Final answer:
CCDs are electronic detectors that capture electromagnetic radiation by converting photons into a stream of electrons, with each interaction recorded in a pixel. They are widely used in astronomical and biomedical imaging systems, allowing for high-resolution images due to their ability to count photons in millions of pixels or megapixels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Charge-coupled devices (CCDs) are sophisticated electronic detectors that record electromagnetic radiation, primarily used in astronomical and biomedical imaging systems. When photons strike the CCD, they generate a stream of charged particles (electrons), which are then stored and counted. Each individual photon interaction is recorded at a specific location on the detector known as a pixel (picture element). In digital imaging technology, megapixels (MPs) refer to the millions of pixels that can be counted on modern CCD detectors, allowing for the creation of detailed images. CCDs have revolutionized photography and imaging by replacing traditional film with sensors that can detect light with much greater efficiency, and their usage extends from the simplest digital cameras to the most complex telescopes.
The technology of CCDs is rooted in their ability to capture images as a matrix of tiny pixels, each pixel corresponding to an intensity of light that can be individually analyzed. Advances in this field are continuously being made to further improve the efficiency of these photon detectors, through measures such as cooling the systems to reduce thermal noise. The evolution of CCDs has driven significant progress in areas such as astronomy, where they facilitate detailed observation and analysis of celestial objects, and in biomedical imaging, where they enhance the precision and quality of medical images.