On the accuracy of framing-rate measurements in ultra-high speed rotating mirror cameras

TY - JOUR

T1 - On the accuracy of framing-rate measurements in ultra-high speed rotating mirror cameras

A1 - Conneely,Michael

A1 - Rolfsnes,Hans O.

A1 - Main,Charles

A1 - McGloin,David

A1 - Campbell,Paul A.

AU - Conneely,Michael

AU - Rolfsnes,Hans O.

AU - Main,Charles

AU - McGloin,David

AU - Campbell,Paul A.

PY - 2011/8/15

Y1 - 2011/8/15

N2 - <p>Rotating mirror systems based on the Miller Principle are a mainstay modality for ultra-high speed imaging within the range 1-25 million frames per second. Importantly, the true temporal accuracy of observations recorded in such cameras is sensitive to the framing rate that the system directly associates with each individual data acquisition. The purpose for the present investigation was to examine the validity of such system-reported frame rates in a widely used commercial system (a Cordin 550-62 model) by independently measuring the framing rate at the instant of triggering. Here, we found a small but significant difference between such measurements: the average discrepancy (over the entire spectrum of frame rates used) was found to be 0.66 +/- 0.48%, with a maximum difference of 2.33%. The principal reason for this discrepancy was traced to non-optimized sampling of the mirror rotation rate within the system protocol. This paper thus serves three purposes: (i) we highlight a straightforward diagnostic approach to facilitate scrutiny of rotating-mirror system integrity; (ii) we raise awareness of the intrinsic errors associated with data previously acquired with this particular system and model; and (iii), we recommend that future control routines address the sampling issue by implementing real-time measurement at the instant of triggering. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America</p>

AB - <p>Rotating mirror systems based on the Miller Principle are a mainstay modality for ultra-high speed imaging within the range 1-25 million frames per second. Importantly, the true temporal accuracy of observations recorded in such cameras is sensitive to the framing rate that the system directly associates with each individual data acquisition. The purpose for the present investigation was to examine the validity of such system-reported frame rates in a widely used commercial system (a Cordin 550-62 model) by independently measuring the framing rate at the instant of triggering. Here, we found a small but significant difference between such measurements: the average discrepancy (over the entire spectrum of frame rates used) was found to be 0.66 +/- 0.48%, with a maximum difference of 2.33%. The principal reason for this discrepancy was traced to non-optimized sampling of the mirror rotation rate within the system protocol. This paper thus serves three purposes: (i) we highlight a straightforward diagnostic approach to facilitate scrutiny of rotating-mirror system integrity; (ii) we raise awareness of the intrinsic errors associated with data previously acquired with this particular system and model; and (iii), we recommend that future control routines address the sampling issue by implementing real-time measurement at the instant of triggering. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America</p>

KW - FRAMES

KW - BRANDARIS-128

U2 - 10.1364/OE.19.016432

DO - 10.1364/OE.19.016432

M1 - Article

JO - Optics Express

JF - Optics Express

SN - 1094-4087

IS - 17

VL - 19

SP - 16432

EP - 16437

ER -