We present progress towards developing a science-grade, megapixel format linear-mode avalanche photodiode array for low background shortwave (1 - 2.4 um) infrared astronomy. Our latest results show outstanding performance, with dark current <1e-4 electrons/pixel/second and read noise reducing by 30% per volt of bias, reaching less than 1e-/pixel/frame in correlated double-sampling, and able to average down to ~0.3 e-/pixel/frame when using multiple non-destructive reads. We present some on-sky data as well as comment on prospects for photon counting and photon number resolution.
Spectroscopy and direct-imaging of ultra-faint targets such as Earth-like exoplanets and high redshift galaxies are among the primary goals of upcoming large scale astronomy projects like the Habitable World Observatory (HWO). Such objectives pose extreme instrumental challenges, in particular on detectors where dark currents lower than 1 e-/pixel/kilosecond and read noise less than 1 e-/pixel/frame will have to be achieved on large format arrays. Some technologies meet these requirements at optical wavelengths, but none do in the infrared. With this goal in mind, the University of Hawaii has partnered with Leonardo to develop linear-mode avalanche photodiodes (LmAPDs). In this paper, we report recent tests performed on LmAPDs, where we measure a ROIC glow of ∼0.01 e-/pixel/frame, without which the intrinsic dark current is essentially zero (<0.1 e-/pixel/kilosecond). We show that at high gain, these devices are capable of detecting single photons.
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