Electron multiplication CCD detector technology advancement for the WFIRST-AFTA coronagraph

Leon K. Harding; Richard T. Demers; Michael Hoenk; Pavani Peddada; Bijan Nemati; Michael Cherng; Darren Michaels; Anthony Loc; Nathan Bush; David Hall; Neil Murray; Jason Gow; Ross Burgon; Andrew Holland; Alice Reinheimer; Paul R. Jorden; Douglas Jordan

doi:10.1117/12.2189927

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16 September 2015 Electron multiplication CCD detector technology advancement for the WFIRST-AFTA coronagraph

Leon K. Harding, Richard T. Demers, Michael Hoenk, Pavani Peddada, Bijan Nemati, Michael Cherng, Darren Michaels, Anthony Loc, Nathan Bush, David Hall, Neil Murray, Jason Gow, Ross Burgon, Andrew Holland, Alice Reinheimer, Paul R. Jorden, Douglas Jordan

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Proceedings Volume 9605, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets VII; 96050F (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2189927
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The WFIRST-AFTA (Wide Field InfraRed Survey Telescope-Astrophysics Focused Telescope Asset) is a NASA space observatory. It will host two major astronomical instruments: a wide-field imager (WFI) to search for dark energy and carry out wide field near infrared (NIR) surveys, and a coronagraph instrument (CGI) to image and spectrally characterize extrasolar planets. In this paper, we discuss the work that has been carried out at JPL in advancing Electron Multiplying CCD (EMCCD) technology to higher flight maturity, with the goal of reaching a NASA technology readiness level of 6 (TRL-6) by early-to-mid 2016. The EMCCD has been baselined for both the coronagraph's imager and integral field spectrograph (IFS) based on its sub-electron noise performance at extremely low flux levels - the regime where the AFTA CGI will operate. We present results from a study that fully characterizes the beginning of life performance of the EMCCD. We also discuss, and present initial results from, a recent radiation test campaign that was designed and carried out to mimic the conditions of the WFIRST-AFTA space environment in an L2 orbit, where we sought to assess the sensor's end of life performance, particularly degradation of its charge transfer efficiency, in addition to other parameters such as dark current, electron multiplication gain, clock induced charge and read noise.

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Leon K. Harding, Richard T. Demers, Michael Hoenk, Pavani Peddada, Bijan Nemati, Michael Cherng, Darren Michaels, Anthony Loc, Nathan Bush, David Hall, Neil Murray, Jason Gow, Ross Burgon, Andrew Holland, Alice Reinheimer, Paul R. Jorden, and Douglas Jordan "Electron multiplication CCD detector technology advancement for the WFIRST-AFTA coronagraph", Proc. SPIE 9605, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets VII, 96050F (16 September 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2189927

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