Electron multiplying (EM) CCD technology for detecting ultra-low light

Hamamatsu’s ImagEM cameras (C9100-13 and C9100-14) offer high-performance imaging for virtually any application in optical microscopy. Whether you’re capturing ultra-low-light images that require long integration times or real-time, high frame rate imaging of low-light fluorescence, you can rely on the ImagEM to provide high sensitivity, exceptional stability, and extremely low noise.

• High sensitivity: maximum QE of over 90%, maximum EM gain of 1200x
• High stability: highly stable EM gain, increased offset stability
• Low noise: strictly controlled CCD temperature by water or forced-air cooling, minimal dark noise, low CIC

To help you determine which ImagEM Enhanced is most suitable for your imaging needs, wavelength sensitivity and other important parameters are listed in the table below

The main features and benefits of the ImagEM Enhanced camera are summarized below. For more info, download the datasheet and technical note or contact us by completing the form.

The main features and benefits of the ImagEM-1K camera are summarized below. For more info, download the datasheet and technical note, or contact us by completing the form.

Special features of ImagEM cameras

Enhanced EM gain features

• Built-in EM gain protection
  Gain deterioration (or aging) is an inherent characteristic of all EMCCD cameras, and can be accelerated by events such as unintentional exposure to excessive light. As a countermeasure, the ImagEM provides user-adjustable protection levels and will alert users whenever too much light is detected. This feature contributes to extended camera life.
• Built-in EM gain readjustment
  In the event that EM gain deterioration does occur, gain can be readjusted automatically to original values through a software command. This readjustment can be made without removing the camera from your laboratory setup.
• Direct EM gain control
  Gain can be easily controlled through any software that supports the Hamamatsu DCAM application. There is no need to refer to a manual to convert sensitivity values and actual EM gain multiplication factors.

Enhanced image quality

• Optimized drivers for low CIC
  Because the EMCCD camera has such extremely low readout noise, it is necessary to deal with noise elements that are usually considered insignificant in conventional cooled CCD cameras. One such element is clock induced charge (CIC), which is a type of dark current that can affect images taken at short exposures. ImagEM is designed to minimize the effects of CIC.
• New photon imaging mode
  A unique technology that overcomes the limitation of EMCCD cameras to handle single photon light levels due to the noise generated by the electron multiplication process. For many years, Hamamatsu has produced photon-counting cameras with special image intensifiers. This expertise has been applied to create unique circuits for driving the EM process that will produce high-quality images in ultra-low light.
• New frame averaging
  A real-time image processing feature in which multiple frames can be averaged. Provides significant increases in S/N since both detector noise and signal are averaged.
• New spot noise reducer
  An image processing function that helps increase S/N and overall image quality by eliminating noise elements such as cosmic rays. Random spots of intensity are detected and then evaluated against incoming images.
• Increased offset stability
  Stability of the digitizer offset is an important issue for data reliability. In the ImagEM, fluctuation of the digitizer offset is very well controlled, showing only a few counts even at full 16-bit digitizer resolution and maximum EM gain.

Multiple synchronous triggers

Various trigger modes are available for synchronizing the camera with external devices. Among these modes are two types of synchronous readout modes, which prevent vertical smearing or banding noise that occurs if there is a mismatch between camera readout and the confocal microscope’s disk rotation speed.

Applications for ImagEM Cameras

The ImagEM cameras are suited for many ultra-low-light imaging applications in the visible and NIR wavelengths that require high sensitivity, high speed, and an exposure time of 10 µs or more. Example applications are listed below.

• Fast frame rates and short exposures of living cells with low excitation fluorescence
• Protein-protein interaction
• Calcium waves in cell networks and intracellular ion flux
• Real-time spinning disk confocal microscopy

Sample images from ImagEM Cameras

	Luminescence imaging of HeLa cells expressing Renilla Luciferase This image is displayed by overlapping luminescence image (pseudocolor) and actual image Objective lens: 10x Cooling method: water cooling (-80 C) EM gain: 200x Exposure time: 5 min
	Single fluorescent molecules in HeLa cells expressing H2B-GFP fusion protein EM gain: 1200x Exposure time: 30.5 ms Data courtesy of - Dr. Makio Tokunaga, National Institute of Genetics - Dr. Kumiko Sogawa, RIKEN RCAI - Dr. Hiroshi Kimura, HMRO Kyoto Univ. Faculty of Medicine
	Confocal calcium ion imaging of HeLa cell expressing yellow Cameleon 3.6 This image shows changes of histamine stimulated calcium ion with two Z positions and four time lapse. Objective lens: 100x EM gain: 300x Exposure time: 100 ms Confocal unit: CSU by Yokogawa Electric Co. CFP/YFP FRET: 2 wavelength imaging, W-view optics A8509 Z scan: 19 slices/2.5 s Piezoelectric Z stage Data courtesy of Dr. Kenji Nagai, Dr. Kenta Saito Hokkaido Univ. Nikon Imaging Center