Silicon diode array vidicons at the telescope: observational experience.

We have used silicon vidicon tubes in a two-dimensional integrating imaging device at the telescope to obtain photometric images of astronomical objects. In this article we report on the performance of the imaging system we have experienced under actual observing conditions. The imaging system and the procedures we have devised to use it are described. Exposures reproduce to better than 0.05% of full scale intensity for each picture element. The response of the entire imaging system is linear with gamma = 1 for at least nearly 5 orders of magnitude to within at least 0.44% of full scale intensity and probably much better. Images made through the telescope of extended sources agree photometrically with photomultiplier measurements to about 1%. Photometry of stars reproduces to better than 0.5%.