First results from the UBC etch-alignment mosaic CCD

Abstract

First imaging results are obtained with a new CCD mosaic prototype (3K x 3k, 15 μm pixels). The CCDs are aligned using an etched socket alignment technique. Three different measurements of the alignment are made using star images, test p attern images, and microscope analysis. The CCDs have an angular misalignement o f less than 30 ppm. The composite device is flat to within \pm 3 μm, with rows/columns oriented to within 20 ppm. The use of an existing technology with built in precision reduces many of the difficulties and expenses typically encountered with mosaic detector construction. A new camera being built for the UBC liquid mirror telescope is al so described.