Electronic Imaging in Astronomy

Dr. McLean has been a member of the faculty at UCLA and Director of the UCLA Infrared Laboratory for Astrophysics since 1989. He has served as Vice Chair for Astronomy since 2009. The IR Lab at UCLA is well-known for the development of many astronomical instruments for the Keck Observatory and other telescopes. Dr. McLean is one of the world s leading authorities on the application of electronic imaging systems to advanced astronomical instrumentation. He has written over 300 articles and his current book, Electronic Imaging in Astronomy: detectors and instrumentation, published by Springer is in its second edition. Dr. McLean received his BSc(Hons) in Physics & Astronomy and his PhD in Astronomy from Glasgow University (UK) in 1971 and 1974 respectively. While a member of staff at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh from 1979-1989 he developed the first CCD-based imaging spectro-polarimeter and the first facility-class camera for the 3.8-m UK Infrared Telescope to use infrared arrays. Since joining UCLA, his lab has delivered or assisted in all of the currently operational infrared instruments at the W. M. Keck Observatory. Dr. McLean was the principal investigator for the NIRSPEC and MOSFIRE instruments at Keck, the twin-channel infrared camera at Lick Observatory and the FLITECAM instrument for NASA s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. He served on the Science Steering Committee for the W. M. Keck Observatory for ten years and he is an Associate Director of the University of California Observatories. Dr. McLean is a former president of IAU Commission 25 (Photometry and Polarimetry) and a former president of IAU Commission 9 (Instrumentation and Techniques). He is a member of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and the Society of Professional Instrument Engineers (SPIE). His research interests are broad. From his early career he is known for many discoveries involving the intrinsic polarization of starlight. Currently, his main research involves the study of sub-stellar mass objects (brown dwarfs), star forming regions, the galactic center, and star-formation in high-redshift galaxies. His web site bdssarchive.org provides a public data base of infrared spectra for low-mass stars and brown dwarfs.

The development of electronic imaging in astronomy.- Beating the atmosphere.- Telescopes.- The discovery power of modern astronomical instruments.- Instrumentation and detectors.- Designing and building astronomical instruments.- Charge-coupled devices.- Practical operation of CCDs.- Characterization and calibration of array instruments.- Image processing and analysis.- Electronic imaging at infrared wavelengths.- Electronic imaging at ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths.- Electronic imaging at sub-millimeter and radio wavelengths.- Future developments.

From the reviews of the second edition:

"The book literally covers everything you ever wanted to know about the design and technology behind CCDs. Well written and informative, the book is littered with technical diagrams and useful equations for anyone interested in either developing their own CCD device or writing image processing algorithms and plug-ins. Not only that ... this is a book that every university undergraduate studying instrumentation should probably have on their bookshelf." (Nick Howes, Astronomy Now, January, 2009)

"McLean ... provides an excellent primer for those with a technical interest in these amazing devices. ... the book is a compendium of astronomical methods and instrumentation. ... McLean's book ... would be an excellent college-level resource. In fact, it should be on the shelf of anyone who wants a firm technical background in astronomical methods and instrumentation. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections." (T. D. Oswalt, Choice, Vol. 46 (7), March, 2009)

"This is the second edition of a book whose purpose is to explain the workings of electronic detectors and instruments. ... This ambitious book is in part an attempt to provide an overview of just what your strange-looking instrument is doing. ... this is an excellent book, packed with information and written in a clear and accessible style which will make it invaluable to any student or supervisor. Highly recommended." (Paul O'Brien, The Observatory, Vol. 129 (1210), June, 2009)