Quantum efficiency characterization of LBNL CCD's Part 1: theQuantum Efficiency Machine

Instrumentation was developed in 2004 and 2005 to measurethe quantum efficiency of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab(LBNL)total-depletion CCD's, intended for astronomy and spaceapplications. This paper describes the basic instrument. Although it isconventional even to the parts list, there are important innovations. Axenon arc light source was chosen for its high blue/UV and low red/IRoutput as compared with a tungsten light. Intensity stabilization hasbeen difficult, but sinceonly flux ratios matter this is not critical.Between the light source andan Oriel MS257 monochromator are a shutterand two filter wheels. High-bandpass and low-bandpass filter pairsisolate the 150-nm wide bands appropriate to the wavelength, thusminimizing scattered light and providing order blocking. Light from theauxiliary port enters a 20-inch optical sphere, and the 4-inch outputport is at right angles to the input port. An 80 cm drift space producesnear-uniform illumination on the CCD. Next to the cold CCD inside thehorizontal dewar is a calibrated reference photodiode which is regulatedto the PD calibration temperature, 25$^\circ$ C. The ratio ofthe CCD andin-dewar reference PD signals provides the QE measurement. Additionalcross-calibration to a PD on the integrating spherepermitslower-intensity exposures