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We summarize recent results from our NASA-funded technology development program to develop imaging sensors required for future strategic missions, and describe the prototype CCD sensor we are developing for AXIS, the Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite mission concept recently proposed in response to NASA’s Astrophysics Probe Explorer call. We have designed and are fabricating at MIT Lincoln Laboratory a 16-output, 1440 x 1440 pixel frame-store CCD to serve as a form/fit/function prototype for AXIS. This sensor incorporates the low-voltage, single-polysilicon gate and low-noise pJFET technologies we have proven in previous work. Our goal is to demonstrate a device meeting or exceeding the noise, spectral resolution and frame-rate requirements of AXIS when operated with the Multi-channel Readout Chip developed by our team at Stanford University. We also describe our strategy for optimizing CCD output amplifier architecture and design for even lower noise and faster readout for AXIS and subsequent high-energy astrophysics missions.
Progress toward fast, low-noise, low-power CCDs for Lynx and other high-energy astrophysics missions
The MXS that was customized for NICER provides more than a dozen emission lines spread over the instrument bandwidth, providing calibration measurements for detector gain and spectral resolution. In addition, the fluorescence source in the MXS was pulsed at high frequency to enable measurement of the delay due to charge collection in the silicon and signal processing in the detector electronics. A second chamber, designed to illuminate detectors with either 55Fe, an optical LED, or neither, provided additional calibration of detector response, optical blocking, and effectiveness of background rejection techniques. The overall ground calibration achieved total operating time that was generally in the range of 500-1500 hours for each of the 56 detectors.
Performance evolution of the X-ray Imaging Spectrometers aboard the Suzaku X-ray astronomy satellite
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