Infrared detector development programs for the VLT instruments at the European Southern Observatory

Gert Finger; Peter Biereichel; Hamid Mehrgan; Manfred Meyer; Alan F. M. Moorwood; Gianalfredo Nicolini; Joerg Stegmeier

doi:10.1117/12.317209

21 August 1998 Infrared detector development programs for the VLT instruments at the European Southern Observatory

Gert Finger, Peter Biereichel, Hamid Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Alan F. M. Moorwood, Gianalfredo Nicolini, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 3354, Infrared Astronomical Instrumentation; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317209
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

Instrument platforms like the VLT represent a new challenge to IR focal plane technology. Since the large telescope diameter and the improved image quality provided by adaptive optics reduce the pixel scale, larger array formats are needed. To meet this challenge ESO is participating in development programs for both InSb and HgCdTe large format arrays. To cover the spectral region of 1 to 5 micron ESO has funded a foundry run at SBRC to produce 1024 X 1024 InSb arrays, which will be installed in ISAAC, the IR Spectrometer and Array Camera built for the VLT. Since the delivery of the 1K X 1K InSb array is delayed, the test results obtained with a 256 X 256 InSb array and the application of off chip cryogenic amplifiers to InSb detectors will be discussed. Results obtained with a (lambda) _c equals 2.5 micrometers Rockwell 1024 X 1024 HgCdTe array will be presented, where an off chip cryogenic operational amplifier was used yielding a rms read noise of 3 electrons. Sensitivity profiles of individual pixels have been measured with a single mode IR fiber. Limitations of PACE 1 technology, such as persistence, will be discussed. First results with the 1K X 1K array, which was installed in SOFI, an IR focal reducer providing 1-2.5 micron imaging and long slit grism spectroscopy at the NTT telescope, will be presented. Advanced techniques of real time image sharpening will also be included. An outlook to the development of (lambda) _c equals 2048 X 2048 HgCdTe array formats will be given. The optical layout of NIRMOS, a multi-object spectrograph for the VLT telescope, is base don the availability of 2K X 2K HgCdTe arrays.

Citation Download Citation

Gert Finger, Peter Biereichel, Hamid Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Alan F. M. Moorwood, Gianalfredo Nicolini, and Joerg Stegmeier "Infrared detector development programs for the VLT instruments at the European Southern Observatory", Proc. SPIE 3354, Infrared Astronomical Instrumentation, (21 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317209

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