Technical_Specifications.docx

The Naval Research Laboratory has a requirement for a commercially available fast framing camera for imaging of transient plasma phenomena that occur in pulsed-power-produced plasmas currently under study within the laboratory's Plasma Physics Division. The camera is sensitive primarily to visible light, with some sensitivity in the near-ultraviolet. It can be used to directly record images of plasma emission in these portions of the spectrum or coupled, with additional hardware, to the output of an imaging spectrograph for spectral measurements that are resolved in time and space. The system is to be capable of recording multiple intensified CCD camera (ICCD) frames during a single plasma discharge, with short exposure times and high inter-frame timing accuracy. The collected images together form a time- and spatially-dependent record of the property of the transient phenomenon under study. The ability to collect multiple frames during a single plasma discharge greatly enhances the quality and reduces the cost of the data collected by eliminating the need to aggregate data from multiple discharges in order to understand these often irreproducible transient phenomena.

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

Fast framing camera. This procurement shall meet or exceed the minimum specifications below:

1. An ultra-high speed framing camera able to record at least 5 frames at all frame rates. The system shall be a modular design that is upgradable to 8 frames at all frame rates.

2. The exposure time for each frame shall be adjustable from 3 ns or less to 10 ms or greater, with interframe times from 0 ns to 10 ms or greater in 1 ns or smaller steps.

3. Each frame shall be recorded using an intensified CCD (ICCD) at least 1200 pixels tall x at least 1000 pixels wide and at least 8.5 mm wide x at least 6.5 mm high.

4. The system should be sensitive over the spectral range from at least 220 nm to 700 nm or greater.

a. Over the spectral range from 220 nm to 400 nm, at least 4 % of the incident light should be transmitted to each frame, and the quantum efficiency of each ICCD over this wavelength range should be at least 15 %.

b. Over the spectral range from 400 nm to 700 nm, at least 2 % of the incident light should be transmitted to each frame, and the quantum efficiency of each ICCD over this wavelength range should be at least 5 %.

5. The ICCD intensifier tubes shall have 30 lp/mm or better resolution and a bandwidth of greater than 50 nm for wavelengths below 400 nm. The gain of each ICCD shall be adjustable from unity to at least 5000×.

6. The camera shall have one optical input, with prisms or a similar technique used to split the light to separate ICCDs. An architecture employing multiple cameras with slightly different views of the object may not be used.

7. The system shall be contained in a metal case for reduction of electromagnetic noise and have an electromechanical iris, a capping shutter, and a lens mount at its entrance compatible with at least one brand of commercially-available lenses.

8. OPTION: Please include the option to add up to 3 additional frames within a 6-month time period.