The program Astronomy European Infrared Detector (ASTEROID), funded by the European Union through H2020 (under Grant Agreement n°730161), aims at enabling Europe to acquire the technology and knowledge necessary to manufacture 2k² high performance IR detectors. To reach these goals 9 detectors have been manufactured at Lynred and characterized at the Astrophysics Department of CEA. ASTEROID detectors are 640×512 pixels arrays with a pixel pitch of 15 μm. The detectors are p-on-n technology, with 15 μm pixel pitch, with a cut-off wavelength of 2.1 μm. In the detector architecture, the MCT light-sensitive layer is hybridized on a Source Follower Detector (SFD) Read Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) via indium bumps. In this paper, the characterization results of ASTEROID detectors will be presented. The best detectors show extremely low dark current around 0.001 e-/s/pix, which is equivalent to standard H2RG IR detector (widely used in the IR domain for astrophysics applications). The quantum efficiency (QE) of these detectors has also been measured on a dedicated test bench and will be presented. ASTEROID detectors demonstrated a QE of 70 %.
CAGIRE is the near infrared camera of the Colibrí robotic telescope, designed for the follow-up of SVOM alerts, mainly Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs), and the quick imaging of sky regions where transient sources are detected by the SVOM satellite. CAGIRE is based on the Astronomical Large Format Array (ALFA) 2k x 2k SWIR sensor from the French consortium CEA-LYNRED. In the context of CAGIRE the sensor is operated in “Up the Ramp” mode to observe the sky in a square field of view of 21.7 arcmin on a side, in the range of wavelengths from 1.1 to 1.8 μm. An observation with CAGIRE consists of a series of short (1-2 minutes) exposures during which the pixels are read out every 1.3 second, continuously accumulating charges proportionally to the received flux, building a ramp.
The main challenge is to quickly process and analyse these ramps, in order to identify and study the near infrared counterparts of the bursts, within 5 minutes of the reception of an alert. Our preprocessing, which is under development, aims at providing reliable flux maps for the astronomy pipeline. It is based on a sequence of operations. First, calibration maps are used to identify saturated pixels, and for each pixel, the usable (non saturated) range of the ramp. Then, the ramps are corrected for the electronic common mode noise, and differential ramps are constructed. Finally, the flux is calculated from the differential ramps, using a previously calibrated map of pixel non-linearities. We present here the sequence of operations performed by the preprocessing, which are based on previous calibrations of the sensor response. These operations lead to the production of a flux map corrected from cosmic-rays hits, a map depicting the quality of the fit, a map of saturated pixels and a map of pixels hit by cosmic-rays, before the acquisition of the next ramp. These maps will be used by the astronomy pipeline to quickly extract the scientific results of the observations, like the identification of uncatalogued or quickly variable sources that could be GRB afterglows.
For several years now, LYNRED, CEA-LETI and CEA-IRFU have been involved in the development of large area, very high performance NIR retinas for astronomy, in the context of the ALFA program (Astronomical Large Format Array). It aims at demonstrating the ability to produce in Europe low flux 2kx2k arrays exhibiting the very high performances required by science applications. In this context, high performance means very low dark current (below 0.1 e/s/px) with high QE (above 80%). LETI and LYNRED succeeded this year in the fabrication of a 2kx2k array, with very high uniformity as characterized at IRFU. One of those arrays will be used on the CAGIRE camera of the SVOM mission, aiming at observing afterglows of gamma ray bursts. Additional studies are ongoing on test arrays manufactured with the same technology to assess the behavior of this technology in terms of persistence and radiation hardness for space use.
We present a new development for the measurement of the Quantum Efficiency (QE) of a Mercury Cadmium Telluride (HgCdTe or MCT) detector array in the long wave infrared (LWIR) spectral band. To measure the incident photon flux on the detector, CEA-LETI has designed and produced a calibrated MCT photodiode which, under the test setup conditions used for the QE measurement, delivers a total (dark plus photonic) current of 1nA at 60K. The readout of such a low level of current makes a standard room temperature amplifier inconvenient due to the length of the wires between the focal plane (FP) at cold and the outside of the cryostat (>2m in the current cryostat). A much better approach is to use High Electron Mobility Transistors (Cryo-HEMTs), optimized by CNRS/C2N laboratory for ultra-low noise at very low temperatures (<1K). We have developed a Cryo-HEMT-based transimpedance amplifier to readout the photonic current of the calibrated MCT chip. The paper describes the calibrated photodiode, the Cryo-HEMT amplifier and the test setup, and shows the results of the QE measurements of the LWIR detector.
SOFRADIR is one of the main companies involved in the development and manufacturing of infrared detectors for space applications leading to many space studies and programs from visible up to VLWIR spectral ranges. Numerous programs are currently running for different kinds of missions: meteorology (MTG), Copernicus with the Sentinel detectors series, Metop-SG system (3MI, Sentinel-5 and Metimage), Mars exploration (Exomars), moon exploration (Chandrayaan mission with Indian space agency)…
Apart from these programs, the development of scientific missions is increasing. In particular, for the last 5 years, Sofradir and CEA-LETI have worked on specific detectors in SWIR bands to address these needs. The ALFA detector development in progress is the result of these developments. It is expected to propose the first generation of this detector in 2019 for upcoming scientific mission and / or ground universe exploration.
In this paper, an overview of space activity at Sofradir with the main space programs and developments will be described, followed by a description of very large detector developments made for science.
We report on the development of short wave infrared (SWIR) imaging arrays for astronomy and space observation in Europe. LETI and Sofradir demonstrated 640×480 SWIR HgCdTe (MCT) arrays geared at low flux, low dark noise operation. Currently, we are developing 2048×2048 arrays mated to a newly developed ROIC. In parallel, the European Space Agency and the European Commission are funding the development and industrialization of 4" CdZnTe substrates and HgCdTe epitaxy. These large wafers are needed to achieve the necessary economies of scale and address the need for even larger arrays. HgCdTe SWIR detector performance at LETI/Sofradir is known from previous programs and will be discussed here. However, we will only be able to summarize the features and specifications of the new 2048×2048 detectors which are still at a prototype stage.
CEA and Sofradir have been involved for 7 years in studies related to a large format detector development for science and astronomy applications. These studies are linked with ESA's Near Infrared Large Format Sensor Array roadmap which aims to develop a 2Kx2K large format low flux low noise device. The ALFA (Astronomical Large Focal plane Array) detector is currently at design, manufacturing and validation phase at CEA and Sofradir. This paper will present the very last achievements of the ALFA development with a specific focus on the readout integrated circuit design itself. Features and specification of the 2048x2048 15μm pitch with Source Follower Detector (SFD) input stage will be described. Apart from ESA development, European Commission is also contributing to the large detector development thanks to ASTEROID (AStronomical TEchnology EuROpean Infrared detector Development) program founded by REA (Research European Agency). ASTEROID main objectives are to develop very large raw materials (CdZnTe substrate, HgCdTe epilayer…) compatible with the manufacturing of very large detectors in volume keeping the same level of performance. Organization and status of this program will be presented where high synergy with 2K² ALFA detector are included.
Space applications are requiring low dark current in the long wave infrared at low operating temperature for low flux observation. The applications envisioned with this type of specification are namely scientific and planetary missions. Within the framework of the joint laboratory between Sofradir and the CEA-LETI, a specific development of a TV format focal plane array with a cut-off wavelength of 12.5μm at 40K has been carried out. For this application, the p on n technology has been used. It is based on an In doped HgCdTe absorbing material grown by Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE) and an As implanted junction area. This architecture allows decreasing both dark current and series resistance compared to the legacy n on p technology based on Hg vacancies. In this paper, the technological improvements are briefly described. These technological tunings led to a 35% decrease of dark current in the diffusion regime. CEA-LETI and Sofradir demonstrated the ability to use the p on n technology with a long cutoff wavelength in the infrared range.
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