallinganywhereelsewillcontaminatethedata
• Themaximumnumberofimagesinthesequenceissetbythepositionofthesub-area,theheightofthesub-
area and the number of rows in the EMCCD (Image and Storage area)
• TherearenoKeepCleanCyclesduringtheacquisitionsequence
• Duetotheveryshortexposuretimes,streakingmaybeevident