New generation photon-counting cameras: algol and CPNG.

Algol and Comptage de Photons Nouvelle Génération (CPNG) are new generation photon counting cameras developed for high angular resolution in the visible by means of optical aperture synthesis and speckle interferometry and for photon noise limited fast imaging of biological targets. They are intensified CCDs. They have been built to benefit from improvements in photonic commercial components, sensitivity, and personal computer workstations processing power.

Ground based instrument for observing near IR nightglow inhomogeneities at zenith and throughout the sky.

An instrument for the study of the dynamics of the upper terrestrial atmosphere by optical method has been built. It is an automatic high sensitivity imaging system able to record the spatial variation of the nightglow intensity in the near IR. The low intensity and contrast of the structures led to a system combining a TV imager and a photo camera.