High-performance large format impurity band conductor focal plane arrays for astronomy applications

Robert Mills; John Edwards; Eric Beuville; Andrew Toth; Elizabeth Corrales; Neil Therrien; Jeff Kissel; Gert Finger

doi:10.1117/12.862264

26 August 2010 High-performance large format impurity band conductor focal plane arrays for astronomy applications

Robert Mills, John Edwards, Eric Beuville, Andrew Toth, Elizabeth Corrales, Neil Therrien, Jeff Kissel, Gert Finger

Proceedings Volume 7780, Detectors and Imaging Devices: Infrared, Focal Plane, Single Photon; 778003 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.862264
Event: SPIE NanoScience + Engineering, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) has developed a family of high performance large format infrared detector arrays whose detectors are most effective for the detection of long and very long wavelength infrared energy. This paper describes the state of the art in mega-pixel Si:As Impurity Band Conduction (IBC) arrays and relevant system applications that offers unique off-the-shelf solutions to the astronomy community. Raytheon's Aquarius-1k, developed in collaboration with ESO, is a 1024 × 1024 pixel high performance array with a 30μm pitch that features high quantum efficiency IBC detectors, low noise, low dark current, and on-chip clocking for ease of operation. This large format array was designed for ground-based astronomy applications but lends itself for space based platforms too. The detector has excellent sensitivity out to 27μm wavelength. The readout circuit has several programmable features such as low gain for a well capacity of 11 × 10⁶e-, high gain for a well capacity of 10⁶e- and a programmable number of outputs (16 or 64). Programmable integration time and integration modes, like snapshot, rolling and non-destructive integrations, allow the Aquarius to be used for a wide variety of applications and performance. A very fast full frame rate of 120Hz is achieved with 64 outputs (32 outputs per side) and a programmable centered windowing will accommodate a wide range of readout rates. The multiplexer and packaging design utilizes two alignment edges on the SCA which can be butted on two sides for expansion to 2k × 1k and wider focal planes. Data is shown on several focal plane arrays to demonstrate that very low noise and high quantum efficiency performance has been achieved. This array leverages over thirty years of experience in both ground and space based astronomy sensor applications. The technology has been successfully demonstrated on programs such as NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and Japan's Akari Space Telescope, and will be used on the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Citation Download Citation

Robert Mills, John Edwards, Eric Beuville, Andrew Toth, Elizabeth Corrales, Neil Therrien, Jeff Kissel, and Gert Finger "High-performance large format impurity band conductor focal plane arrays for astronomy applications", Proc. SPIE 7780, Detectors and Imaging Devices: Infrared, Focal Plane, Single Photon, 778003 (26 August 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.862264

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