Development activities on NIR large format MCT detectors for astrophysics and space science at CEA and SOFRADIR

Olivier Boulade; Vincent Moreau; Patrick Mulet; Olivier Gravrand; Cyril Cervera; Jean-Paul Zanatta; Pierre Castelein; Fabrice Guellec; Bruno Fièque; Philippe Chorier; Julien Roumegoux

doi:10.1117/12.2231295

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29 July 2016 Development activities on NIR large format MCT detectors for astrophysics and space science at CEA and SOFRADIR

Olivier Boulade, Vincent Moreau, Patrick Mulet, Olivier Gravrand, Cyril Cervera, Jean-Paul Zanatta, Pierre Castelein, Fabrice Guellec, Bruno Fièque, Philippe Chorier, Julien Roumegoux

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Proceedings Volume 9915, High Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy VII; 99150C (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231295
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

CEA and SOFRADIR have been manufacturing and characterizing near infrared detectors in the frame of ESA's near infrared large format sensor array roadmap to develop a 2Kx2K large format low flux low noise device for space applications such as astrophysics. These detectors use HgCdTe as the absorbing material and p/n diode technology. The technological developments (photovoltaic technology, readout circuit, ...) are shared between CEA/LETI and SOFRADIR, both in Grenoble, while most of the performances are evaluated at CEA/IRFU in Saclay where a dedicated test facility has been developed, in particular to measure very low dark currents. The paper will present the current status of these developments at the end of ESA's NIRLFSA phase 2. The performances of the latest batch of devices meet or are very close to all the requirements (quantum efficiency, dark current, cross talk, readout noise, ...) even though a glow induced by the ROIC prevents the accurate measurement of the dark current. The current devices are fairly small, 640x512 15μm pixels, and the next phase of activity will target the development of a full size 2Kx2K detector. From the design and development, to the manufacturing and finally the testing, that type of detector requests a high level of mastering. An appropriate manufacturing and process chain compatible with such a size is needed at industrial level and results obtained with CEA technology coupled with Sofradir industrial experience and work on large dimension detector allow French actors to be confident to address this type of future missions.

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Olivier Boulade, Vincent Moreau, Patrick Mulet, Olivier Gravrand, Cyril Cervera, Jean-Paul Zanatta, Pierre Castelein, Fabrice Guellec, Bruno Fièque, Philippe Chorier, and Julien Roumegoux "Development activities on NIR large format MCT detectors for astrophysics and space science at CEA and SOFRADIR", Proc. SPIE 9915, High Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy VII, 99150C (29 July 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231295

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