Investigation of the Effect of Temperature and Light Emission from Silicon Photomultiplier Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruiz Castruita, Daniel; Ramos, Daniel; Hernandez, Victor; Niduaza, Rommel; Konx, Adrian; Fan, Sewan; Fatuzzo, Laura; Ritt, Stefan

2015-04-01

The silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) is an extremely sensitive light detector capable of measuring very dim light and operates as a photon-number resolving detector. Its high gain comes from operating at slightly above the breakdown voltage, which is also accompanied by a high dark count rate. At this conference poster session we describe our investigation of using SiPMs, the multipixel photon counters (MPPC) from Hamamatsu, as readout detectors for development in a cosmic ray scintillating detector array. Our research includes implementation of a novel design that automatically adjusts for the bias voltage to the MPPC detectors to compensate for changes in the ambient temperature. Furthermore, we describe our investigations for the MPPC detector characteristics at different bias voltages, temperatures and light emission properties. To measure the faint light emitted from the MPPC we use a photomultiplier tube capable of detecting single photons. Our data acquisition setup consists of a 5 Giga sample/second waveform digitizer, the DRS4, triggered to capture the MPPC detector waveforms. Analysis of the digitized waveforms, using the CERN package PAW, would be discussed and presented. US Department of Education Title V Grant PO31S090007.

SWIFT BAT Loop Heat Pipe Thermal System Characteristics and Ground/Flight Operation Procedure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choi, Michael K.

2003-01-01

The SWIFT Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) Detector Array has a total power dissipation of 208 W. To meet the stringent temperature gradient and thermal stability requirements in the normal operational mode, and heater power budget in both the normal operational and safehold modes, the Detector Array is thermally well coupled to eight constant conductance heat pipes (CCHPs) embedded in the Detector Array Plate (DAP), and two loop heat pipes (LHPs) transport heat fiom the CCHPs to a radiator. The CCHPs have ammonia as the working fluid and the LHPs have propylene as the working fluid. Precision heater controllers, which have adjustable set points in flight, are used to control the LHP compensation chamber and Detector Array XA1 ASIC temperatures. The radiator has the AZ-Tek AZW-LA-II low-alpha white paint as the thermal coating and is located on the anti-sun side of the spacecraft. This paper presents the characteristics, ground operation and flight operation procedures of the LHP thermal system.

Comparison of photo detectors and operating conditions for decay time determination in phosphor thermometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knappe, C.; Nada, F. Abou; Richter, M.; Aldén, M.

2012-09-01

This work compares the extent of linear response regions from standard time-resolving optical detectors for phosphor thermometry. Different types of photomultipliers (ordinary and time-gated) as well as an avalanche photodiode were tested and compared using the phosphorescence decay time of cadmium tungstate (CdWO4). Effects originating from incipient detector saturation are revealed as a change in evaluated phosphorescence decay time, which was found to be a more sensitive measure for saturation than the conventional signal strength comparison between in- and output. Since the decay time of thermographic phosphors is used for temperature determination systematic temperature errors in the order of several tens of Kelvins may be introduced. Saturation from the initial intensity is isolated from temporally developed saturation by varying the CdWO4 decay time over the microsecond to nanosecond range, resultant of varying the temperature from 290 to 580 K. A detector mapping procedure is developed in order to identify linear response regions where the decay-to-temperature evaluations are unbiased. In addition, this mapping procedure generates a library of the degree of distortion for operating points outside of linear response regions. Signals collected in the partly saturated regime can thus be corrected to their unbiased value using this library, extending the usable detector operating range significantly.

Cryogenic Microcalorimeter System for Ultra-High Resolution Alpha-Particle Spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Croce, M. P.; Bacrania, M. K.; Hoover, A. S.; Rabin, M. W.; Hoteling, N. J.; LaMont, S. P.; Plionis, A. A.; Dry, D. E.; Ullom, J. N.; Bennett, D. A.; Horansky, R. D.; Kotsubo, V.; Cantor, R.

2009-12-01

Microcalorimeters have been shown to yield unsurpassed energy resolution for alpha spectrometry, up to 1.06 keV FWHM at 5.3 MeV. These detectors use a superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) to measure the temperature change in an absorber from energy deposited by an interacting alpha particle. Our system has four independent detectors mounted inside a liquid nitrogen/liquid helium cryostat. An adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) cools the detector stage to its operating temperature of 80 mK. Temperature regulation with ˜15-μK peak-to-peak variation is achieved by PID control of the ADR. The detectors are voltage-biased, and the current signal is amplified by a commercial SQUID readout system and digitized for further analysis. This paper will discuss design and operation of our microcalorimeter alpha-particle spectrometer, and will show recent results.

High-Operating Temperature HgCdTe: A Vision for the Near Future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, D.; Carmody, M.; Piquette, E.; Dreiske, P.; Chen, A.; Yulius, A.; Edwall, D.; Bhargava, S.; Zandian, M.; Tennant, W. E.

2016-09-01

We review recent advances in the HgCdTe material quality and detector performance achieved at Teledyne using molecular beam epitaxy growth and the double-layer planar hetero-junction (DLPH) detector architecture. By using an un-doped, fully depleted absorber, Teledyne's DLPH architecture can be extended for use in high operating temperatures and other applications. We assess the potential achievable performance for long wavelength infrared (LWIR) hetero-junction p-lightly-doped n or p-intrinsic- n (p-i-n) detectors based on recently reported results for 10.7 μm cutoff 1 K × 1 K focal plane arrays (FPAs) tested at temperatures down to 30 K. Variable temperature dark current measurements show that any Shockley-Read-Hall currents in the depletion region of these devices have lifetimes that are reproducibly greater than 100 ms. Under the assumption of comparable lifetimes at higher temperatures, it is predicted that fully-depleted background radiation-limited performance can be expected for 10- μm cutoff detectors from room temperature to well below liquid nitrogen temperatures, with room-temperature dark current nearly 400 times lower than predicted by Rule 07. The hetero-junction p-i-n diode is shown to have numerous other significant potential advantages including minimal or no passivation requirements for pBn-like processing, low 1/ f noise, compatibility with small pixel pitch while maintaining high modulation transfer function, low crosstalk and good quantum efficiency. By appropriate design of the FPA dewar shielding, analysis shows that dark current can theoretically be further reduced below the thermal equilibrium radiative limit. Modeling shows that background radiation-limited LWIR HgCdTe operating with f/1 optics has the potential to operate within √2 of background-limited performance at 215 K. By reducing the background radiation by 2/3 using novel shielding methods, operation with a single-stage thermo-electric-cooler may be possible. If the background radiation can be reduced by 90%, then room-temperature operation is possible.

Response regime studies on standard detectors for decay time determination in phosphor thermometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knappe, C.; Abou Nada, F.; Lindén, J.; Richter, M.; Aldén, M.

2013-09-01

This work compares the extent of linear response regimes from standard time-resolving optical detectors for phosphor thermometry. Different types of Photomultipliers (ordinary and time-gated) as well as an Avalanche Photodiode are tested and compared using the phosphorescent time decay of CdWO4 that ranges from 10 μs down to a few ns within a temperature span of 290 to 580 K. Effects originating from incipient detector saturation, far from obvious to the operator's eye, are revealed as a change in evaluated phosphorescence decay time. Since the decay time of thermographic phosphors itself is used for temperature determination - systematic temperature errors up to several tens of Kelvins may be introduced by such detector saturation. A detector mapping procedure is suggested in order to identify linear response regions where the decay-to-temperature evaluation can be performed unbiased. Generation of such a library is highly recommended prior to any quantitative measurement attempt. Using this detector library, even signals collected in the partly saturated regime can be corrected to their unbiased value extending the usable detector operating range significantly. Further, the use of an external current-to-voltage amplifier proved useful for most applications in time-based phosphor thermometry helping to limit saturation effects whilst maintaining a reasonable bandwidth and signal outputs.

Thermal response of large area high temperature superconducting YBaCuO infrared bolometers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khalil, Ali E.

1991-01-01

Thermal analysis of large area high temperature superconducting infrared detector operating in the equilibrium mode (bolometer) was performed. An expression for the temperature coefficient beta = 1/R(dR/dT) in terms of the thermal conductance and the thermal time constant of the detector were derived. A superconducting transition edge bolometer is a thermistor consisting of a thin film superconducting YBaCuO evaporated into a suitable thermally isolated substrate. The operating temperature of the bolometer is maintained close to the midpoint of the superconducting transition region where the resistance R has a maximum dynamic range. A detector with a strip configuration was analyzed and an expression for the temperature rise (delta T) above the ambient due to a uniform illumination with a source of power density was calculated. An expression for the thermal responsibility depends upon the spatial modulation frequency and the angular frequency of the incoming radiation. The problem of the thermal cross talk between different detector elements was addressed. In the case of monolithic HTS detector array with a row of square elements of dimensions 2a and CCD or CID readout electronics the thermal spread function was derived for different spacing between elements.

A Photoactivated Gas Detector for Toluene Sensing at Room Temperature Based on New Coral-Like ZnO Nanostructure Arrays

PubMed Central

Yeh, Li-Ko; Luo, Jie-Chun; Chen, Min-Chun; Wu, Chih-Hung; Chen, Jian-Zhang; Cheng, I-Chun; Hsu, Cheng-Che; Tian, Wei-Cheng

2016-01-01

A photoactivated gas detector operated at room temperature was microfabricated using a simple hydrothermal method. We report that the photoactivated gas detector can detect toluene using a UV illumination of 2 μW/cm2. By ultraviolet (UV) illumination, gas detectors sense toluene at room temperature without heating. A significant enhancement of detector sensitivity is achieved because of the high surface-area-to-volume ratio of the morphology of the coral-like ZnO nanorods arrays (NRAs) and the increased number of photo-induced oxygen ions under UV illumination. The corresponding sensitivity (ΔR/R0) of the detector based on coral-like ZnO NRAs is enhanced by approximately 1022% compared to that of thin-film detectors. The proposed detector greatly extends the dynamic range of detection of metal-oxide-based detectors for gas sensing applications. We report the first-ever detection of toluene with a novel coral-like NRAs gas detector at room temperature. A sensing mechanism model is also proposed to explain the sensing responses of gas detectors based on coral-like ZnO NRAs. PMID:27809222

A Photoactivated Gas Detector for Toluene Sensing at Room Temperature Based on New Coral-Like ZnO Nanostructure Arrays.

PubMed

Yeh, Li-Ko; Luo, Jie-Chun; Chen, Min-Chun; Wu, Chih-Hung; Chen, Jian-Zhang; Cheng, I-Chun; Hsu, Cheng-Che; Tian, Wei-Cheng

2016-10-31

A photoactivated gas detector operated at room temperature was microfabricated using a simple hydrothermal method. We report that the photoactivated gas detector can detect toluene using a UV illumination of 2 μW/cm². By ultraviolet (UV) illumination, gas detectors sense toluene at room temperature without heating. A significant enhancement of detector sensitivity is achieved because of the high surface-area-to-volume ratio of the morphology of the coral-like ZnO nanorods arrays (NRAs) and the increased number of photo-induced oxygen ions under UV illumination. The corresponding sensitivity (ΔR/R₀) of the detector based on coral-like ZnO NRAs is enhanced by approximately 1022% compared to that of thin-film detectors. The proposed detector greatly extends the dynamic range of detection of metal-oxide-based detectors for gas sensing applications. We report the first-ever detection of toluene with a novel coral-like NRAs gas detector at room temperature. A sensing mechanism model is also proposed to explain the sensing responses of gas detectors based on coral-like ZnO NRAs.

Analysis of the auger recombination rate in P+N-n-N-N HgCdTe detectors for HOT applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuster, J.; Tennant, W. E.; Bellotti, E.; Wijewarnasuriya, P. S.

2016-05-01

Infrared (IR) photon detectors must be cryogenically cooled to provide the highest possible performance, usually to temperatures at or below ~ 150K. Such low operating temperatures (Top) impose very stringent requirements on cryogenic coolers. As such, there is a constant push in the industry to engineer new detector architectures that operate at higher temperatures, so called higher operating temperature (HOT) detectors. The ultimate goal for HOT detectors is room temperature operation. While this is not currently possibly for photon detectors, significant increases in Top are nonetheless beneficial in terms of reduced size, weight, power and cost (SWAP-C). The most common HgCdTe IR detector architecture is the P+n heterostructure photodiode (where a capital letter indicates a wide band gap relative to the active layer or "AL"). A variant of this architecture, the P+N-n-N-N heterostructure photodiode, should have a near identical photo-response to the P+n heterostructure, but with significantly lower dark diffusion current. The P+N-n-N-N heterostructure utilizes a very low doped AL, surrounded on both sides by wide-gap layers. The low doping in the AL, allows the AL to be fully depleted, which drastically reduces the Auger recombination rate in that layer. Minimizing the Auger recombination rate reduces the intrinsic dark diffusion current, thereby increasing Top. Note when we use the term "recombination rate" for photodiodes, we are actually referring to the net generation and recombination of minority carriers (and corresponding dark currents) by the Auger process. For these benefits to be realized, these devices must be intrinsically limited and well passivated. The focus of this proceeding is on studying the fundamental physics of the intrinsic dark currents in ideal P+N-n-N-N heterostructures, namely Auger recombination. Due to the complexity of these devices, specifically the presence of multiple heterojunctions, numerical device modeling techniques must be utilized to predict and understand the device operation, as analytical models do not exist for heterojunction devices.

Towards dualband megapixel QWIP focal plane arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunapala, S. D.; Bandara, S. V.; Liu, J. K.; Mumolo, J. M.; Hill, C. J.; Rafol, S. B.; Salazar, D.; Woolaway, J.; LeVan, P. D.; Tidrow, M. Z.

2007-04-01

Mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) 1024 × 1024 pixel quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal planes have been demonstrated with excellent imaging performance. The MWIR QWIP detector array has demonstrated a noise equivalent differential temperature (NEΔT) of 17 mK at a 95 K operating temperature with f/2.5 optics at 300 K background and the LWIR detector array has demonstrated a NEΔT of 13 mK at a 70 K operating temperature with the same optical and background conditions as the MWIR detector array after the subtraction of system noise. Both MWIR and LWIR focal planes have shown background limited performance (BLIP) at 90 K and 70 K operating temperatures respectively, with similar optical and background conditions. In addition, we have demonstrated MWIR and LWIR pixel co-registered simultaneously readable dualband QWIP focal plane arrays. In this paper, we will discuss the performance in terms of quantum efficiency, NEΔT, uniformity, operability, and modulation transfer functions of the 1024 × 1024 pixel arrays and the progress of dualband QWIP focal plane array development work.

Multicolor megapixel QWIP focal plane arrays for remote sensing instruments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunapala, S. D.; Bandara, S. V.; Liu, J. K.; Hill, C. J.; Rafol, S. B.; Mumolo, J. M.; Trinh, J. T.; Tidrow, M. Z.; LeVan, P. D.

2006-08-01

Mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) 1024x1024 pixel quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal planes have been demonstrated with excellent imaging performance. The MWIR QWIP detector array has demonstrated a noise equivalent differential temperature (NEΔT) of 17 mK at a 95K operating temperature with f/2.5 optics at 300K background and the LWIR detector array has demonstrated a NEΔT of 13 mK at a 70K operating temperature with the same optical and background conditions as the MWIR detector array after the subtraction of system noise. Both MWIR and LWIR focal planes have shown background limited performance (BLIP) at 90K and 70K operating temperatures respectively, with similar optical and background conditions. In addition, we have demonstrated MWIR and LWIR pixel co-registered simultaneously readable dualband QWIP focal plane arrays. In this paper, we will discuss the performance in terms of quantum efficiency, NEΔT, uniformity, operability, and modulation transfer functions of the 1024x1024 pixel arrays and the progress of dualband QWIP focal plane array development work.

1024x1024 Pixel MWIR and LWIR QWIP Focal Plane Arrays and 320x256 MWIR:LWIR Pixel Colocated Simultaneous Dualband QWIP Focal Plane Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gunapala, Sarath D.; Bandara, Sumith V.; Liu, John K.; Hill, Cory J.; Rafol, S. B.; Mumolo, Jason M.; Trinh, Joseph T.; Tidrow, M. Z.; Le Van, P. D.

2005-01-01

Mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) 1024x1024 pixel quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal planes have been demonstrated with excellent imaging performance. The MWIR QWIP detector array has demonstrated a noise equivalent differential temperature (NE(Delta)T) of 17 mK at a 95K operating temperature with f/2.5 optics at 300K background and the LWIR detector array has demonstrated a NE(Delta)T of 13 mK at a 70K operating temperature with the same optical and background conditions as the MWIR detector array after the subtraction of system noise. Both MWIR and LWIR focal planes have shown background limited performance (BLIP) at 90K and 70K operating-temperatures respectively, with similar optical and background conditions. In addition, we are in the process of developing MWIR and LWIR pixel collocated simultaneously readable dualband QWIP focal plane arrays.

Cryogenic microcalorimeter system for ultra-high resolution alpha-particle spectrometry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rabin, Michael W; Hoover, Andrew S; Bacrania, Mnesh K

2009-01-01

Microcalorimeters have been shown to yield unsurpassed energy resolution for alpha spectrometry, up to 1.06 keV FWHM at 5.3 MeV. These detectors use a superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) to measure the temperature change in an absorber from energy deposited by an interacting alpha particle. Our system has four independent detectors mounted inside a liquid nitrogen/liquid helium cryostat. An adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) cools the detector stage to its operating temperature of 80 mK. Temperature regulation with {approx}15 uK peak-to-peak variation is achieved by PID control of the ADR. The detectors are voltage-biased, and the current signal is amplified by amore » commercial SQUID readout system and digitized for further analysis, This paper will discuss design and operation of our microcalorimeter alpha spectrometer, and will show recent results.« less

Latest improvements on long wave p on n HgCdTe technology at Sofradir

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubaldo, Laurent; Taalat, Rachid; Berthoz, Jocelyn; Maillard, Magalie; Péré-Laperne, Nicolas; Brunner, Alexandre; Guinedor, Pierre; Dargent, L.; Manissadjian, A.; Reibel, Y.; Kerlain, A.

2017-02-01

SOFRADIR is the worldwide leader on the cooled IR detector market for high-performance space, military and security applications thanks to a well mastered Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) technology, and recently thanks to the acquisition of III-V technology: InSb, InGaAs, and QWIP quantum detectors. As a result, strong and continuous development efforts are deployed to deliver cutting edge products with improved performances in terms of spatial and thermal resolution, dark current, quantum efficiency, low excess noise and high operability. The actual trend in quantum IR detector development is the design of very small pixel, with the higher achievable operating temperature whatever the spectral band. Moreover maintaining the detector operability and image quality at higher temperature moreover for long wavelength is a major issue. This paper presents the recent developments achieved at Sofradir to meet this challenge for LW band MCT extrinsic p on n technology with a cut-off wavelength of 9.3μm at 90K. State of the art performances will be presented in terms of dark current, operability and NETD temperature dependency, quantum efficiency, MTF, and RFPN (Residual Fixed Pattern Noise) stability up to 100K.

Niobe: Improved noise temperature and back ground noise suppression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tobar, Michael E.; Locke, Clayton R.; Heng, Ik Siong; Ivanov, Eugene N.; Blair, David G.

2000-06-01

The calibration and sensitivity of the Niobe detector are presented. Typically the detector operates with a 1 mK noise temperature. A best noise temperature of 890 μK between 1300 to 2000 UTC for day 60 in 1997 is reported. The transducer has been upgraded with a new microwave amplifier, which has a measured electronic noise floor 40 dB lower than the previous amplifier, which is only 10 dB above the quantum limit. A detector noise temperature of 23 μk can be expected with this improvement. Also, we discuss a new filter to suppress accidental coincidences between two gravitational wave detectors. The filter is based on the amplitude ratio of events in pairs of detectors and improves the statistical significance of zero time delay coincidences. .

Algorithm for Estimating the Plume Centerline Temperature and Ceiling Jet Temperature in the Presence of a Hot Upper Layer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, William D.; Notarianni, Kathy A.; Tapper, Phillip Z.

1998-01-01

The experiments were designed to provide insight into the behavior of jet fuel fires in aircraft hangars and to study the impact of these fires on the design and operation of a variety of fire protection systems. As a result, the test series included small fires designed to investigate the operation of UV/IR detectors and smoke detectors as well as large fires which were used to investigate the operation of ceiling mounted heat detectors and sprinklers. The impact of the presence or absence of draft curtains was also studied in the 15 m hangar. It is shown that in order to predict the plume centerline temperature within experimental uncertainty, the entrainment of the upper layer gas must be modeled. For large fires, the impact of a changing radiation fraction must also be included in the calculation. The dependence of the radial temperature profile of the ceiling jet as a function of layer development is demonstrated and a ceiling jet temperature algorithm which includes the impact of a growing layer is developed.

Generation-recombination noise in extrinsic photoconductive detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brukilacchio, T. J.; Skeldon, M. D.; Boyd, R. W.

1984-01-01

A theory of generation-recombination noise is presented and applied to the analysis of the performance limitations of extrinsic photoconductive detectors. The theory takes account both of the photoinduced generation of carriers and of thermal generation that is due to the finite temperature of the detector. Explicit formulas are derived that relate the detector response time, responsivity, and noise equivalent power to the material properties of the photoconductor (such as the presence of compensating impurities) and to the detector's operating conditions, such as its temperature and the presence of background radiation. The detector's performance is shown to degrade at high background levels because of saturation effects.

Charge collection in Si detectors irradiated in situ at superfluid helium temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verbitskaya, Elena; Eremin, Vladimir; Zabrodskii, Andrei; Dehning, Bernd; Kurfürst, Christoph; Sapinski, Mariusz; Bartosik, Marcin R.; Egorov, Nicolai; Härkönen, Jaakko

2015-10-01

Silicon and diamond detectors operated in a superfluid helium bath are currently being considered for the upgrade of the LHC beam loss monitoring system. The detectors would be installed in immediate proximity of the superconducting coils of the triplet magnets. We present here the results of the in situ irradiation test for silicon detectors using 23 GeV protons while keeping the detectors at a temperature of 1.9 K. Red laser (630 nm) Transient Current Technique and DC current measurements were used to study the pulse response and collected charge for silicon detectors irradiated to a maximum radiation fluence of 1×1016 p/cm2. The dependence between collected charge and irradiation fluence was parameterized using the Hecht equation and assumption of a uniform electric field distribution. The collected charge was found to degrade with particle fluence for both bias polarities. We observed that the main factor responsible for this degradation was related to trapping of holes on the donor-type radiation-induced defects. In contrast to expectations, along with formation of donors, acceptor-type defects (electron traps) are introduced into the silicon bulk. This suggests that the current models describing charge collection in irradiated silicon detectors require an extension for taking into account trapping at low temperatures with a contribution of shallow levels. New in situ irradiation tests are needed and planned now to extend statistics of the results and gain a deeper insight into the physics of low temperature detector operation in harsh radiation environment.

Single-particle detection of products from atomic and molecular reactions in a cryogenic ion storage ring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krantz, C.; Novotný, O.; Becker, A.; George, S.; Grieser, M.; Hahn, R. von; Meyer, C.; Schippers, S.; Spruck, K.; Vogel, S.; Wolf, A.

2017-04-01

We have used a single-particle detector system, based on secondary electron emission, for counting low-energetic (∼keV/u) massive products originating from atomic and molecular ion reactions in the electrostatic Cryogenic Storage Ring (CSR). The detector is movable within the cryogenic vacuum chamber of CSR, and was used to measure production rates of a variety of charged and neutral daughter particles. In operation at a temperature of ∼ 6 K , the detector is characterised by a high dynamic range, combining a low dark event rate with good high-rate particle counting capability. On-line measurement of the pulse height distributions proved to be an important monitor of the detector response at low temperature. Statistical pulse-height analysis allows to infer the particle detection efficiency of the detector, which has been found to be close to unity also in cryogenic operation at 6 K.

Challenges of small-pixel infrared detectors: a review.

PubMed

Rogalski, A; Martyniuk, P; Kopytko, M

2016-04-01

In the last two decades, several new concepts for improving the performance of infrared detectors have been proposed. These new concepts particularly address the drive towards the so-called high operating temperature focal plane arrays (FPAs), aiming to increase detector operating temperatures, and as a consequence reduce the cost of infrared systems. In imaging systems with the above megapixel formats, pixel dimension plays a crucial role in determining critical system attributes such as system size, weight and power consumption (SWaP). The advent of smaller pixels has also resulted in the superior spatial and temperature resolution of these systems. Optimum pixel dimensions are limited by diffraction effects from the aperture, and are in turn wavelength-dependent. In this paper, the key challenges in realizing optimum pixel dimensions in FPA design including dark current, pixel hybridization, pixel delineation, and unit cell readout capacity are outlined to achieve a sufficiently adequate modulation transfer function for the ultra-small pitches involved. Both photon and thermal detectors have been considered. Concerning infrared photon detectors, the trade-offs between two types of competing technology-HgCdTe material systems and III-V materials (mainly barrier detectors)-have been investigated.

Survey report on the state-of-the-art of cryogenic thermometry and signal conditioners and their potential for standardized space hardware

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

The possibility of standard low temperature detector(s) for use in upcoming cryogenically cooled satellite and Space Shuttle Payloads was investigated. These payloads operate from .3 Kelvin to 300 Kelvin. Standard detectors were selected and matching signal conditioning equipment were specified. This equipment will operate in a spacecraft environment and be compatible with the selected detector, typical spacecraft voltages, typical spacecraft telemetry systems, and the radiation encountered by a typical earth orbiting spacecraft. Work statements to better define and advance detector performance are presented.

High-performance IR detectors at SCD present and future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nesher, O.; Klipstein, P. C.

2005-09-01

For over 27 years, SCD has been manufacturing and developing a wide range of high performance infra-red detectors, designed to operate in either the mid-wave (MWIR) or the long-wave (LWIR) atmospheric windows. These detectors have been integrated successfully into many different types of system including missile seekers, Time Delay Integration scanning systems, Hand-Held cameras, Missile Warning Systems and many others. SCD's technology for the MWIR wavelength range is based on its well established 2-D arrays of InSb photodiodes. The arrays are flip-chip bonded to SCD's analogue or digital signal processors, all of which have been designed in-house. The 2-D Focal Plane Array (FPA) detectors have a format of 320×256 elements for a 30 μm pitch and 480×384 or 640×512 elements for a 20 μm pitch. Typical operating temperatures are around 77-85K. Five years ago SCD began to develop a new generation of MWIR detectors based on the epitaxial growth of Antimonide Based Compound Semiconductors (ABCS). This ABCS technology allows band-gap engineering of the detection material which enables higher operating temperatures and multi-spectral detection. This year SCD presented its first prototype FPA from this program, an InAlSb based detector operating at a temperature of 100 K. By the end of this year SCD will introduce the first prototype MWIR detector with a 640×512 element format and a pitch of 15 μm. For the LWIR wave-length range SCD manufactures both linear Hg1-xCdxTe (MCT) detectors with a line of 250 elements and Time Delay and Integration (TDI) detectors with formats of 288×4 and 480×6. Recently, SCD has demonstrated its first prototype un-cooled detector which is based on VOx technology and which has a format of 384×288 elements, a pitch of 25 μm and a typical NETD of 50mK at F/1. In this paper we describe the present technologies and products of SCD and the future evolution of our detectors for the MWIR and LWIR detection.

High-performance IR detectors at SCD present and future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nesher, O.; Klipstein, P. C.

2006-03-01

For over 27 years, SCD has been manufacturing and developing a wide range of high performance infrared detectors, designed to operate in either the mid-wave (MWIR) or the long-wave (LWIR) atmospheric windows. These detectors have been integrated successfully into many different types of system including missile seekers, time delay integration scanning systems, hand-held cameras, missile warning systems and many others. SCD's technology for the MWIR wavelength range is based on its well established 2D arrays of InSb photodiodes. The arrays are flip-chip bonded to SCD's analogue or digital signal processors, all of which have been designed in-house. The 2D focal plane array (FPA) detectors have a format of 320×256 elements for a 30-μm pitch and 480×384 or 640×512 elements for a 20-μm pitch. Typical operating temperatures are around 77-85 K. Five years ago SCD began to develop a new generation of MWIR detectors based on the epitaxial growth of antimonide based compound semiconductors (ABCS). This ABCS technology allows band-gap engineering of the detection material which enables higher operating temperatures and multi-spectral detection. This year SCD presented its first prototype FPA from this program, an InAlSb based detector operating at a temperature of 100 K. By the end of this year SCD will introduce the first prototype MWIR detector with a 640×512 element format and a pitch of 15 μm. For the LWIR wavelength range SCD manufactures both linear Hg1-xCdxTe (MCT) detectors with a line of 250 elements and time delay and integration (TDI) detectors with formats of 288×4 and 480×6. Recently, SCD has demonstrated its first prototype uncooled detector which is based on VOx technology and which has a format of 384×288 elements, a pitch of 25 μm, and a typical NETD of 50 mK at F/1. In this paper, we describe the present technologies and products of SCD and the future evolution of our detectors for the MWIR and LWIR detection.

Two color high operating temperature HgCdTe photodetectors grown by molecular beam epitaxy on silicon substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velicu, S.; Bommena, R.; Morley, M.; Zhao, J.; Fahey, S.; Cowan, V.; Morath, C.

2013-09-01

The development of a broadband IR focal plane array poses several challenges in the area of detector design, material, device physics, fabrication process, hybridization, integration and testing. The purpose of our research is to address these challenges and demonstrate a high-performance IR system that incorporates a HgCdTe-based detector array with high uniformity and operability. Our detector architecture, grown using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), is vertically integrated, leading to a stacked detector structure with the capability to simultaneously detect in two spectral bands. MBE is the method of choice for multiplelayer HgCdTe growth because it produces material of excellent quality and allows composition and doping control at the atomic level. Such quality and control is necessary for the fabrication of multicolor detectors since they require advanced bandgap engineering techniques. The proposed technology, based on the bandgap-tunable HgCdTe alloy, has the potential to extend the broadband detector operation towards room temperature. We present here our modeling, MBE growth and device characterization results, demonstrating Auger suppression in the LWIR band and diffusion limited behavior in the MWIR band.

MCT (HgCdTe) IR detectors: latest developments in France

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reibel, Yann; Rubaldo, Laurent; Vaz, Cedric; Tribolet, Philippe; Baier, Nicolas; Destefanis, Gérard

2010-10-01

This paper presents an overview of the very recent developments of the MCT infrared detector technology developed by CEA-LETI and Sofradir in France. New applications require high sensitivity, higher operating temperature and dual band detectors. The standard n on p technology in production at Sofradir for 25 years is well mastered with an extremely robust and reliable process. Sofradir's interest in p on n technology opens the perspective of reducing dark current of diodes so detectors could operate in lower flux or higher operating temperature. In parallel, MCT Avalanche Photo Diodes (APD) have demonstrated ideal performances for low flux and high speed application like laser gated imaging during the last few years. This technology also opens new prospects on next generation of imaging detectors for compact, low flux and low power applications. Regarding 3rd Gen IR detectors, the development of dual-band infrared detectors has been the core of intense research and technological improvements for the last ten years. New TV (640 x 512 pixels) format MWIR/LWIR detectors on 20μm pixel pitch, made from Molecular Beam Epitaxy, has been developed with dedicated Read-Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) for real simultaneous detection and maximum SNR. Technological and products achievements, as well as latest results and performances are presented outlining the availability of p/n, avalanche photodiodes and dual band technologies for new applications at system level.

The cryomechanical design of MUSIC: a novel imaging instrument for millimeter-wave astrophysics at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hollister, Matthew I.; Czakon, Nicole G.; Day, Peter K.; Downes, Thomas P.; Duan, Ran; Gao, Jiansong; Glenn, Jason; Golwala, Sunil R.; LeDuc, Henry G.; Maloney, Philip R.; Mazin, Benjamin A.; Nguyen, Hien Trong; Noroozian, Omid; Sayers, Jack; Schlaerth, James; Siegel, Seth; Vaillancourt, John E.; Vayonakis, Anastasios; Wilson, Philip; Zmuidzinas, Jonas

2010-07-01

MUSIC (Multicolor Submillimeter kinetic Inductance Camera) is a new facility instrument for the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (Mauna Kea, Hawaii) developed as a collaborative effect of Caltech, JPL, the University of Colorado at Boulder and UC Santa Barbara, and is due for initial commissioning in early 2011. MUSIC utilizes a new class of superconducting photon detectors known as microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs), an emergent technology that offers considerable advantages over current types of detectors for submillimeter and millimeter direct detection. MUSIC will operate a focal plane of 576 spatial pixels, where each pixel is a slot line antenna coupled to multiple detectors through on-chip, lumped-element filters, allowing simultaneously imaging in four bands at 0.86, 1.02, 1.33 and 2.00 mm. The MUSIC instrument is designed for closed-cycle operation, combining a pulse tube cooler with a two-stage Helium-3 adsorption refrigerator, providing a focal plane temperature of 0.25 K with intermediate temperature stages at approximately 50, 4 and 0.4 K for buffering heat loads and heat sinking of optical filters. Detector readout is achieved using semi-rigid coaxial cables from room temperature to the focal plane, with cryogenic HEMT amplifiers operating at 4 K. Several hundred detectors may be multiplexed in frequency space through one signal line and amplifier. This paper discusses the design of the instrument cryogenic hardware, including a number of features unique to the implementation of superconducting detectors. Predicted performance data for the instrument system will also be presented and discussed.

Development of 640 X 480 LWIR focal plane arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shallcross, Frank V.; Meyerhofer, Dietrich; Dolny, Gary M.; Gilmartin, Harvey R.; Tower, John R.; Palfrey, Stephen L.

1992-08-01

The 640 X 480 MOS multiplexer developed for PtSi MWIR focal plane arrays has been adapted to LWIR operation. The multiplexer is very flexible and can be used in various operating modes. The MOS approach, with its high saturation capacity and low-temperature operating capability, is ideally suited for long-wavelength operation. In this paper applications of the multiplexer to IrSi Schottky detectors and SiGe heterojunction detectors are discussed.

Infrared negative luminescent devices and higher operating temperature detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nash, G. R.; Gordon, N. T.; Hall, D. J.; Ashby, M. K.; Little, J. C.; Masterton, G.; Hails, J. E.; Giess, J.; Haworth, L.; Emeny, M. T.; Ashley, T.

2004-01-01

Infrared LEDs and negative luminescent devices, where less light is emitted than in equilibrium, have been attracting an increasing amount of interest recently. They have a variety of applications, including as a ‘source’ of IR radiation for gas sensing; radiation shielding for, and non-uniformity correction of, high sensitivity staring infrared detectors; and dynamic infrared scene projection. Similarly, infrared (IR) detectors are used in arrays for thermal imaging and, discretely, in applications such as gas sensing. Multi-layer heterostructure epitaxy enables the growth of both types of device using designs in which the electronic processes can be precisely controlled and techniques such as carrier exclusion and extraction can be implemented. This enables detectors to be made which offer good performance at higher than normal operating temperatures, and efficient negative luminescent devices to be made which simulate a range of effective temperatures whilst operating uncooled. In both cases, however, additional performance benefits can be achieved by integrating optical concentrators around the diodes to reduce the volume of semiconductor material, and so minimise the thermally activated generation-recombination processes which compete with radiative mechanisms. The integrated concentrators are in the form of Winston cones, which can be formed using an iterative dry etch process involving methane/hydrogen and oxygen. We present results on negative luminescence in the mid- and long-IR wavebands, from devices made from indium antimonide and mercury cadmium telluride, where the aim is sizes greater than 1 cm×1 cm. We also discuss progress on, and the potential for, operating temperature and/or sensitivity improvement of detectors, where very high-performance imaging is anticipated from systems which require no mechanical cooling.

Infrared negative luminescent devices and higher operating temperature detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nash, Geoff R.; Gordon, Neil T.; Hall, David J.; Little, J. Chris; Masterton, G.; Hails, J. E.; Giess, J.; Haworth, L.; Emeny, Martin T.; Ashley, Tim

2004-02-01

Infrared LEDs and negative luminescent devices, where less light is emitted than in equilibrium, have been attracting an increasing amount of interest recently. They have a variety of applications, including as a ‘source" of IR radiation for gas sensing; radiation shielding for and non-uniformity correction of high sensitivity starring infrared detectors; and dynamic infrared scene projection. Similarly, IR detectors are used in arrays for thermal imaging and, discretely, in applications such as gas sensing. Multi-layer heterostructure epitaxy enables the growth of both types of device using designs in which the electronic processes can be precisely controlled and techniques such as carrier exclusion and extraction can be implemented. This enables detectors to be made which offer good performance at higher than normal operating temperatures, and efficient negative luminescent devices to be made which simulate a range of effective temperatures whilst operating uncooled. In both cases, however, additional performance benefits can be achieved by integrating optical concentrators around the diodes to reduce the volume of semiconductor material, and so minimise the thermally activated generation-recombination processes which compete with radiative mechanisms. The integrated concentrators are in the form of Winston cones, which can be formed using an iterative dry etch process involving methane/hydrogen and oxygen. We will present results on negative luminescence in the mid and long IR wavebands, from devices made from indium antimonide and mercury cadmium telluride, where the aim is sizes greater than 1cm x 1cm. We will also discuss progress on, and the potential for, operating temperature and/or sensitivity improvement of detectors, where very higher performance imaging is anticipated from systems which require no mechanical cooling.

Infrared Negative Luminescent Devices and Higher Operating Temperature Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashley, Tim

2003-03-01

Infrared LEDs and negative luminescent devices, where less light is emitted than in equilibrium, have been attracting an increasing amount of interest recently. They have a variety of applications, including as a source' of IR radiation for gas sensing; radiation shielding for and non-uniformity correction of high sensitivity starring infrared detectors; and dynamic infrared scene projection. Similarly, IR detectors are used in arrays for thermal imaging and, discretely, in applications such as gas sensing. Multi-layer heterostructure epitaxy enables the growth of both types of device using designs in which the electronic processes can be precisely controlled and techniques such as carrier exclusion and extraction can be implemented. This enables detectors to be made which offer good performance at higher than normal operating temperatures, and efficient negative luminescent devices to be made which simulate a range of effective temperatures whilst operating uncooled. In both cases, however, additional performance benefits can be achieved by integrating optical concentrators around the diodes to reduce the volume of semiconductor material, and so minimise the thermally activated generation-recombination processes which compete with radiative mechanisms. The integrated concentrators are in the form of Winston cones, which can be formed using an iterative dry etch process involving methane/hydrogen and oxygen. We will present results on negative luminescence in the mid and long IR wavebands, from devices made from indium antimonide and mercury cadmium telluride, where the aim is sizes greater than 1cm x 1cm. We will also discuss progress on, and the potential for, operating temperature and/or sensitivity improvement of detectors, where very high performance imaging is anticipated from systems which require no mechanical cooling.

High-Performance LWIR Superlattice Detectors and FPA Based on CBIRD Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Soibel, Alexander; Nguyen, Jean; Rafol, Sir B.; Liao, Anna; Hoeglund, Linda; Khoshakhlagh, Arezou; Keo, Sam A.; Mumolo, Jason M.; Liu, John; Ting, David Z.-Y.;

4.3 μm quantum cascade detector in pixel configuration.

PubMed

Harrer, A; Schwarz, B; Schuler, S; Reininger, P; Wirthmüller, A; Detz, H; MacFarland, D; Zederbauer, T; Andrews, A M; Rothermund, M; Oppermann, H; Schrenk, W; Strasser, G

2016-07-25

We present the design simulation and characterization of a quantum cascade detector operating at 4.3μm wavelength. Array integration and packaging processes were investigated. The device operates in the 4.3μm CO₂ absorption region and consists of 64 pixels. The detector is designed fully compatible to standard processing and material growth methods for scalability to large pixel counts. The detector design is optimized for a high device resistance at elevated temperatures. A QCD simulation model was enhanced for resistance and responsivity optimization. The substrate illuminated pixels utilize a two dimensional Au diffraction grating to couple the light to the active region. A single pixel responsivity of 16mA/W at room temperature with a specific detectivity D^* of 5⋅10⁷ cmHz/W was measured.

High-Performance LWIR Superlattice Detectors and FPA Based on CBIRD Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Soibel, Alexander; Nguyen, Jean; Rafol, Sir B.; Liao, Anna; Hoeglund, Linda; Khoshakhlagh, Arezou; Keo, Sam A.; Mumolo, Jason M.; Liu, John; Ting, David Z.-Y.;

Modifications developed to improve x-ray detection devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1994-01-01

Improvements in the development of x-ray detection devices are described. Emphasis is placed on lowering the temperature in order to achieve better x-ray response. A simplified charge integrator schematic is presented along with supporting tables. By using cryogenic operating temperatures, these x-ray detectors may eventually surpass the performance of the best semiconductor detectors.

Assembly, characterization, and operation of large-scale TES detector arrays for ACTPol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pappas, Christine Goodwin

2016-01-01

The Polarization-sensitive Receiver for the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACTPol) is designed to measure the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) temperature and polarization anisotropies on small angular scales. Measurements of the CMB temperature and polarization anisotropies have produced arguably the most important cosmological data to date, establishing the LambdaCDM model and providing the best constraints on most of its parameters. To detect the very small fluctuations in the CMB signal across the sky, ACTPol uses feedhorn-coupled Transition-Edge Sensor (TES) detectors. A TES is a superconducting thin film operated in the transition region between the superconducting and normal states, where it functions as a highly sensitive resistive thermometer. In this thesis, aspects of the assembly, characterization, and in-field operation of the ACTPol TES detector arrays are discussed. First, a novel microfabrication process for producing high-density superconducting aluminum/polyimide flexible circuitry (flex) designed to connect large-scale detector arrays to the first stage of readout is presented. The flex is used in parts of the third ACTPol array and is currently being produced for use in the AdvACT detector arrays, which will begin to replace the ACTPol arrays in 2016. Next, we describe methods and results for the in-lab and on-telescope characterization of the detectors in the third ACTPol array. Finally, we describe the ACTPol TES R(T,I) transition shapes and how they affect the detector calibration and operation. Methods for measuring the exact detector calibration and re-biasing functions, taking into account the R(T,I) transition shape, are presented.

Development and Production of Array Barrier Detectors at SCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klipstein, P. C.; Avnon, E.; Benny, Y.; Berkowicz, E.; Cohen, Y.; Dobromislin, R.; Fraenkel, R.; Gershon, G.; Glozman, A.; Hojman, E.; Ilan, E.; Karni, Y.; Klin, O.; Kodriano, Y.; Krasovitsky, L.; Langof, L.; Lukomsky, I.; Nevo, I.; Nitzani, M.; Pivnik, I.; Rappaport, N.; Rosenberg, O.; Shtrichman, I.; Shkedy, L.; Snapi, N.; Talmor, R.; Tessler, R.; Weiss, E.; Tuito, A.

2017-09-01

XB n or XB p barrier detectors exhibit diffusion-limited dark currents comparable with mercury cadmium telluride Rule-07 and high quantum efficiencies. In 2011, SemiConductor Devices (SCD) introduced "HOT Pelican D", a 640 × 512/15- μm pitch InAsSb/AlSbAs XB n mid-wave infrared (MWIR) detector with a 4.2- μm cut-off and an operating temperature of ˜150 K. Its low power (˜3 W), high pixel operability (>99.5%) and long mean time to failure make HOT Pelican D a highly reliable integrated detector-cooler product with a low size, weight and power. More recently, "HOT Hercules" was launched with a 1280 × 1024/15- μm format and similar advantages. A 3-megapixel, 10- μm pitch version ("HOT Blackbird") is currently completing development. For long-wave infrared applications, SCD's 640 × 512/15- μm pitch "Pelican-D LW" XB p type II superlattice (T2SL) detector has a ˜9.3- μm cut-off wavelength. The detector contains InAs/GaSb and InAs/AlSb T2SLs, and is fabricated into focal plane array (FPA) detectors using standard production processes including hybridization to a digital silicon read-out integrated circuit (ROIC), glue underfill and substrate thinning. The ROIC has been designed so that the complete detector closely follows the interfaces of SCD's MWIR Pelican-D detector family. The Pelican-D LW FPA has a quantum efficiency of ˜50%, and operates at 77 K with a pixel operability of >99% and noise equivalent temperature difference of 13 mK at 30 Hz and F/2.7.

A sonic transducer to detect fluid leaks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cimerman, I.; Janus, J.

1972-01-01

Ultrasonic detector utilizes set of contact transducers and bandpass filters to detect and analyze sonic energy produced by flow or leakage. Detector covers wide frequency range and is operable at cryogenic temperatures and in vacuum.

Progress Toward a Compact 0.05 K Magnet Refrigerator Operating from 10 K

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Canavan, Edgar; Shirron, Peter; DiPirro, Micheal; Tuttle, James; Jackson, Michael; King, Todd; Numazawa, Takenori

2003-01-01

Much of the most interesting information regarding our universe is hidden in the sub-millimeter, infrared, and x-rays bands of the spectrum, to which our atmosphere is largely opaque. Thus, missions exploring these bands are a very important part of NASA s Space Science program. Coincidentally, the most sensitive detectors in these spectral regions operate at extremely low temperatures, typically 0.05 - 0.10 K. Generally these temperatures will be achieved using magnetic refrigerators, also know as Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerators, or ADRs. Current ADRs, such as the one used in the XRS-II instrument on the Astro-E2 satellite, use a single-stage to cool detectors from 1.3 K to 0.06 K. The ADR is designed so that it can absorb the heat on the detector stage for at least 24 hours before it must stop, warm up to the helium bath temperature (1.3 K), and dump the accumulated heat. Future detector arrays will be much larger and will have higher heat dissipation. Furthermore, future missions will use mechanical cryocoolers to provide upper stage cooling, but they can only reach 4 - 10 K. Trying to scale heavy (-15 kg) single stage ADRs up to the higher heat loads and higher heat rejection temperatures required leads to unacceptably large systems. The GSFC Cryogenics Branch has developed the Continuous ADR (CADR) to solve this problem. The CADR consists of a series of ADR stages that sequentially pass heat from the load up to the high temperature heat sink. The stage connected to the load remains at a constant temperature. The continuous stage effectively decouples detector operation from ADR operation, allowing the ADR stages to be cycled much more rapidly. Rapid cycling leads to higher cooling power density. The cascading, multistage arrangement allows the magnetic refrigerant of each stage to be optimized for its own temperature swing. In the past year, we have made good progress toward a 0.05 to 10K system. A four-stage system that operates from 4.2 K was demonstrated. Magnetic shielding was added to eliminate inter-stage coupling. Improvements were made to superconducting and passive gas-gap heat switches. A second type of passive gas gap switch, one meant for use at higher temperature, was demonstrated. The presentation will focus primarily on these recent design improvements, and on the challenges that remain on the progress toward a system that will operate from 10 K or higher.

Development of the III-V Barrier PhotoDetector Heterostructures for Spectral Range Above 10 microns

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-14

Figure 5. Quantum efficiency spectra (a) and temperature dependence of dark current (b) in heterostructures consisting of bulk InAsSb absorber and...compositions covering the range from 20 to 65 %. The solved challenges include selection of the buffer grade composition rate and growth temperature ...absorbers can operate at elevated temperatures and with faster response compared to those in detectors with n-type absorbers. It was important to

Earth Observing-1 Advanced Land Imager: Dark Current and Noise Characterization and Anomalous Detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mendenhall, J. A.

2001-01-01

The dark current and noise characteristics of the Earth Observing-1 Advanced Land Imager measured during ground calibration at MIT Lincoln Laboratory are presented. Data were collected for the nominal focal plane operating temperature of 220 K as well as supplemental operating temperatures (215 and 225 K). Dark current baseline values are provided, and noise characterization includes the evaluation of white, coherent, low frequency, and high frequency components. Finally, anomalous detectors, characterized by unusual dark current, noise, gain, or cross-talk properties are investigated.

Characterization and Performance of a Kilo-TES Sub-Array for ACTPol

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grace, E. A.; Beall, J.; Cho, H. M.; Devlin, M. J.; Fox, A.; Hilton, G.; Hubmayr, J.; Irwin, K.; Klein, J.; Li, D.;

Fabrication, characterization and simulation of 4H-SiC Schottky diode alpha particle detectors for pyroprocessing actinide monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia, Timothy Richard

Pyroprocessing is a method of using high-temperature molten salts and electric fields to separate and collect fuel isotopes of used nuclear fuel. It has been has been tested in the U.S. at Idaho National Laboratory as a key step in closing the nuclear fuel cycle. One technical problem with the pyroprocessing method is a lack of knowledge regarding the actinide concentrations in the salt bath during operation, since on-line techniques for measuring these concentrations are not presently available. 4H-SiC Schottky diode detectors can potentially fulfill this need. Such detectors would operate in contact with the molten salt, and measure concentrations via alpha-particle spectroscopy. This work seeks to fabricate and characterize 4H-SiC Schottky diode detectors at high temperature, model the alpha particle spectrum expected in a molten salt, and model the operation of the detectors to confirm the physics of operation is as expected. In this work, 4H-SiC Schottky diode detectors were fabricated at OSU Nanotech West. After fabrication, these detectors were characterized using both I-V curves and Am-241 alpha-particle energy spectra. All measurements were made as a function of temperature, from room temperature up to 500°C. The average energy required to create an electron-hole pair was observed to decrease with an increase of temperature, due to a decrease of both the 4H-SiC bandgap and non-linear energy loss terms. Furthermore, the FWHM of the spectra was observed to be dependent on the leakage current at a certain temperature, and not dependent on the temperature itself. Secondly, the alpha particle energy spectrum in the pyroprocessing environment was modeled using SRIM. The molten salt was modeled in 3 different geometries, with or without a protective cover material on top of the detector. Due to the loss of alpha-particle energy in the molten salt itself, a high-energy alpha emitter may completely cover the spectrum from a lower-energy alpha emitter. Each of the geometries simulated showed a different sensitivity to the lower-energy alpha emitter. Regardless of which geometry was modeled, it was observed that it is possible to measure both the emission energy of the alpha particles, as well as the concentration of the alpha emitter in the liquid. Lastly, Sentaurus TCAD was used to simulate the detection of alpha-particle charge collection in situations that are relevant to the molten salt alpha particle energy spectra. The effect of electric field negation was investigated, as well as velocity saturation. Finally, the dependence of charge recombination on temperature, alpha particle energy, and angle of incidence was investigated. These simulations captured the measurements performed at room temperature. With changed angle of incidence, the change in the amount of charge collected was less than 1 percent, indicating a weak dependence. Also, the amount of charge lost to Auger recombination was seen to increase with temperature. This disagrees with observations from experiment, indicating that the temperature dependence of one or more parameters of the model may not be accurate.

Negative Avalanche Feedback Detectors for Photon-Counting Optical Communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farr, William H.

2009-01-01

Negative Avalanche Feedback photon counting detectors with near-infrared spectral sensitivity offer an alternative to conventional Geiger mode avalanche photodiode or phototube detectors for free space communications links at 1 and 1.55 microns. These devices demonstrate linear mode photon counting without requiring any external reset circuitry and may even be operated at room temperature. We have now characterized the detection efficiency, dark count rate, after-pulsing, and single photon jitter for three variants of this new detector class, as well as operated these uniquely simple to use devices in actual photon starved free space optical communications links.

46 CFR 76.27-15 - Operation and installation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... audible alarm in the engine room. (b) The detectors, the detecting cabinet and alarms shall be of an approved type. (c) In general, the detectors, shall be rated not lower than 135 degrees F. and not higher than 165 degrees F. However, in spaces where a high ambient temperature may be expected, detectors...

46 CFR 76.27-15 - Operation and installation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... audible alarm in the engine room. (b) The detectors, the detecting cabinet and alarms shall be of an approved type. (c) In general, the detectors, shall be rated not lower than 135 degrees F. and not higher than 165 degrees F. However, in spaces where a high ambient temperature may be expected, detectors...

46 CFR 76.27-15 - Operation and installation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... audible alarm in the engine room. (b) The detectors, the detecting cabinet and alarms shall be of an approved type. (c) In general, the detectors, shall be rated not lower than 135 degrees F. and not higher than 165 degrees F. However, in spaces where a high ambient temperature may be expected, detectors...

46 CFR 76.27-15 - Operation and installation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... audible alarm in the engine room. (b) The detectors, the detecting cabinet and alarms shall be of an approved type. (c) In general, the detectors, shall be rated not lower than 135 degrees F. and not higher than 165 degrees F. However, in spaces where a high ambient temperature may be expected, detectors...

High-operating temperature MWIR photon detectors based on type II InAs/GaSb superlattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razeghi, Manijeh; Nguyen, Binh-Minh; Delaunay, Pierre-Yves; Abdollahi Pour, Siamak; Huang, Edward Kwei-wei; Manukar, Paritosh; Bogdanov, Simeon; Chen, Guanxi

2010-01-01

Recent efforts have been paid to elevate the operating temperature of Type II InAs/GaSb superlattice Mid Infrared photon detectors. Optimized growth parameters and interface engineering technique enable high quality material with a quantum efficiency above 50%. Intensive study on device architecture and doping profile has resulted in almost one order of magnitude of improvement to the electrical performance and lifted up the 300K-background BLIP operation temperature to 166K. At 77K, the ~4.2 μm cut-off devices exhibit a differential resistance area product in excess of the measurement system limit (106 Ohm.cm2) and a detectivity of 3x1013cm.Hz1/2/W. High quality focal plane arrays were demonstrated with a noise equivalent temperature of 10mK at 77K. Uncooled camera is capable to capture hot objects such as soldering iron.

Superconducting Detectors Come of Age, or Ready to Leave the Lab

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moseley, Samuel H.

2008-01-01

Cryogenically cooled superconducting detectors have become essential tools for a wide range of measurement applications, ranging from quantum limited heterodyne detection in the millimeter range to direct searches for dark matter with superconducting phonon detectors operating at 20 mK. Superconducting detectors have several fundamental and practical advantages which have resulted in their rapid adoption by experimenters. Their excellent performance arises in part from reductions in noise resulting from their low operating temperatures, but unique superconducting properties provide a wide range of mechanisms for detection. For example, the steep dependence of resistance with temperature on the superconductor normal transition provides a sensitive thermometer for calorimetric and bolometric applications. Parametric changes in the properties of superconducting resonators provide a mechanism for high sensitivity detection of submillil.neter photons. From a practical point of view, the use of superconducting detectors has grown rapidly because many of these devices couple well to SQUID amplifiers, which are easily integrated with the detectors. These SQUID-based amplifiers and multiplexers have matured with the detectors; they are convenient to use, and have excellent noise performance. The first generation of fully integrated large-scale superconducting detection systems is now being deployed. Improved understanding of the operation of these detectors, combined with rapidly improving fabrication techniques, is quickly expanding the capability of these detectors. I will review the development and application of superconductor-based detectors, the ultimate limits to their performance, and consider prospects for their future applications. Continued advances promise to enable important new measurements in physics, and with appropriate advances in cryogenic infrastncturem, ay result in the use of these detectors in everyday monitoring applications.

Modelling of MWIR HgCdTe complementary barrier HOT detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martyniuk, Piotr; Rogalski, Antoni

2013-02-01

The paper reports on the photoelectrical performance of medium wavelength infrared (MWIR) HgCdTe complementary barrier infrared detector (CBIRD) with n-type barriers. CBIRD nB1nB2 HgCdTe/B1,2-n type detector is modelled with commercially available software APSYS by Crosslight Software Inc. The detailed analysis of the detector's performance such as dark current, photocurrent, responsivity, detectivity versus applied bias, operating temperature, and structural parameters (cap, barriers and absorber doping; and absorber and barriers compositions) are performed pointing out optimal working conditions. Both conduction and valence bands' alignment of the HgCdTe CBIRD structure are calculated stressing their importance on detectors performance. It is shown that higher operation temperature (HOT) conditions achieved by commonly used thermoelectric (TE) coolers allows to obtain detectivities D∗ ≈ 2 × 1010 cm Hz1/2/W at T = 200 K and reverse polarisation V = 400 mV, and differential resistance area product RA = 0.9 Ωcm2 at T = 230 K for V = 50 mV, respectively. Finally, CBIRD nB1nB2 HgCdTe/B1,2-n type state of the art is compared to unipolar barrier HgCdTe nBn/B-n type detector, InAs/GaSb/B-Al0.2Ga0.8Sb type-II superlattice (T2SL) nBn detectors, InAs/GaSb T2SLs PIN and the HOT HgCdTe bulk photodiodes' performance operated at near-room temperature (T = 230 K). It was shown that the RA product of the MWIR CBIRD HgCdTe detector is either comparable or higher (depending on structural parameters) to the state of the art of HgCdTe HOT bulk photodiodes and both AIIIBV 6.1 Å family T2SLs nBn and PIN detectors.

Diamond detectors for high-temperature transactinide chemistry experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinegger, Patrick; Dressler, Rugard; Eichler, Robert; Piguet, Dave; Streuli, Silvan; Türler, Andreas

2017-04-01

Here, we present the fabrication details and functional tests of diamond-based α-spectroscopic sensors, dedicated for high-temperature experiments, targeting the chemistry of transactinide elements. Direct heating studies with this sensor material, revealed a current upper temperature threshold for a safe α-spectroscopic operation of Tdet = 453 K . Up to this temperature, the diamond sensor could be operated in a stable manner over long time periods of the order of days. A satisfying resolution of ≈ 50 keVFWHM was maintained throughout all conducted measurements. However, exceeding the mentioned temperature limit led to a pronounced spectroscopic degradation in the range of 453 - 473 K , thereby preventing any further α-spectroscopic application. These findings are in full agreement with available literature data. The presented detector development generally enables the chemical investigation of more short-lived and less volatile transactinide elements and their compounds, yet unreachable with the currently employed silicon-based solid state sensors. In a second part, the design, construction, and α-spectroscopic performance of a 4-segmented diamond detector, dedicated and used for transactinide element research, is given as an application example.

An array of antenna-coupled superconducting microbolometers for passive indoors real-time THz imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luukanen, A.; Grönberg, L.; Helistö, P.; Penttilä, J. S.; Seppä, H.; Sipola, H.; Dietlein, C. R.; Grossman, E. N.

2006-05-01

The temperature resolving power (NETD) of millimeter wave imagers based on InP HEMT MMIC radiometers is typically about 1 K (30 ms), but the MMIC technology is limited to operating frequencies below ~ 150 GHz. In this paper we report the first results from a pixel developed for an eight pixel sub-array of superconducting antenna-coupled microbolometers, a first step towards a real-time imaging system, with frequency coverage of 0.2 - 3.6 THz. These detectors have demonstrated video-rate NETDs in the millikelvin range, close to the fundamental photon noise limit, when operated at a bath temperature of ~ 4K. The detectors will be operated within a turn-key cryogen-free pulse tube refrigerator, which allows for continuous operation without the need for liquid cryogens. The outstanding frequency agility of bolometric detectors allows for multi-frequency imaging, which greatly enhances the discrimination of e.g. explosives against innoncuous items concealed underneath clothing.

Room-temperature nine-µm-wavelength photodetectors and GHz-frequency heterodyne receivers.

PubMed

Palaferri, Daniele; Todorov, Yanko; Bigioli, Azzurra; Mottaghizadeh, Alireza; Gacemi, Djamal; Calabrese, Allegra; Vasanelli, Angela; Li, Lianhe; Davies, A Giles; Linfield, Edmund H; Kapsalidis, Filippos; Beck, Mattias; Faist, Jérôme; Sirtori, Carlo

2018-04-05

Room-temperature operation is essential for any optoelectronics technology that aims to provide low-cost, compact systems for widespread applications. A recent technological advance in this direction is bolometric detection for thermal imaging, which has achieved relatively high sensitivity and video rates (about 60 hertz) at room temperature. However, owing to thermally induced dark current, room-temperature operation is still a great challenge for semiconductor photodetectors targeting the wavelength band between 8 and 12 micrometres, and all relevant applications, such as imaging, environmental remote sensing and laser-based free-space communication, have been realized at low temperatures. For these devices, high sensitivity and high speed have never been compatible with high-temperature operation. Here we show that a long-wavelength (nine micrometres) infrared quantum-well photodetector fabricated from a metamaterial made of sub-wavelength metallic resonators exhibits strongly enhanced performance with respect to the state of the art up to room temperature. This occurs because the photonic collection area of each resonator is much larger than its electrical area, thus substantially reducing the dark current of the device. Furthermore, we show that our photonic architecture overcomes intrinsic limitations of the material, such as the drop of the electronic drift velocity with temperature, which constrains conventional geometries at cryogenic operation. Finally, the reduced physical area of the device and its increased responsivity allow us to take advantage of the intrinsic high-frequency response of the quantum detector at room temperature. By mixing the frequencies of two quantum-cascade lasers on the detector, which acts as a heterodyne receiver, we have measured a high-frequency signal, above four gigahertz (GHz). Therefore, these wide-band uncooled detectors could benefit technologies such as high-speed (gigabits per second) multichannel coherent data transfer and high-precision molecular spectroscopy.

Room-temperature nine-µm-wavelength photodetectors and GHz-frequency heterodyne receivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palaferri, Daniele; Todorov, Yanko; Bigioli, Azzurra; Mottaghizadeh, Alireza; Gacemi, Djamal; Calabrese, Allegra; Vasanelli, Angela; Li, Lianhe; Davies, A. Giles; Linfield, Edmund H.; Kapsalidis, Filippos; Beck, Mattias; Faist, Jérôme; Sirtori, Carlo

2018-04-01

Room-temperature operation is essential for any optoelectronics technology that aims to provide low-cost, compact systems for widespread applications. A recent technological advance in this direction is bolometric detection for thermal imaging, which has achieved relatively high sensitivity and video rates (about 60 hertz) at room temperature. However, owing to thermally induced dark current, room-temperature operation is still a great challenge for semiconductor photodetectors targeting the wavelength band between 8 and 12 micrometres, and all relevant applications, such as imaging, environmental remote sensing and laser-based free-space communication, have been realized at low temperatures. For these devices, high sensitivity and high speed have never been compatible with high-temperature operation. Here we show that a long-wavelength (nine micrometres) infrared quantum-well photodetector fabricated from a metamaterial made of sub-wavelength metallic resonators exhibits strongly enhanced performance with respect to the state of the art up to room temperature. This occurs because the photonic collection area of each resonator is much larger than its electrical area, thus substantially reducing the dark current of the device. Furthermore, we show that our photonic architecture overcomes intrinsic limitations of the material, such as the drop of the electronic drift velocity with temperature, which constrains conventional geometries at cryogenic operation. Finally, the reduced physical area of the device and its increased responsivity allow us to take advantage of the intrinsic high-frequency response of the quantum detector at room temperature. By mixing the frequencies of two quantum-cascade lasers on the detector, which acts as a heterodyne receiver, we have measured a high-frequency signal, above four gigahertz (GHz). Therefore, these wide-band uncooled detectors could benefit technologies such as high-speed (gigabits per second) multichannel coherent data transfer and high-precision molecular spectroscopy.

The role of fiberoptics in remote temperature measurement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanzetti, Riccardo

1988-01-01

The use of optical fibers in conjunction with infrared detectors and signal processing electronics represents the latest advance in the field of non-contact temperature measurement and control. The operating principles and design of fiber-optic radiometric systems are discussed and the advantages and disadvantages of using optical fibers are addressed. Signal processing requirements and various infrared detector types are also described. Several areas in which infrared fiber-optic instrumentation is used for temperature monitoring and control are discussed.

Enhancing Army S&T Lessons from Project Hindsight Revisited

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

Stinger–POST was equipped with a dual wave length detector assembly: one detector that operated at the mid- infrared and another detector that...as well reduce power and save space. • The Javelin CLU’s IR detectors require cooling to a very low temperature to increase the signal-to- noise ...The detectors are made of an alloy of cadmium-tellurium and mercury-tellurium (termed mercury cadmium telluride or HgCdTe ). Development of the 2D

Room Temperature Hard Radiation Detectors Based on Solid State Compound Semiconductors: An Overview

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirzaei, Ali; Huh, Jeung-Soo; Kim, Sang Sub; Kim, Hyoun Woo

2018-05-01

Si and Ge single crystals are the most common semiconductor radiation detectors. However, they need to work at cryogenic temperatures to decrease their noise levels. In contrast, compound semiconductors can be operated at room temperature due to their ability to grow compound materials with tunable densities, band gaps and atomic numbers. Highly efficient room temperature hard radiation detectors can be utilized in biomedical diagnostics, nuclear safety and homeland security applications. In this review, we discuss room temperature compound semiconductors. Since the field of radiation detection is broad and a discussion of all compound materials for radiation sensing is impossible, we discuss the most important materials for the detection of hard radiation with a focus on binary heavy metal semiconductors and ternary and quaternary chalcogenide compounds.

UV superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors with high efficiency, low noise, and 4 K operating temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wollman, E. E.; Verma, V. B.; Beyer, A. D.; Briggs, R. M.; Korzh, B.; Allmaras, J. P.; Marsili, F.; Lita, A. E.; Mirin, R. P.; Nam, S. W.; Shaw, M. D.

2017-10-01

For photon-counting applications at ultraviolet wavelengths, there are currently no detectors that combine high efficiency (> 50%), sub-nanosecond timing resolution, and sub-Hz dark count rates. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have seen success over the past decade for photon-counting applications in the near-infrared, but little work has been done to optimize SNSPDs for wavelengths below 400 nm. Here, we describe the design, fabrication, and characterization of UV SNSPDs operating at wavelengths between 250 and 370 nm. The detectors have active areas up to 56 ${\\mu}$m in diameter, 70 - 80% efficiency, timing resolution down to 60 ps FWHM, blindness to visible and infrared photons, and dark count rates of ~ 0.25 counts/hr for a 56 ${\\mu}$m diameter pixel. By using the amorphous superconductor MoSi, these UV SNSPDs are also able to operate at temperatures up to 4.2 K. These performance metrics make UV SNSPDs ideal for applications in trapped-ion quantum information processing, lidar studies of the upper atmosphere, UV fluorescent-lifetime imaging microscopy, and photon-starved UV astronomy.

Optical Probe of the Superconducting Normal Mixed State in a Magnetic Penetration Thermometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stevenson, T. R.; Balvin, M. A.; Bandler, S. R.; Denis, K. L.; Lee, S. -J.; Nagler, P. C.; Smith, S. J.

2016-01-01

Using ultraviolet photon pulses, we have probed the internal behavior of a molybdenum-gold Magnetic Penetration Thermometer (MPT) that we designed for x-ray microcalorimetry. In this low-temperature detector, the diamagnetic response of a superconducting MoAu bilayer is used to sense temperature changes in response to absorbed photons. We have previously described an approximate model that explains the high responsivity of the detector to temperature changes as a consequence of a Meissner transition of the molybdenum-gold film in the magnetic field applied by the superconducting circuit used to bias the detector. We compare measurements of MPT heat capacity and thermal conductance, derived from UV photon pulse data, to our model predictions for the thermodynamic properties of the sensor and for the electron cooling obtained by quasiparticle recombination. Our data on electron cooling power is also relevant to the operation of other superconducting detectors, such as Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors.

Method for growing a back surface contact on an imaging detector used in conjunction with back illumination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blacksberg, Jordana (Inventor); Hoenk, Michael Eugene (Inventor); Nikzad, Shouleh (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A method is provided for growing a back surface contact on an imaging detector used in conjunction with back illumination. In operation, an imaging detector is provided. Additionally, a back surface contact (e.g. a delta-doped layer, etc.) is grown on the imaging detector utilizing a process that is performed at a temperature less than 450 degrees Celsius.

Detectors for Tomorrow's Instruments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moseley, Harvey

2009-01-01

Cryogenically cooled superconducting detectors have become essential tools for a wide range of measurement applications, ranging from quantum limited heterodyne detection in the millimeter range to direct searches for dark matter with superconducting phonon detectors operating at 20 mK. Superconducting detectors have several fundamental and practical advantages which have resulted in their rapid adoption by experimenters. Their excellent performance arises in part from reductions in noise resulting from their low operating temperatures, but unique superconducting properties provide a wide range of mechanisms for detection. For example, the steep dependence of resistance with temperature on the superconductor/normal transition provides a sensitive thermometer for calorimetric and bolometric applications. Parametric changes in the properties of superconducting resonators provides a mechanism for high sensitivity detection of submillimeter photons. From a practical point of view, the use of superconducting detectors has grown rapidly because many of these devices couple well to SQUID amplifiers, which are easily integrated with the detectors. These SQUID-based amplifiers and multiplexers have matured with the detectors; they are convenient to use, and have excellent noise performance. The first generation of fully integrated large scale superconducting detection systems are now being deployed. I will discuss the prospects for a new generation of instruments designed to take full advantage of the revolution in detector technology.

In orbit adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration for bolometric and microcalorimetric detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hepburn, I. D.; Ade, P. A. R.; Davenport, I.; Smith, A.; Sumner, T. J.

1992-12-01

The new generation of photon detectors for satellite based mm/submm and X-ray astronomical observations require cooling to temperatures in the range 60 to 300 mK. At present Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigeration (ADR) is the best proposed technique for producing these temperatures in orbit due to its inherent simplicity and gravity independent operation. For the efficient utilization of an ADR it is important to realize long operational times at base temperature with short recycle times. These criteria are dependent on several parameters; the required operating temperature, the cryogen bath temperature, the amount of heat leakage to the paramagnetic salt, the volume and type of salt and the maximum obtainable magnetic field. For space application these parameters are restricted by the limitations imposed on the physical size, the mass, the available electrical power and the cooling power available. The design considerations required in order to match these parameters are described and test data from a working laboratory system is presented.

Thallium Bromide as an Alternative Material for Room-Temperature Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy and Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koehler, William

Thallium bromide is an attractive material for room-temperature gamma-ray spectroscopy and imaging because of its high atomic number (Tl: 81, Br: 35), high density (7.56 g/cm3), and a wide bandgap (2.68 eV). In this work, 5 mm thick TlBr detectors achieved 0.94% FWHM at 662 keV for all single-pixel events and 0.72% FWHM at 662 keV from the best pixel and depth using three-dimensional position sensing technology. However, these results were limited to stable operation at -20°C. After days to months of room-temperature operation, ionic conduction caused these devices to fail. Depth-dependent signal analysis was used to isolate room-temperature degradation effects to within 0.5 mm of the anode surface. This was verified by refabricating the detectors after complete failure at room temperature; after refabrication, similar performance and functionality was recovered. As part of this work, the improvement in electron drift velocity and energy resolution during conditioning at -20°C was quantified. A new method was developed to measure the impurity concentration without changing the gamma ray measurement setup. The new method was used to show that detector conditioning was likely the result of charged impurities drifting out of the active volume. This space charge reduction then caused a more stable and uniform electric field. Additionally, new algorithms were developed to remove hole contributions in high-hole-mobility detectors to improve depth reconstruction. These algorithms improved the depth reconstruction (accuracy) without degrading the depth uncertainty (precision). Finally, spectroscopic and imaging performance of new 11 x 11 pixelated-anode TlBr detectors was characterized. The larger detectors were used to show that energy resolution can be improved by identifying photopeak events from their Tl characteristic x-rays.

The state-of-the-art of cryogenic thermometry and signal conditioners and their potential for standardized space hardware

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1983-01-01

The possibility of standard low temperature detector(s) for use in upcoming cryogenically cooled satellite and Space Shuttle payloads were investigated. These payloads operate from .3 kelvin to 300 kelvin. Standard detectors were selected and matching signal conditioning equipment compatible with the selected detector, typical spacecraft voltages, typical spacecraft telemetry systems, and the radiation encountered by a typical Earth orbiting spacecraft. Work statements to better define and advance detector performance were presented.

Photocapacitive MIS infrared detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sher, A.; Lu, S. S.-M.; Moriarty, J. A.; Crouch, R. K.; Miller, W. E.

1978-01-01

A new class of room-temperature infrared detectors has been developed through use of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) or metal-insulator-semiconductor-insulator-metal (MISIM) slabs. The detectors, which have been fabricated from Si, Ge and GaAs, rely for operation on the electrical capacitance variations induced by modulated incident radiation. The peak detectivity for a 1000-A Si MISIM detector is comparable to that of a conventional Si detector functioning in the photovoltaic mode. Optimization of the photocapacitive-mode detection sensitivity is discussed.

Parametric Characterization of TES Detectors Under DC Bias

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chiao, Meng P.; Smith, Stephen James; Kilbourne, Caroline A.; Adams, Joseph S.; Bandler, Simon R.; Betancourt-Martinez, Gabriele L.; Chervenak, James A.; Datesman, Aaron M.; Eckart, Megan E.; Ewin, Audrey J.;

OSIRIS-REx OCAMS detector assembly characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hancock, J.; Crowther, B.; Whiteley, M.; Burt, R.; Watson, M.; Nelson, J.; Fellows, C.; Rizk, B.; Kinney-Spano, E.; Perry, M.; Hunten, M.

2013-09-01

The OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission carries a suite of three cameras referred to as OCAMS. The Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) at Utah State University is providing the CCD-based detector assemblies for OCAMS to the Lunar Planetary Lab (LPL) at the University of Arizona. Working with the LPL, SDL has designed the electronics to operate a 1K by 1K frame transfer Teledyne DALSA Multi-Pinned Phase (MPP) CCD. The detector assembly electronics provides the CCD clocking, biasing, and digital interface with the OCAMS payload Command Control Module (CCM). A prototype system was built to verify the functionality of the detector assembly design and to characterize the detector system performance at the intended operating temperatures. The characterization results are described in this paper.

Status of LWIR HgCdTe infrared detector technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reine, M. B.

1990-01-01

The performance requirements that today's advanced Long Wavelength Infrared (LWIR) focal plane arrays place on the HgCdTe photovoltaic detector array are summarized. The theoretical performance limits for intrinsic LWIR HgCdTe detectors are reviewed as functions of cutoff wavelength and operating temperature. The status of LWIR HgCdTe photovoltaic detectors is reviewed and compared to the focal plane array (FPA) requirements and to the theoretical limits. Emphasis is placed on recent data for two-layer HgCdTe PLE heterojunction photodiodes grown at Loral with cutoff wavelengths ranging between 10 and 19 microns at temperatures of 70 to 80 K. Development trends in LWIR HgCdTe detector technology are outlined, and conclusions are drawn about the ability for photovoltaic HgCdTe detector arrays to satisfy a wide variety of advanced FPA array applications.

Low Noise Mid-Wavelength IR Photodetectors

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-02-19

Theoretical Framework and Calculated Results We will first review the theoretical limit for single-stage photovoltaic (PV) detectors and then proceed...efficient the device utilizes the incident photons. We see that Eq. 12 reduces to the standard expression for a single-absorber photovoltaic detector...mid-IR spectrum, one can expect growing demands and applications for high-speed detectors that operate at thermoelectric cooler temperatures with

High-gain cryogenic amplifier assembly employing a commercial CMOS operational amplifier.

PubMed

Proctor, J E; Smith, A W; Jung, T M; Woods, S I

2015-07-01

We have developed a cryogenic amplifier for the measurement of small current signals (10 fA-100 nA) from cryogenic optical detectors. Typically operated with gain near 10(7) V/A, the amplifier performs well from DC to greater than 30 kHz and exhibits noise level near the Johnson limit. Care has been taken in the design and materials to control heat flow and temperatures throughout the entire detector-amplifier assembly. A simple one-board version of the amplifier assembly dissipates 8 mW to our detector cryostat cold stage, and a two-board version can dissipate as little as 17 μW to the detector cold stage. With current noise baseline of about 10 fA/(Hz)(1/2), the cryogenic amplifier is generally useful for cooled infrared detectors, and using blocked impurity band detectors operated at 10 K, the amplifier enables noise power levels of 2.5 fW/(Hz)(1/2) for detection of optical wavelengths near 10 μm.

HgCdTe APDs for time-resolved space applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rothman, J.; Lasfargues, G.; Delacourt, B.; Dumas, A.; Gibert, F.; Bardoux, A.; Boutillier, M.

2017-12-01

The use of HgCdTe avalanche photodiodes (APDs) for resolving the temporal variation of faint light level signals is analyzed. The analysis is based on the performance characteristics such as the gain, the response time, and dark currents in the APDs, measured as a function of operating temperature and Cd composition, and on recently developed detector demonstrator modules. The choice of Cd composition in the APDs is strongly dependent on the application needs in terms of electrical bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio. A performance model has been developed and used to predict the performance of the future detector modules for different applications such as high bandwidth and/or deep space free space optical telecommunications and lidar, associated with sensitivities down to single photon level at low operating temperature and close to single-photon operation at bandwidth of 10 GHz at room temperature. The predictions are corroborated by the results obtained on detector modules that have been developed and used in lidar and deep space optical communications. In a first lidar prototype, integrating a 200 µm APD, we obtained a maximum sensitivity of 25 fW/√Hz at T = 190 K operating temperature. The detector has been used for differential absorption lidar estimations of the absorption due to presence of CO2 in the atmosphere. A random error of 3-10% was obtained for the estimation of the optical thickness at a distance of 100-3000 m, for a range resolution of 100 m and using and averaging time of 4 s. The pursuit of this development is pending on the space qualification of the technology. Results from first proton and irradiation tests are reported that shows on a close to constant performance during and after the irradiation and endurance tests.

Introduction to lead salt infrared detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kondas, David A.

1993-02-01

This technical report establishes the background necessary to understand how lead sulfide (PbS) and lead selenide (PbSe) infrared detectors operate. Both detectors, which are members of the lead salt family of infrared detectors, use the photoconductive effect to detect energy residing within the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. PbS detectors are useful for detecting energies in the 1 to 3 micrometer region, while PbSe detectors can detect energies in the 1 to 7 micrometer region. They are essentially polycrystalline thin films which are fabricated by chemical deposition techniques in either single element or multi-element array configurations. The significance of the electronic structure of these crystalline films and the effects of temperature on their operation and performance are discussed. The history of the development of lead salt detectors from the early years before World War I to the more recent developments is detailed. In addition, an overview of a typical infrared system is also presented.

NMR/MRI with hyperpolarized gas and high Tc SQUID

DOEpatents

Schlenga, Klaus; de Souza, Ricardo E.; Wong-Foy, Annjoe; Clarke, John; Pines, Alexander

2000-01-01

A method and apparatus for the detection of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals and production of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from samples combines the use of hyperpolarized inert gases to enhance the NMR signals from target nuclei in a sample and a high critical temperature (Tc) superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) to detect the NMR signals. The system operates in static magnetic fields of 3 mT or less (down to 0.1 mT), and at temperatures from liquid nitrogen (77K) to room temperature. Sample size is limited only by the size of the magnetic field coils and not by the detector. The detector is a high Tc SQUID magnetometer designed so that the SQUID detector can be very close to the sample, which can be at room temperature.

Improved performance characteristics of a high temperature superconductor bolometer using photo-thermoelectrical feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaila, M. M.; Russell, G. J.

2000-12-01

We have designed a liquid nitrogen cooled detector where a thermoelectric feedback is combined with electrothermal feedback to produce an improvement of three orders of magnitude in the response time of the detector. We have achieved this by considering a parallel resistance combination of thermoelectric and High Temperature Superconductor (HTSC) material legs of an approximate geometry 1mm /spl times/ 2 mm /spl times/ 1micron operated at 80K. One end of this thermocouple acts as the sensitive area where the radiation is absorbed. The other end remains unexposed and stays basically at substrate temperature. It is found that micron thick films in our bolometer produce characteristics very close to those found for nanometer thick films required in semiconductor detectors and Low Temperature Superconductor (LTSC) bolometers.

Operation and performance of new NIR detectors from SELEX

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atkinson, D.; Bezawada, N.; Hipwood, L. G.; Shorrocks, N.; Milne, H.

2012-07-01

The European Space Agency (ESA) has funded SELEX Galileo, Southampton, UK to develop large format near infrared (NIR) detectors for its future space and ground based programmes. The UKATC has worked in collaboration with SELEX Galileo to test and characterise the new detectors produced during phase-1 of the development. In order to demonstrate the detector material performance, the HgCdTe (MCT) detector diodes (grown on GaAs substrate through MOVPE process in small 320×256, 24μm pixel format) are hybridised to the existing SELEX Galileo SWALLOW CMOS readout chip. The substrate removed and MCT thinned detector arrays were then tested and evaluated at the UKATC following screening tests at SELEX. This paper briefly describes the test setup, the operational aspects of the readout multiplexer and presents the performance parameters of the detector arrays including: conversion gain, detector dark current, read noise, linearity, quantum efficiency and persistence for various detector temperatures between 80K and 140K.

Characterization of Silicon Photomultiplier Detectors using Cosmic Radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zavala, Favian; Castro, Juan; Niduaza, Rexavalmar; Wedel, Zachary; Fan, Sewan; Ritt, Stefan; Fatuzzo, Laura

2014-03-01

The silicon photomultiplier light detector has gained a lot of attention lately in fields such as particle physics, astrophysics, and medical physics. Its popularity stems from its lower cost, compact size, insensitivity to magnetic fields, and its excellent ability to distinguish a quantized number of photons. They are normally operated at room temperature and biased above their breakdown voltages. As such, they may also exhibit properties that may hinder their optimal operation which include a thermally induced high dark count rate, after pulse effects, and cross talk from photons in nearby pixels. At this poster session, we describe our data analysis and our endeavor to characterize the multipixel photon counter (MPPC) detectors from Hamamatsu under different bias voltages and temperature conditions. Particularly, we describe our setup which uses cosmic rays to induce scintillation light delivered to the detector by wavelength shifting optical fibers and the use of a fast 1 GHz waveform sampler, the domino ring sampler (DRS4) digitizer board. Department of Education grant number P031S90007.

Physics and Applications of Metallic Magnetic Calorimeters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kempf, S.; Fleischmann, A.; Gastaldo, L.; Enss, C.

2018-03-01

Metallic magnetic calorimeters (MMCs) are calorimetric low-temperature particle detectors that are currently strongly advancing the state of the art in energy-dispersive single particle detection. They are typically operated at temperatures below 100 mK and make use of a metallic, paramagnetic temperature sensor to transduce the temperature rise of the detector upon the absorption of an energetic particle into a change of magnetic flux which is sensed by a superconducting quantum interference device. This outstanding interplay between a high-sensitivity thermometer and a near quantum-limited amplifier results in a very fast signal rise time, an excellent energy resolution, a large dynamic range, a quantum efficiency close to 100% as well as an almost ideal linear detector response. For this reason, a growing number of groups located all over the world is developing MMC arrays of various sizes which are routinely used in a variety of applications. Within this paper, we briefly review the state of the art of metallic magnetic calorimeters. This includes a discussion of the detection principle, sensor materials and detector geometries, readout concepts, the structure of modern detectors as well as the state-of-the-art detector performance.

Cryogenic measurements of aerojet GaAs n-JFETs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goebel, John H.; Weber, Theodore T.

1993-01-01

The spectral noise characteristics of Aerojet gallium arsenide (GaAs) junction field effect transistors (JFET's) have been investigated down to liquid-helium temperatures. Noise characterization was performed with the field effect transistor (FET) in the floating-gate mode, in the grounded-gate mode to determine the lowest noise readings possible, and with an extrinsic silicon photodetector at various detector bias voltages to determine optimum operating conditions. The measurements indicate that the Aerojet GaAs JFET is a quiet and stable device at liquid helium temperatures. Hence, it can be considered a readout line driver or infrared detector preamplifier as well as a host of other cryogenic applications. Its noise performance is superior to silicon (Si) metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET's) operating at liquid helium temperatures, and is equal to the best Si n channel junction field effect transistor (n-JFET's) operating at 300 K.

Charge carrier localization effects on the quantum efficiency and operating temperature range of InAs{sub x}P{sub 1−x}/InP quantum well detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vashisht, Geetanjali, E-mail: geetanjali@rrcat.gov.in; Dixit, V. K., E-mail: dixit@rrcat.gov.in; Porwal, S.

2016-03-07

The effect of charge carrier localization resulting in “S-shaped” temperature dependence of the photoluminescence peak energy of InAs{sub x}P{sub 1−x}/InP quantum wells (QWs) is distinctly revealed by the temperature dependent surface photo voltage (SPV) and photoconductivity (PC) processes. It is observed that the escape efficiency of carriers from QWs depends on the localization energy, where the carriers are unable to contribute in SPV/PC signal below a critical temperature. Below the critical temperature, carriers are strongly trapped in the localized states and are therefore unable to escape from the QW. Further, the critical temperature increases with the magnitude of localization energymore » of carriers. Carrier localization thus plays a pivotal role in defining the operating temperature range of InAs{sub x}P{sub 1−x}/InP QW detectors.« less

Detector characterization, optimization, and operation for ACTPol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grace, Emily Ann

2016-01-01

Measurements of the temperature anisotropies of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) have provided the foundation for much of our current knowledge of cosmology. Observations of the polarization of the CMB have already begun to build on this foundation and promise to illuminate open cosmological questions regarding the first moments of the universe and the properties of dark energy. The primary CMB polarization signal contains the signature of early universe physics including the possible imprint of inflationary gravitational waves, while a secondary signal arises due to late-time interactions of CMB photons which encode information about the formation and evolution of structure in the universe. The Atacama Cosmology Telescope Polarimeter (ACTPol), located at an elevation of 5200 meters in Chile and currently in its third season of observing, is designed to probe these signals with measurements of the CMB in both temperature and polarization from arcminute to degree scales. To measure the faint CMB polarization signal, ACTPol employs large, kilo-pixel detector arrays of transition edge sensor (TES) bolometers, which are cooled to a 100 mK operating temperature with a dilution refrigerator. Three such arrays are currently deployed, two with sensitivity to 150 GHz radiation and one dichroic array with 90 GHz and 150 GHz sensitivity. The operation of these large, monolithic detector arrays presents a number of challenges for both assembly and characterization. This thesis describes the design and assembly of the ACTPol polarimeter arrays and outlines techniques for their rapid characterization. These methods are employed to optimize the design and operating conditions of the detectors, select wafers for deployment, and evaluate the baseline array performance. The results of the application of these techniques to wafers from all three ACTPol arrays is described, including discussion of the measured thermal properties and time constants. Finally, aspects of the characterization and calibration of the deployed detectors during field operations are discussed.

The nuMOIRCS project: detector upgrade overview and early commissioning results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walawender, Josh; Wung, Matthew; Fabricius, Maximilian; Tanaka, Ichi; Arimoto, Nobuo; Cook, David; Elms, Brian; Hashiba, Yasuhito; Hu, Yen-Sang; Iwata, Ikuru; Nishimura, Tetsuo; Omata, Koji; Takato, Naruhisa; Wang, Shiang-Yu; Weber, Mark

2016-08-01

In 2014 and 2015 the Multi-Object InfraRed Camera and Spectrograph (MOIRCS) instrument at the Subaru Telescope on Maunakea is underwent a significant modernization and upgrade project. We upgraded the two Hawaii2 detectors to Hawaii2-RG models, modernized the cryogenic temperature control system, and rewrote much of the instrument control software. The detector upgrade replaced the Hawaii2 detectors which use the Tohoku University Focal Plane Array Controller (TUFPAC) electronics with Hawaii2-RG detectors using SIDECAR ASIC (a fully integrated FPA controller system-on-a-chip) and a SAM interface card. We achieved an improvement in read noise by a factor of about 2 with this detector and electronics upgrade. The cryogenic temperature control upgrade focused on modernizing the components and making the procedures for warm up and cool down of the instrument safer. We have moved PID control loops out of the instrument control software and into Lakeshore model 336 cryogenic temperature controllers and have added interlocks on the warming systems to prevent overheating of the instrument. Much of the instrument control software has also been re-written. This was necessitated by the different interface to the detector electronics (ASIC and SAM vs. TUFPAC) and by the desire to modernize the interface to the telescope control software which has been updated to Subaru's "Gen2" system since the time of MOIRCS construction and first light. The new software is also designed to increase reliability of operation of the instrument, decrease overheads, and be easier for night time operators and support astronomers to use.

Type-II InAs/GaSb (InAsSb) superlattices for interband cascade midwavelength detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hackiewicz, Klaudia; Martyniuk, Piotr

2018-02-01

Type-II superlattice (T2SL) interband cascade infrared detectors (IB CIDs) proved to be a promising candidate for short response time devices operating in room and higher temperatures. The current status of the higher operating temperature (HOT) T2SLs InAs/GaSb and InAs/InAsSb IB CID is presented. We compare both materials with HgCdTe alloy, which is widely described in literature. The detectivity of midwave infrared (MWIR) T2SLs InAs/GaSb and InAs/InAsSb based IB CID has been demonstrated up to 380 K.

Limitation of Gravitational Wave Detector Niobè Sensitivity by the Frequency Tracking Noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frajuca, Carlos; Bortoli, Fabio Da Silva

The gravity wave detector at the University of Western Australia was based on a bending flap of 0.45kg tuned near the fundamental resonant frequency of a 1.5ton resonant-bar of 710Hz at a temperature of 5K. The displacement of the bending flap was monitored with a 9.5GHz superconducting re-entrant cavity transducer. The performance of the transducer is related to the development of a low noise microwave pump oscillator to drive the transducer. This work studies the influence of the frequency tracking noise of Niobè. It had a burst sensitivity of h ≈ 7 × 10-19 with a long term operation from 1993 to early 1998. It had the lowest observed noise temperature. Using the characteristics of the detector, NIOBÈ should had reached a much better sensitivity that the one measure. It seems that the noise introduced in the system by the frequency tracking device was not taken into account at the time of operation, this noise gives a value of ≈ 2.5 × 10-18m/(Hz)-1/2, what is the value that limited the detector sensitivity to the one measured at the time of operation.

A novel electron tunneling infrared detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kenny, T. W.; Waltman, S. B.; Reynolds, J. K.; Kaiser, W. J.

1990-01-01

The pneumatic infrared detector, originally developed by Golay in the late 1940s, uses the thermal expansion of one cm(exp 3) of xenon at room temperature to detect the heat deposited by infrared radiation. This detector was limited by thermal fluctuations within a 10 Hz bandwidth, but suffered from long thermal time constants and a fragile structure. Nevertheless, it represents the most sensitive room temperature detector currently available in the long wavelength infrared (LWIR). Fabrication of this type of detector on smaller scales has been limited by the lack of a suitably sensitive transducer. Researchers designed a detector based on this principle, but which is constructed entirely from micromachined silicon, and uses a vacuum tunneling transducer to detect the expansion of the trapped gas. Because this detector is fabricated using micromachining techniques, miniaturization and integration into one and two-dimensional arrays is feasible. The extreme sensitivity of vacuum tunneling to changes in electrode separation will allow a prototype of this detector to operate in the limit of thermal fluctuations over a 10 kHz bandwidth. A calculation of the predicted response and noise of the prototype is presented with the general formalism of thermal detectors. At present, most of the components of the prototype have been fabricated and tested independently. In particular, a characterization of the micromachined electron tunneling transducer has been carried out. The measured noise in the tunnel current is within a decade of the limit imposed by shot noise, and well below the requirements for the operation of an infrared detector with the predicted sensitivity. Assembly and characterization of the prototype infrared detector will be carried out promptly.

Update on the Fabrication and Performance of 2-D Arrays of Superconducting Magnesium Diboride (MgB2) Thermal Detectors for Outer-Planets Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lakew, Brook; Aslam, S.

2011-01-01

Detectors with better performance than the current thermopile detectors that operate at room temperature will be needed at the focal plane of far-infrared instruments on future planetary exploration missions. We will present an update on recent results from the 2-D array of MgB2 thermal detectors being currently developed at NASA Goddard. Noise and sensitivity results will be presented and compared to thermal detectors currently in use on planetary missions.

Detector Noise Characterization and Performance of MODIS Thermal Emissive Bands

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Xiong, X.; Wu, A.; Chen, N.; Chiang, K.; Xiong, S.; Wenny, B.; Barnes, W. L.

2007-01-01

MODIS has 16 thermal emissive bands, a total of 160 individual detectors (10 for each spectral bands), located on the two cold focal plane assemblies (CFPA). MODIS TEB detectors were fully characterized pre-launch in a thermal vacuum (TV) environment using a NIST traceable blackbody calibration source (BCS) with temperatures ranging from 170 to 340K. On-orbit the TEB detectors are calibrated using an on-board blackbody (BB) on a scan-by-scan basis. For nominal on-orbit operation, the on-board BB temperature is typically controlled at 285K for Aqua MODIS and 290K for Terra MODIS. For the MODIS TEB calibration, each detector's noise equivalent temperature difference (NEdT) is often used to assess its performance and this parameter is a major contributor to the calibration uncertainty. Because of its impact on sensor calibration and data product quality, each MODIS TEB detector's NEdT is monitored on a daily basis at a fixed BB temperature and completely characterized on a regular basis at a number of BB temperatures. In this paper, we describe MODIS on-orbit TEB NEdT characterization activities, approaches, and results. We compare both pre-launch and on-orbit performance with sensor design specification and examine detector noise characterization impact on the calibration uncertainty. To date, 135 TEB detectors (out of a total of 160 detectors) in Terra MODIS (launched in December 1999) and 158 in Aqua MODIS (launched in May 2002) continue to perform with their NEdT below (or better than) their design specifications. A complete summary of all TEB noisy detectors, identified both pre-launch and on-orbit, is provided.

Improved high operating temperature MCT MWIR modules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lutz, H.; Breiter, R.; Figgemeier, H.; Schallenberg, T.; Schirmacher, W.; Wollrab, R.

2014-06-01

High operating temperature (HOT) IR-detectors are a key factor to size, weight and power (SWaP) reduced IR-systems. Such systems are essential to provide infantrymen with low-weight handheld systems with increased battery lifetimes or most compact clip-on weapon sights in combination with high electro-optical performance offered by cooled IR-technology. AIM's MCT standard n-on-p technology with vacancy doping has been optimized over many years resulting in MWIR-detectors with excellent electro-optical performance up to operating temperatures of ~120K. In the last years the effort has been intensified to improve this standard technology by introducing extrinsic doping with Gold as an acceptor. As a consequence the dark current could considerably be suppressed and allows for operation at ~140K with good e/o performance. More detailed investigations showed that limitation for HOT > 140K is explained by consequences from rising dark current rather than from defective pixel level. Recently, several crucial parameters were identified showing great promise for further optimization of HOT-performance. Among those, p-type concentration could successfully be reduced from the mid 1016 / cm3 to the lower 1015/ cm3 range. Since AIM is one of the leading manufacturers of split linear cryocoolers, an increase in operating temperature will directly lead to IR-modules with improved SWaP characteristics by making use of the miniature members of its SX cooler family with single piston and balancer technology. The paper will present recent progress in the development of HOT MWIR-detector arrays at AIM and show electro-optical performance data in comparison to focal plane arrays produced in the standard technology.

Temperature dependence of the plastic scintillator detector for DAMPE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhao-Min; Yu, Yu-Hong; Sun, Zhi-Yu; Yue, Ke; Yan, Duo; Zhang, Yong-Jie; Zhou, Yong; Fang, Fang; Huang, Wen-Xue; Chen, Jun-Ling

2017-01-01

The Plastic Scintillator Detector (PSD) is one of the main sub-detectors in the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) project. It will be operated over a large temperature range from -10 to 30 °C, so the temperature effect of the whole detection system should be studied in detail. The temperature dependence of the PSD system is mainly contributed by the three parts: the plastic scintillator bar, the photomultiplier tube (PMT), and the Front End Electronics (FEE). These three parts have been studied in detail and the contribution of each part has been obtained and discussed. The temperature coefficient of the PMT is -0.320(±0.033)%/°C, and the coefficient of the plastic scintillator bar is -0.036(±0.038)%/°C. This result means that after subtracting the FEE pedestal, the variation of the signal amplitude of the PMT-scintillator system due to temperature mainly comes from the PMT, and the plastic scintillator bar is not sensitive to temperature over the operating range. Since the temperature effect cannot be ignored, the temperature dependence of the whole PSD has been also studied and a correction has been made to minimize this effect. The correction result shows that the effect of temperature on the signal amplitude of the PSD system can be suppressed. Supported by Strategic Priority Research Program on Space Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA04040202-3) and Youth Innovation Promotion Association, CAS

Low dark current MCT-based focal plane detector arrays for the LWIR and VLWIR developed at AIM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gassmann, Kai Uwe; Eich, Detlef; Fick, Wolfgang; Figgemeier, Heinrich; Hanna, Stefan; Thöt, Richard

2015-10-01

For nearly 40 years AIM develops, manufactures and delivers photo-voltaic and photo-conductive infrared sensors and associated cryogenic coolers which are mainly used for military applications like pilotage, weapon sights, UAVs or vehicle platforms. In 2005 AIM started to provide the competences also for space applications like IR detector units for the SLSTR instrument on board of the Sentinel 3 satellite, the hyperspectral SWIR Imager for EnMAP or pushbroom detectors for high resolution Earth observation satellites. Meanwhile AIM delivered more than 25 Flight Models for several customers. The first European pulse-tube cooler ever operating on-board of a satellite is made by AIM. AIM homes the required infrared core capabilities such as design and manufacturing of focal plane assemblies, detector housing technologies, development and manufacturing of cryocoolers and also data processing for thermal IR cameras under one roof which enables high flexibility to react to customer needs and assures economical solutions. Cryogenically cooled Hg(1-x)CdxTe (MCT) quantum detectors are unequalled for applications requiring high imaging as well as high radiometric performance in the infrared spectral range. Compared with other technologies, they provide several advantages, such as the highest quantum efficiency, lower power dissipation compared to photoconductive devices and fast response times, hence outperforming micro-bolometer arrays. However, achieving an excellent MCT detector performance at long (LWIR) and very long (VLWIR) infrared wavelengths is challenging due to the exponential increase in the thermally generated photodiode dark current with increasing cut-off wavelength and / or operating temperature. Dark current is a critical design driver, especially for LWIR / VLWIR multi-spectral imagers with moderate signal levels or hyper-spectral Fourier spectrometers operating deep into the VLWIR spectral region. Consequently, low dark current (LDC) technologies are the prerequisite for future scientific space and earth observation missions. Aiming, for example at exoplanet or earth atmospheric spectral analysis, significant improvement in LWIR / VLWIR detector material performance is mandatory. LDC material optimization can target different directions of impact: (i) reduction of dark current for a given operational temperature to increase SNR and reduce thermally induced signal offset variations. (ii) operation at elevated temperatures at a given dark current level to reduce mass and power budget of the required cryocooler and to reduce cryostat complexity. (iii) increase the accessible cut-off wavelength at constant detector temperature and dark current level. This paper presents AIM's latest results on n-on-p as well as p-on-n low dark current planar MCT photodiode focal plane detector arrays at cut-off wavelengths >11 μm at 80 K. Dark current densities below Tennant's `Rule07'1 have been demonstrated for n-on-p and p-on-n devices. This work has been carried out under ESA contract ESTEC 4000107414/13/NL/SFe².

Ferroelectric infrared detector and method

DOEpatents

Lashley, Jason Charles; Opeil, Cyril P.; Smith, James Lawrence

2010-03-30

An apparatus and method are provided for sensing infrared radiation. The apparatus includes a sensor element that is positioned in a magnetic field during operation to ensure a .lamda. shaped relationship between specific heat and temperature adjacent the Curie temperature of the ferroelectric material comprising the sensor element. The apparatus is operated by inducing a magnetic field on the ferroelectric material to reduce surface charge on the element during its operation.

SiC-based neutron detector in quasi-realistic working conditions: efficiency and stability at room and high temperature under fast neutron irradiations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ferone, Raffaello; Issa, Fatima; Ottaviani, Laurent

In the framework of the European I SMART project, we have designed and made new SiC-based nuclear radiation detectors able to operate in harsh environments and to detect both fast and thermal neutrons. In this paper, we report experimental results of fast neutron irradiation campaign at high temperature (106 deg. C) in quasi-realistic working conditions. Our device does not suffer from high temperature, and spectra do show strong stability, preserving features. These experiments, as well as others in progress, show the I SMART SiC-based device skills to operate in harsh environments, whereas other materials would strongly suffer from degradation. Workmore » is still demanded to test our device at higher temperatures and to enhance efficiency in order to make our device fully exploitable from an industrial point of view. (authors)« less

Graphene field-effect transistors as room-temperature terahertz detectors.

PubMed

Vicarelli, L; Vitiello, M S; Coquillat, D; Lombardo, A; Ferrari, A C; Knap, W; Polini, M; Pellegrini, V; Tredicucci, A

2012-10-01

The unique optoelectronic properties of graphene make it an ideal platform for a variety of photonic applications, including fast photodetectors, transparent electrodes in displays and photovoltaic modules, optical modulators, plasmonic devices, microcavities, and ultra-fast lasers. Owing to its high carrier mobility, gapless spectrum and frequency-independent absorption, graphene is a very promising material for the development of detectors and modulators operating in the terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum (wavelengths in the hundreds of micrometres), still severely lacking in terms of solid-state devices. Here we demonstrate terahertz detectors based on antenna-coupled graphene field-effect transistors. These exploit the nonlinear response to the oscillating radiation field at the gate electrode, with contributions of thermoelectric and photoconductive origin. We demonstrate room temperature operation at 0.3 THz, showing that our devices can already be used in realistic settings, enabling large-area, fast imaging of macroscopic samples.

First Tests of Prototype SCUBA-2 Superconducting Bolometer Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woodcraft, Adam L.; Ade, Peter A. R.; Bintley, Dan; Hunt, Cynthia L.; Sudiwala, Rashmi V.; Hilton, Gene C.; Irwin, Kent D.; Reintsema, Carl D.; Audley, Michael D.; Holland, Wayne S.; MacIntosh, Mike

2006-09-01

We present results of the first tests on a 1280 pixel superconducting bolometer array, a prototype for SCUBA-2, a sub-mm camera being built for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii. The bolometers are TES (transition edge sensor) detectors; these take advantage of the large variation of resistance with temperature through the superconducting transition. To keep the number of wires reasonable, a multiplexed read-out is used. Each pixel is read out through an individual DC SQUID; room temperature electronics switch between rows in the array by biasing the appropriate SQUIDs in turn. Arrays of 100 SQUIDs in series for each column then amplify the output. Unlike previous TES arrays, the multiplexing elements are located beneath each pixel, making large arrays possible, but construction more challenging. The detectors are constructed from Mo/Cu bi-layers; this technique enables the transition temperature to be tuned using the proximity effect by choosing the thickness of the normal and superconducting materials. To achieve the required performance, the detectors are operated at a temperature of approximately 120 mK. We describe the results of a basic characterisation of the array, demonstrating that it is fully operational, and give the results of signal to noise measurements.

Magnetic Microcalorimeter (MMC) Gamma Detectors with Ultra-High Energy Resolution

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Friedrich, Stephen

The goal of this LCP is to develop ultra-high resolution gamma detectors based on magnetic microcalorimeters (MMCs) for accurate non-destructive analysis (NDA) of nuclear materials. For highest energy resolution, we will introduce erbium-doped silver (Ag:Er) as a novel sensor material, and implement several geometry and design changes to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The detector sensitivity will be increased by developing arrays of 32 Ag:Er pixels read out by 16 SQUID preamplifiers, and by developing a cryogenic Compton veto to reduce the spectral background. Since best MMC performance requires detector operation at ~10 mK, we will purchase a dilution refrigerator withmore » a base temperature <10 mK and adapt it for MMC operation. The detector performance will be tested with radioactive sources of interest to the safeguards community.« less

Testing a new NIF neutron time-of-flight detector with a bibenzyl scintillator on OMEGA.

PubMed

Glebov, V Yu; Forrest, C; Knauer, J P; Pruyne, A; Romanofsky, M; Sangster, T C; Shoup, M J; Stoeckl, C; Caggiano, J A; Carman, M L; Clancy, T J; Hatarik, R; McNaney, J; Zaitseva, N P

2012-10-01

A new neutron time-of-flight (nTOF) detector with a bibenzyl crystal as a scintillator has been designed and manufactured for the National Ignition Facility (NIF). This detector will replace a nTOF20-Spec detector with an oxygenated xylene scintillator currently operational on the NIF to improve the areal-density measurements. In addition to areal density, the bibenzyl detector will measure the D-D and D-T neutron yield and the ion temperature of indirect- and direct-drive-implosion experiments. The design of the bibenzyl detector and results of tests on the OMEGA Laser System are presented.

High density Schottky barrier IRCCD sensors for SWIR applications at intermediate temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elabd, H.; Villani, T. S.; Tower, J. R.

1982-01-01

Monolithic 32 x 64 and 64 x 1:128 palladium silicide (Pd2Si) interline transfer infrared charge coupled devices (IRCCDs) sensitive in the 1 to 3.5 micron spectral band were developed. This silicon imager exhibits a low response nonuniformity of typically 0.2 to 1.6% rms, and was operated in the temperature range between 40 to 140 K. Spectral response measurements of test Pd2Si p-type Si devices yield quantum efficiencies of 7.9% at 1.25 microns, 5.6% at 1.65 microns 2.2% at 2.22 microns. Improvement in quantum efficiency is expected by optimizing the different structural parameters of the Pd2Si detectors. The spectral response of the Pd2Si detectors fit a modified Fowler emission model. The measured photo-electric barrier height for the Pd2Si detectors is 0.34 eV and the measured quantum efficiency coefficient, C1, is 19%/eV. The dark current level of Pd2Si Schottky barrier focal plane arrays (FPAs) is sufficiently low to enable operation at intermediate temperatures at TV frame rates. Typical dark current level measured at 120 K on the FPA is 2 nA/sq cm. The operating temperature of the Pd2Si FPA is compatible with passive cooler performance. In addition, high density Pd2Si Schottky barrier FPAs are manufactured with high yield and therefore represent an economical approach to short wavelength IR imaging. A Pd2Si Schottky barrier image sensor for push-broom multispectral imaging in the 1.25, 1.65, and 2.22 micron bands is being studied. The sensor will have two line arrays (dual band capability) of 512 detectors each, with 30 micron center-to-center detector spacing. The device will be suitable for chip-to-chip abutment, thus providing the capability to produce large, multiple chip focal planes with contiguous, in-line sensors.

Restoration and Reexamination of Apollo Lunar Dust Detector Data from Original Telemetry Files

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McBride, M. J.; Williams, David R.; Hills, H. Kent

2012-01-01

We are recovering the original telemetry (Figure I) from the Apollo Dust, Thermal, Radiation Environment Monitor (DTREM) experiment, more commonly known as the Dust Detector, and producing full time resolution (54 second) data sets for release through the Planetary Data System (PDS). The primary objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of dust deposition, temperature, and radiation damage on solar cells on the lunar surface. The monitor was a small box consisting of three solar cells and thermistors mounted on the ALSEP (Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package) central station. The Dust Detector was carried on Apollo's 11, 12, 14 and 15. The Apollo 11 DTREM was powered by solar cells and only operated for a few months as planned. The Apollo 12, 14, and 15 detectors operated for 5 to 7 years, returning data every 54 seconds, consisting of voltage outputs from the three solar cells and temperatures measured by the three thermistors. The telemetry was received at ground stations and held on the Apollo Housekeeping (known as "Word 33") tapes. made available to the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) by Yosio Nakamura (University of Texas Institute for Geophysics). We have converted selected parts of the telemetry into uncalibrated and calibrated output voltages and temperatures.

Short-wave infrared barriode detectors using InGaAsSb absorption material lattice matched to GaSb

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Craig, A. P.; Percy, B.; Marshall, A. R. J.

2015-05-18

Short-wave infrared barriode detectors were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. An absorption layer composition of In{sub 0.28}Ga{sub 0.72}As{sub 0.25}Sb{sub 0.75} allowed for lattice matching to GaSb and cut-off wavelengths of 2.9 μm at 250 K and 3.0 μm at room temperature. Arrhenius plots of the dark current density showed diffusion limited dark currents approaching those expected for optimized HgCdTe-based detectors. Specific detectivity figures of around 7×10{sup 10} Jones and 1×10{sup 10} Jones were calculated, for 240 K and room temperature, respectively. Significantly, these devices could support focal plane arrays working at higher operating temperatures.

Actively driven thermal radiation shield

DOEpatents

Madden, Norman W.; Cork, Christopher P.; Becker, John A.; Knapp, David A.

2002-01-01

A thermal radiation shield for cooled portable gamma-ray spectrometers. The thermal radiation shield is located intermediate the vacuum enclosure and detector enclosure, is actively driven, and is useful in reducing the heat load to mechanical cooler and additionally extends the lifetime of the mechanical cooler. The thermal shield is electrically-powered and is particularly useful for portable solid-state gamma-ray detectors or spectrometers that dramatically reduces the cooling power requirements. For example, the operating shield at 260K (40K below room temperature) will decrease the thermal radiation load to the detector by 50%, which makes possible portable battery operation for a mechanically cooled Ge spectrometer.

Ge photocapacitive MIS infrared detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Binari, S. C.; Miller, W. E.; Tsuo, Y. H.; Miller, W. E.

1979-01-01

An undoped Ge photocapacitive detector is reported which has peak normalized detectivities at wavelengh 1.4 microns and chopping frequencies 13-1000 Hz of 9 x 10 to the 12th, 4 x 10 to the 9th cm Hz to the 1/2th/W operating respectively at temperatures 77, 195, and 295 K. The observed temperature, spectral, and frequency response of the signal and noise are explained in terms of the measured space charge and interface state properties of the device.

Photodiodes for ten micrometer laser communication systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, S. C.

1972-01-01

The performance is discussed of 10-micron mercury-cadmiumtelluride and lead-tin-telluride photodiodes in laser heterodyne communication systems. The dependence of detector quantum efficiency, resistance, frequency response, and signal-to-noise ratio on temperature, bias, and local oscillator power are examined. Included in the discussion is an analysis of the feasibility of high temperature operation, and ability of the detector to dissipate power to a heat sink is explored. Some aspects of direct detection response are considered and figures showing flux levels from a blackbody presented.

Design and development of SiGe based near-infrared photodetectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeller, John W.; Puri, Yash R.; Sood, Ashok K.; McMahon, Shane; Efsthadiatis, Harry; Haldar, Pradeep; Dhar, Nibir K.

2014-10-01

Near-infrared (NIR) sensors operating at room temperatures are critical for a variety of commercial and military applications including detecting mortar fire and muzzle flashes. SiGe technology offers a low-cost alternative to conventional IR sensor technologies such as InGaAs, InSb, and HgCdTe for developing NIR micro-sensors that will not require any cooling and can operate with high bandwidths and comparatively low dark currents. Since Ge has a larger thermal expansion coefficient than Si, tensile strain may be incorporated into detector devices during the growth process, enabling an extended operating wavelength range above 1600 nm. SiGe based pin photodetectors have advantages of high stability, low noise, and high responsivity compared to metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) devices. We have developed a process flow and are fabricating SiGe detector devices on 12" (300 mm) silicon wafers in order to take advantage of high throughput, large-area leading-edge silicon based CMOS technology that provides small feature sizes with associated device cost/density scaling advantages. The fabrication of the detector devices is facilitated by a two-step growth process incorporating initial low temperature growth of Ge/SiGe to form a thin strain-relaxed layer, followed by high temperature growth to deposit a thicker absorbing film, and subsequent high temperature anneal. This growth process is designed to effectively reduce dark current and enhance detector performance by reducing the number of defects and threading dislocations which form recombination centers during the growth process. Various characterization techniques have been employed to determine the properties of the epitaxially deposited Ge/SiGe layers, and the corresponding results are discussed.

Development FD-SOI MOSFET Amplifiers for Integrated Read-Out Circuit of Superconducting-Tunnel-Junction Single-Photon-Detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kiuchi, Kenji; et al.

We proposed a new high-resolution single-photon infrared spectrometer for search for radiative decay of cosmic neutrino background (CνB). The superconducting-tunnel-junctions(STJs) are used as a single-photon counting device. Each STJ consists of Nb/Al/Al xO y/Al/Nb layers, and their thicknesses are optimized for the operation temperature at 370 mK cooled by a 3He sorption refrigerator. Our STJs achieved the leak current 250 pA, and the measured data implies that a smaller area STJ fulfills our requirement. FD-SOI MOSFETs are employed to amplify the STJ signal current in order to increase signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). FD-SOI MOSFETs can be operated at cryogenic temperature ofmore » 370 mK, which reduces the noise of the signal amplification system. FD-SOI MOSFET characteristics are measured at cryogenic temperature. The Id-Vgs curve shows a sharper turn on with a higher threshold voltage and the Id-Vds curve shows a nonlinear shape in linear region at cryogenic temperature. Taking into account these effects, FD-SOI MOSFETs are available for read-out circuit of STJ detectors. The bias voltage for STJ detectors is 0.4 mV, and it must be well stabilized to deliver high performance. We proposed an FD-SOI MOSFET-based charge integrated amplifier design as a read-out circuit of STJ detectors. The requirements for an operational amplifier used in the amplifier is estimated using SPICE simulation. The op-amp is required to have a fast response (GBW ≥ 100 MHz), and it must have low power dissipation as compared to the cooling power of refrigerator.« less

Characterization and Evolution of the Swift X-ray Telescope Instrumental Background

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hill, Joanne; Pagani, C.; Morris, D. C.; Racusin, J.; Grupe, D.; Vetere, L.; Stroh, M.; Falcone, A.; Kennea, J.; Burrows, D. N.;

Development of IR imaging at IRnova

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martijn, Henk; Asplund, Carl; Malm, Hedda; Smuk, Sergiy; Höglund, Linda; Gustafsson, Oscar; Hammar, Mattias; Hellström, Staffan

2009-05-01

Historically IRnova has exclusively been a company, focused on manufacturing of QWIP detectors. Nowadays, besides continuous improvements of the performance of QWIP FPAs and development of new formats IRnova is involved in development of QWIP detectors for special applications and has started the development of the next generation infrared detectors, as well. In the light of the development of new formats we validate experimentally theoretical calculations of the response of QWIPs for smaller pixel size. These results allow for the development of high performance megapixel QWIP FPA that exhibit the high uniformity and operability QWIP detectors are known for. QWIP is also being considered for space applications. The requirements on dark current and operating temperature are however much more stringent as compared to the terrestrial applications. We show ways to improve the material quality with as a result a higher detector operating temperature. IRnova is also looking at antimony-based strained superlattice material for the LWIR region together with partners at the IMAGIC centre of excellence. One of the ways to overcome the problem with surface currents is passivating overgrowth. We will report the status and results of overgrowing the detector mesas with AlGa(As)Sb in a MOVPE system. At the same centre of excellence a novel material concept is being developed for LWIR detection. This new material contains a superlattice of vertically aligned and electronically coupled InAs and GaSb quantum dots. Simulations show that it should be possible to have LWIR detection in this material. We will present the current status and report results in this research.

Prototyping of MWIR MEMS-based optical filter combined with HgCdTe detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozak, Dmitry A.; Fernandez, Bautista; Velicu, Silviu; Kubby, Joel

2010-02-01

In the past decades, there have been several attempts to create a tunable optical detector with operation in the infrared. The drive for creating such a filter is its wide range of applications, from passive night vision to biological and chemical sensors. Such a device would combine a tunable optical filter with a wide-range detector. In this work, we propose using a Fabry-Perot interferometer centered in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) spectrum with an HgCdTe detector. Using a MEMS-based interferometer with an integrated Bragg stack will allow in-plane operation over a wide range. Because such devices have a tendency to warp, creating less-than-perfect optical surfaces, the Fabry-Perot interferometer is prototyped using the SOI-MUMPS process to ensure desirable operation. The mechanical design is aimed at optimal optical flatness of the moving membranes and a low operating voltage. The prototype is tested for these requirements. An HgCdTe detector provides greater performance than a pyroelectic detector used in some previous work, allowing for lower noise, greater detection speed and higher sensitivity. Both a custom HgCdTe detector and commercially available pyroelectric detector are tested with commercial optical filter. In previous work, monolithic integration of HgCdTe detectors with optical filters proved to be problematic. Part of this work investigates the best approach to combining these two components, either monolithically in HgCdTe or using a hybrid packaging approach where a silicon MEMS Fabry-Perot filter is bonded at low temperature to a HgCdTe detector.

Layered semiconductor neutron detectors

DOEpatents

Mao, Samuel S; Perry, Dale L

2013-12-10

Room temperature operating solid state hand held neutron detectors integrate one or more relatively thin layers of a high neutron interaction cross-section element or materials with semiconductor detectors. The high neutron interaction cross-section element (e.g., Gd, B or Li) or materials comprising at least one high neutron interaction cross-section element can be in the form of unstructured layers or micro- or nano-structured arrays. Such architecture provides high efficiency neutron detector devices by capturing substantially more carriers produced from high energy .alpha.-particles or .gamma.-photons generated by neutron interaction.

Methods of in vivo radiation measurement

DOEpatents

Huffman, Dennis D.; Hughes, Robert C.; Kelsey, Charles A.; Lane, Richard; Ricco, Antonio J.; Snelling, Jay B.; Zipperian, Thomas E.

1990-01-01

Methods of and apparatus for in vivo radiation measurements relay on a MOSFET dosimeter of high radiation sensitivity with operates in both the passive mode to provide an integrated dose detector and active mode to provide an irradiation rate detector. A compensating circuit with a matched unirradiated MOSFET is provided to operate at a current designed to eliminate temperature dependence of the device. Preferably, the MOSFET is rigidly mounted in the end of a miniature catheter and the catheter is implanted in the patient proximate the radiation source.

Detector Control and Data Acquisition for the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) with a Custom ASIC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Brian S.; Loose, Markus; Alkire, Greg; Joshi, Atul; Kelly, Daniel; Siskind, Eric; Rossetti, Dino; Mah, Jonathan; Cheng, Edward; Miko, Laddawan;

Thales Cryogenics rotary cryocoolers for HOT applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, Jean-Yves; Cauquil, Jean-Marc; Benschop, Tonny; Freche, Sébastien

2012-06-01

Thales Cryogenics has an extensive background in delivering reliable linear and rotary coolers for military, civil and space programs. Recent work carried out at detector level enable to consider a higher operation temperature for the cooled detectors. This has a direct impact on the cooling power required to the cryocooler. In continuation of the work presented last year, Thales cryogenics has studied the operation and optimization of the rotary cryocoolers at high cold regulation temperature. In this paper, the performances of the Thales Cryogenics rotary cryocoolers at elevated cold regulation temperature will be presented. From these results, some trade-offs can be made to combine correct operation of the cryocooler on all the ambient operational range and maximum efficiency of the cryocooler. These trade-offs and the impact on MTTF of elevated cold regulation temperature will be presented and discussed. In correlation with the increase of the cold operation temperature, the cryocooler input power is significantly decreased. As a consequence, the cooler drive electronics own consumption becomes relatively important and must be reduced in order to minimize global input power to the cooling function (cryocooler and cooler drive electronics). Thales Cryogenics has developed a new drive electronics optimized for low input power requirements. In parallel, improvements on RM1 and RM2 cryocoolers have been defined and implemented. The main impacts on performances of these new designs will be presented. Thales cryogenics is now able to propose an efficient cooling function for application requiring a high cold regulation temperature including a range of tuned rotary coolers.

Temperature profile detector

DOEpatents

Tokarz, Richard D.

1983-01-01

A temperature profile detector shown as a tubular enclosure surrounding an elongated electrical conductor having a plurality of meltable conductive segments surrounding it. Duplicative meltable segments are spaced apart from one another along the length of the enclosure. Electrical insulators surround these elements to confine molten material from the segments in bridging contact between the conductor and a second electrical conductor, which might be the confining tube. The location and rate of growth of the resulting short circuits between the two conductors can be monitored by measuring changes in electrical resistance between terminals at both ends of the two conductors. Additional conductors and separate sets of meltable segments operational at differing temperatures can be monitored simultaneously for measuring different temperature profiles.

Thermal imager sources of non-uniformities: modeling of static and dynamic contributions during operations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sozzi, B.; Olivieri, M.; Mariani, P.; Giunti, C.; Zatti, S.; Porta, A.

2014-05-01

Due to the fast-growing of cooled detector sensitivity in the last years, on the image 10-20 mK temperature difference between adjacent objects can theoretically be discerned if the calibration algorithm (NUC) is capable to take into account and compensate every spatial noise source. To predict how the NUC algorithm is strong in all working condition, the modeling of the flux impinging on the detector becomes a challenge to control and improve the quality of a properly calibrated image in all scene/ambient conditions including every source of spurious signal. In literature there are just available papers dealing with NU caused by pixel-to-pixel differences of detector parameters and by the difference between the reflection of the detector cold part and the housing at the operative temperature. These models don't explain the effects on the NUC results due to vignetting, dynamic sources out and inside the FOV, reflected contributions from hot spots inside the housing (for example thermal reference far of the optical path). We propose a mathematical model in which: 1) detector and system (opto-mechanical configuration and scene) are considered separated and represented by two independent transfer functions 2) on every pixel of the array the amount of photonic signal coming from different spurious sources are considered to evaluate the effect on residual spatial noise due to dynamic operative conditions. This article also contains simulation results showing how this model can be used to predict the amount of spatial noise.

Status of the isophot detector development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolf, J.; Lemke, D.; Burgdorf, M.; Groezinger, U.; Hajduk, CH.

1989-01-01

ISOPHOT is one of the four focal plane experiments of the European Space Agency's Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). Scheduled for a 1993 launch, it will operate extrinsic silicon and germanium photoconductors at low temperature and low background during the longer than 18 month mission. These detectors cover the wavelength range from 2.5 to 200 microns and are used as single elements and in arrays. A cryogenic preamplifier was developed to read out a total number of 223 detector pixels.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kalemci, Emrah

This work summarizes the efforts in Turkey to build a laboratory capable of building and testing high energy astrophysics detectors that work in space. The EC FP6 ASTRONS project contributed strongly to these efforts, and as a result a fully operational laboratory at Sabanci University have been developed. In this laboratory we test and develop Si and CdZnTe based room temperature semiconductor strip detectors and develop detector and electronics system to be used as a payload on potential small Turkish satellites.

Performance of room temperature mercuric iodide /HgI2/ detectors in the ultralow-energy X-ray region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dabrowski, A. J.; Barton, J. B.; Huth, G. C.; Whited, R.; Ortale, C.; Economou, T. E.; Turkevich, A. L.; Iwanczyk, J. S.

1981-01-01

Experiments have been done to study the performance of mercuric iodide (HgI2) detectors in the ultralow-energy X-ray region. Energy resolution values of 245 eV (FWHM) for the Mg K-alpha X-ray line at 1.25 keV and 225 eV (FWHM) for the electronic noise linewidth have been obtained for an HgI2 detector with painted carbon contacts using a pulsed-light feedback preamplifier; the whole system was operated at room temperature. The resolution values in the ultralow-energy region are still limited by electronic noise of the system. In an attempt to minimize X-ray attenuation in the front contact, detectors were prepared with thin evaporated Pd contacts. These detectors show a pronounced low-energy tailing of the photopeak below a few keV, in contrast to the spectra obtained by detectors with carbon contact. An attempt has been made to explain the tailing effect starting with models wich have been proposed to describe similar effects in Ge detectors.

The HAWC and SAFIRE Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tuttle, Jim; Shirron, Peter; DiPirro, Michael; Jackson, Michael; Behr, Jason; Kunes, Evan; Hait, Tom; Krebs, Carolyn (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The High-Resolution Airborne Wide-band Camera (HAWC) and Submillimeter and Far Infrared Experiment (SAFIRE) are far-infrared experiments which will fly on the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) aircraft. HAWC's detectors will operate at 0.2 Kelvin, while those of SAFIRE will be at 0.1 Kelvin. Each instrument will include an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) to cool its detector stage from the liquid helium bath temperature (HAWC's at 4.2 Kelvin and SAFIRE's pumped to about 1.3 Kelvin) to its operating temperature. Except for the magnets used to achieve the cooling and a slight difference in the heat switch design, the two ADRs are nearly identical. We describe the ADR design and present the results of performance testing.

Further developments of 8μm pitch MCT pixels at Finmeccanica (formerly Selex ES)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeckells, David; McEwen, R. Kennedy; Bains, Sudesh; Herbert, Martin

2016-05-01

Finmeccanica (formerly Selex ES) introduced high performance mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) infrared detectors on an 8μm pitch in 2015 with their SuperHawk device which builds on standard production processes already used for the manufacture of 24μm, 20μm, 16μm and 12μm pitch devices. The flexibility of the proprietary Finmeccanica designed diode structure, used in conjunction with the mature production Metal Organic Vapour Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE) MCT growth process at Finmeccanica, enables fine control of diode electrical and optical structure including free choice of cut-off wavelength. The mesa pixel design inherently provides major system performance benefits by reducing blurring mechanisms, including optical scattering, inter-pixel cross-talk and carrier diffusion, to negligible levels. The SuperHawk detector has demonstrated unrivalled MTF and NETD performance, even when operating at temperatures in excess of 120K. The SuperHawk Integrated Detector Cooler Assembly (IDCA) benefits from recent dewar developments at Finmeccanica, which have improved thermal efficiencies while maintaining mechanical integrity over a wide range of applications, enabling use of smaller cryo-coolers to reduce system SWAP-C. Performance and qualification results are presented together with example imagery. SuperHawk provides an easy high resolution upgrade for systems currently based on standard definition 16μm and 15μm infrared detector formats. The paper also addresses further work to increase the operating temperature of the established 8μm process, exploiting High Operating Temperature (HOT) MCT at Finmeccanica, as well as options for LWIR variants of the SuperHawk device.

High-Operating-Temperature Barrier Infrared Detector with Tailorable Cutoff Wavelength

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ting, David Z.; Hill, Cory, J.; Soibel, Alexander; Bandara, Sumith V.; Gunapala, Sarath D.

2011-01-01

A mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) barrier photodetector is capable of operating at higher temperature than the prevailing MWIR detectors based on InSb. The standard high-operating-temperature barrier infrared detector (HOT-BIRD) is made with an InAsSb infrared absorber that is lattice-matched to a GaSb substrate, and has a cutoff wavelength of approximately 4 microns. To increase the versatility and utility of the HOT-BIRD, it is implemented with IR absorber materials with customizable cutoff wavelengths. The HOT-BIRD can be built with the quaternary alloy GaInAsSb as the absorber, GaAlSbAs as the barrier, on a lattice-matching GaSb substrate. The cutoff wavelength of the GaInAsSb can be tailored by adjusting the alloy composition. To build a HOT-BIRD requires a matching pair of absorber and barrier materials with the following properties: (1) their valence band edges must be approximately the same to allow unimpeded hole flow, while their conduction band edges should have a large difference to form an electron barrier; and (2) the absorber and the barrier must be respectively lattice-matched and closely lattice-matched to the substrate to ensure high material quality and low defect density. To make a HOT-BIRD with cutoff wavelength shorter than 4 microns, a GaInAsSb quaternary alloy was used as the absorber, and a matching GaAlSbAs quaternary alloy as the barrier. By changing the alloy composition, the band gap of the quaternary alloy absorber can be continuously adjusted with cutoff wavelength ranging from 4 microns down to the short wavelength infrared (SWIR). By carefully choosing the alloy composition of the barrier, a HOT-BIRD structure can be formed. With this method, a HOT-BIRD can be made with continuously tailorable cutoff wavelengths from 4 microns down to the SWIR. The HOT-BIRD detector technology is suitable for making very-large-format MWIR/SWIR focal plane arrays that can be operated by passive cooling from low Earth orbit. High-operating temperature infrared with reduced cooling requirement would benefit space missions in reduction of size, weight, and power, and an increase in mission lifetime.

Timing resolution and time walk in SLiK SPAD: measurement and optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fong, Bernicy S.; Davies, Murray; Deschamps, Pierre

2017-08-01

Timing resolution (or timing jitter) and time walk are separate parameters associated with a detector's response time. Studies have been done mostly on the time resolution of various single photon detectors [1]. As the designer and manufacturer of the ultra-low noise (ƙ-factor) silicon avalanche photodiode the SLiK SPAD, which is used in many single photon counting applications, we often get inquiries from customers to better understand how this detector behaves under different operating conditions. Hence, here we will be focusing on the study of these time related parameters specifically for the SLiK SPAD, as a way to provide the most direct information for users of this detector to help with its use more efficiently and effectively. We will be providing the study data on how these parameters can be affected by temperature (both intrinsic to the detector chip and environmental input based on operating conditions), operating voltage, photon wavelength, as well as light spot size. How these parameters can be optimized and the trade-offs from optimization from the desired performance will be presented.

Simulation of solidification in a Bridgman cell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dakhoul, Y. M.; Farmer, R. C.

1984-01-01

Bridgman-type crystal growth techniques are attractive methods for producing homogeneous, high-quality infrared detector and junction device materials. However, crystal imperfections and interface shapes still must be controlled through modification of the temperature and concentration gradients created during solidification. The objective of this investigation was to study the temperature fields generated by various cell and heatpipe configurations and operating conditions. Continuum's numerical model of the temperature, species concentrations, and velocity fields was used to describe the thermal characteristics of Bridgman cell operation.

Investigation of effects of temperature, salinity, and electrode design on the performance of an electrochemical coliform detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grana, D. C.

1979-01-01

The results of two research programs to determine the optimum detector design for measuring fecal coliforms in saline waters for operational systems are presented. One program was concerned with the effects of temperature and salinity on endpoint response time, and the other, the interaction between electrode configurations and the test organisms. Test results show that the endpoint response time is related to salinity and seawater temperature; however, these results can be minimized by the correct choice of growth media. Electrode configurations were developed from stainless steel, Parlodion-coated stainless steel, and platinum that circumvented problems associated with the commercial redox electrodes.

Implementation of a 4x8 NIR and CCD Mosaic Focal Plane Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jelinsky, Patrick; Bebek, C. J.; Besuner, R. W.; Haller, G. M.; Harris, S. E.; Hart, P. A.; Heetderks, H. D.; Levi, M. E.; Maldonado, S. E.; Roe, N. A.; Roodman, A. J.; Sapozhnikov, L.

2011-01-01

Mission concepts for NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), ESA's EUCLID mission, as well as for ground based observations, have requirements for large mosaic focal planes to image visible and near infrared (NIR) wavelengths. We have developed detectors, readout electronics and focal plane design techniques that can be used to create very large scalable focal plane mosaic cameras. In our technology, CCDs and HgCdTe detectors can be intermingled on a single, silicon carbide (SiC) cold plate. This enables optimized, wideband observing strategies. The CCDs, developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, are fully-depleted, p-channel devices that are backside illuminated capable of operating at temperatures as low as 110K and have been optimized for the weak lensing dark energy technique. The NIR detectors are 1.7µm and 2.0µm wavelength cutoff H2RG® HgCdTe, manufactured by Teledyne Imaging Sensors under contract to LBL. Both the CCDs and NIR detectors are packaged on 4-side abuttable SiC pedestals with a common mounting footprint supporting a 44.16mm mosaic pitch and are coplanar. Both types of detectors have direct-attached, readout electronics that convert the detector signal directly to serial, digital data streams and allow a flexible, low cost data acquisition strategy, despite the large data volume. A mosaic of these detectors can be operated at a common temperature that achieves the required dark current and read noise performance in both types of detectors necessary for dark energy observations. We report here the design and integration for a focal plane designed to accommodate a 4x8 heterogeneous array of CCDs and HgCdTe detectors. Our current implementation contains over 1/4-billion pixels.

Synthesis, purification and bulk crystal growth of radiation detector materials using melt growth technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surabhi, Raja Rahul Reddy

In the past decade, there has been new and increased usage of radiation-detection technologies for applications in homeland security, non-proliferation, and national defense. Most of these applications require a portable device with high gamma-ray energy resolution and detection efficiency, compact size, room-temperature operation, and low cost. Consequently, there is a renewed understanding of the material limitations for these technologies and a great demand to develop next-generation radiation-detection materials that can operate at room temperature. Mercuric iodide (HgI2), Lead iodide (PbI2), and CdZnTe (CZT) are the current leading candidates for radiation detector applications. This is because of their high atomic number and large band gap that makes them particularly well suited for fabrication of high resolution and high efficiency compact devices. PbI2 is a promising material for room temperature nuclear radiation detectors, characterized by its wide band gap (EG=2.32eV) and high-density (rho=6.2g/cm3). It has been reported that PbI2 crystal detectors are able to detect gamma-ray in the range of 1KeV-1MeV, with good energy resolution. However, PbI 2 detectors have not been studied in detail because of non-availability of high quality single crystals. This study presents the synthesis, purification, growth and characterization of PbI2 single crystals grown. In this research, solid-state synthesis technique has been utilized for obtaining PbI2 as a starting material. For the first time, a unique low-temperature purification technique has been developed to obtain high-purity starting material. The crystals were grown using 2-zone Bridgman-Stockbarger (B.S) technique wherein growth rate and temperature gradient at the solid-liquid interface were optimized. Single crystals of PbI2 were successfully grown in quartz glass ampoule under different growth conditions. Material purity was determined by measuring the elemental concentration using the Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). ICP-OES is utilized for estimating impurities present in the low-temperature purified material, zone refined material and melt grown PbI2 crystals. The zone-refined material contains no traceable amounts of impurities, whereas the low-temperature purified material and melt grown PbI2 crystals show very low concentration of K (potassium) and Na (sodium) impurities. Crystal characterization has been performed for determining optical properties by UV-VIS spectroscopy. The energy band gap (EG) is an important parameter for materials used for room temperature gamma-ray detector applications. The absorption peak at 530nm is a characteristic of PbI2 and corresponds to the onset of the transitions from the valence band to the exciton level. From this absorption spectrum the calculated indirect band gap of PbI 2 was 2.33+/-0.025 eV at room temperature. For measuring the electrical properties (Dielectric and I-V characteristics) of the crystal, Ag (silver) contacts are applied to both sides of the sample. Dielectric analysis on melt grown PbI2 showed that space charge polarization was dominant at lower frequencies but stabilizes at higher frequencies over different operating temperatures. On the other hand, dielectric analysis for zone-refined material space charge polarization was constant over the operating range resulting in fewer lattice defects. Therefore the low temperature purified material followed by zone-refined purification provides detector grade material with fewer lattice defects. The measured electrical resistivity for melt grown PbI2 and zone-refined material are 3.185 x 10 10 O-cm and 0.754 x 109 O-cm at room temperature along (001) plane respectively.

Exploring the performance of thin-film superconducting multilayers as kinetic inductance detectors for low-frequency detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Songyuan; Goldie, D. J.; Withington, S.; Thomas, C. N.

2018-01-01

We have solved numerically the diffusive Usadel equations that describe the spatially varying superconducting proximity effect in Ti-Al thin-film bi- and trilayers with thickness values that are suitable for kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) to operate as photon detectors with detection thresholds in the frequency range of 50-90 GHz. Using Nam’s extension of the Mattis-Bardeen calculation of the superconductor complex conductivity, we show how to calculate the surface impedance for the spatially varying case, and hence the surface impedance quality factor. In addition, we calculate energy-and spatially-averaged quasiparticle lifetimes at temperatures well-below the transition temperature and compare to calculation in Al. Our results for the pair-breaking threshold demonstrate differences between bilayers and trilayers with the same total film thicknesses. We also predict high quality factors and long multilayer-averaged quasiparticle recombination times compared to thin-film Al. Our calculations give a route for designing KIDs to operate in this scientifically-important frequency regime.

Uncooled radiometric camera performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, Bill; Hoelter, T.

1998-07-01

Thermal imaging equipment utilizing microbolometer detectors operating at room temperature has found widespread acceptance in both military and commercial applications. Uncooled camera products are becoming effective solutions to applications currently using traditional, photonic infrared sensors. The reduced power consumption and decreased mechanical complexity offered by uncooled cameras have realized highly reliable, low-cost, hand-held instruments. Initially these instruments displayed only relative temperature differences which limited their usefulness in applications such as Thermography. Radiometrically calibrated microbolometer instruments are now available. The ExplorIR Thermography camera leverages the technology developed for Raytheon Systems Company's first production microbolometer imaging camera, the Sentinel. The ExplorIR camera has a demonstrated temperature measurement accuracy of 4 degrees Celsius or 4% of the measured value (whichever is greater) over scene temperatures ranges of minus 20 degrees Celsius to 300 degrees Celsius (minus 20 degrees Celsius to 900 degrees Celsius for extended range models) and camera environmental temperatures of minus 10 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius. Direct temperature measurement with high resolution video imaging creates some unique challenges when using uncooled detectors. A temperature controlled, field-of-view limiting aperture (cold shield) is not typically included in the small volume dewars used for uncooled detector packages. The lack of a field-of-view shield allows a significant amount of extraneous radiation from the dewar walls and lens body to affect the sensor operation. In addition, the transmission of the Germanium lens elements is a function of ambient temperature. The ExplorIR camera design compensates for these environmental effects while maintaining the accuracy and dynamic range required by today's predictive maintenance and condition monitoring markets.

Effect of Low Temperature on a 4 W/60 K Pulse-Tube Cryocooler for Cooling HgCdTe Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ankuo; Liu, Shaoshuai; Wu, Yinong

2018-04-01

Temperature is an extremely important parameter for the material of the space-borne infrared detector. To cool an HgCdTe-infrared detector, a Stirling-type pulse-tube cryocooler (PTC) has been developed based on a great deal of numerical simulations, which are performed to investigate the thermodynamic behaviors of the PTC. The effects of different low temperatures are presented to analyze different energy flows, losses, phase shifts, and impedance matching of the PTC at a temperature range of 40-120 K, where woven wire screens are used. Finally, a high-efficiency coaxial PTC has been designed, built, and tested, operating around 60 K after a number of theoretical and experimental studies. The PTC can offer a no-load refrigeration temperature of 40 K with an input electric power of 150 W, and a cooling power of 4 W at 60 K is obtained with Carnot efficiency of 12%. In addition, a comparative study of simulation and experiment has been carried out, and some studies on reject temperatures have been presented for a thorough understanding of the PTC system.

Enriched Boron-Doped Amorphous Selenium Based Position-Sensitive Solid-State Thermal Neutron Detector for MPACT Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mandal, Krishna

High-efficiency thermal neutron detectors with compact size, low power-rating and high spatial, temporal and energy resolution are essential to execute non-proliferation and safeguard protocols. The demands of such detector are not fully covered by the current detection system such as gas proportional counters or scintillator-photomultiplier tube combinations, which are limited by their detection efficiency, stability of response, speed of operation, and physical size. Furthermore, world-wide shortage of 3He gas, required for widely used gas detection method, has further prompted to design an alternative system. Therefore, a solid-state neutron detection system without the requirement of 3He will be very desirable. Tomore » address the above technology gap, we had proposed to develop new room temperature solidstate thermal neutron detectors based on enriched boron ( 10B) and enriched lithium ( 6Li) doped amorphous Se (As- 0.52%, Cl 5 ppm) semiconductor for MPACT applications. The proposed alloy materials have been identified for its many favorable characteristics - a wide bandgap (~2.2 eV at 300 K) for room temperature operation, high glass transition temperature (t g ~ 85°C), a high thermal neutron cross-section (for boron ~ 3840 barns, for lithium ~ 940 barns, 1 barn = 10 -24 cm 2), low effective atomic number of Se for small gamma ray sensitivity, and high radiation tolerance due to its amorphous structure.« less

Auger compositional depth profiling of the metal contact-TlBr interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, A. J.; Swanberg, E. L.; Voss, L. F.; Graff, R. T.; Conway, A. M.; Nikolic, R. J.; Payne, S. A.; Kim, H.; Cirignano, L.; Shah, K.

2015-08-01

Degradation of room temperature operation of TlBr radiation detectors with time is thought to be due to electromigration of Tl and Br vacancies within the crystal as well as the metal contacts migrating into the TlBr crystal itself due to electrochemical reactions at the metal/TlBr interface. Scanning Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) in combination with sputter depth profiling was used to investigate the metal contact surface/interfacial structure on TlBr devices. Device-grade TlBr was polished and subjected to a 32% HCl etch to remove surface damage and create a TlBr1-xClx surface layer prior to metal contact deposition. Auger compositional depth profiling results reveal non-equilibrium interfacial diffusion after device operation in both air and N2 at ambient temperature. These results improve our understanding of contact/device degradation versus operating environment for further enhancing radiation detector performance.

Xenon gamma-ray detector for ecological applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novikov, Alexander S.; Ulin, Sergey E.; Chernysheva, Irina V.; Dmitrenko, Valery V.; Grachev, Victor M.; Petrenko, Denis V.; Shustov, Alexander E.; Uteshev, Ziyaetdin M.; Vlasik, Konstantin F.

2015-01-01

A description of the xenon detector (XD) for ecological applications is presented. The detector provides high energy resolution and is able to operate under extreme environmental conditions (wide temperature range and unfavorable acoustic action). Resistance to acoustic noise as well as improvement in energy resolution has been achieved by means of real-time digital pulse processing. Another important XD feature is the ionization chamber's thin wall with composite housing, which significantly decreases the mass of the device and expands its energy range, especially at low energies.

Vibration Mitigation for a Cryogen-Free Dilution Refrigerator for the AMoRE-Pilot Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, C.; Jo, H. S.; Kang, C. S.; Kim, G. B.; Kim, I.; Kim, Y. H.; Lee, H. J.; So, J. H.

2018-06-01

The Advanced Mo-based Rare process Experiment utilizes a cryogen-free dilution refrigerator to operate its low-temperature detectors. Mechanical vibration originating from its pulse tube refrigerator can affect the detector performance. A mechanical filter system has been installed between the 4K and still plates with eddy current dampers in addition to a spring-loaded damping system previously installed below the mixing chamber plate of the cryostat. The filters significantly mitigated vibrations and improved the detector signals.

INAS hole-immobilized doping superlattice long-wave-infrared detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maserjian, Joseph (Inventor)

1992-01-01

An approach to long-wave-infrared (LWIR) technology is discussed. The approach is based on molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth of hole immobilized doping superlattices in narrow band gap 3-5 semiconductors, specifically, InAs and InSb. Such superlattices are incorporated into detector structures suitable for focal plane arrays. An LWIR detector that has high detectivity performance to wavelengths of about 16 microns at operating temperatures of 65K, where long-duration space refrigeration is plausible, is presented.

An investigation of the operating characteristics of two PTW diamond detectors in photon and electron beams.

PubMed

De Angelis, C; Onori, S; Pacilio, M; Cirrone, G A P; Cuttone, G; Raffaele, L; Bucciolini, M; Mazzocchi, S

2002-02-01

The dosimetric properties of two PTW Riga diamond detectors type 60003 were studied in high-energy photon and electron therapy beam. Properties under study were current-voltage characteristic, polarization effect, time stability of response, dose response, dose-rate dependence, temperature stability, and beam quality dependence of the sensitivity factor. Differences were shown between the two detectors for most of the previous properties. Also, the observed behavior was, to some extent, different from what was reported in the PTW technical specifications. The necessity to characterize each diamond detector individually was addressed.

Frequency multiplexed superconducting quantum interference device readout of large bolometer arrays for cosmic microwave background measurements.

PubMed

Dobbs, M A; Lueker, M; Aird, K A; Bender, A N; Benson, B A; Bleem, L E; Carlstrom, J E; Chang, C L; Cho, H-M; Clarke, J; Crawford, T M; Crites, A T; Flanigan, D I; de Haan, T; George, E M; Halverson, N W; Holzapfel, W L; Hrubes, J D; Johnson, B R; Joseph, J; Keisler, R; Kennedy, J; Kermish, Z; Lanting, T M; Lee, A T; Leitch, E M; Luong-Van, D; McMahon, J J; Mehl, J; Meyer, S S; Montroy, T E; Padin, S; Plagge, T; Pryke, C; Richards, P L; Ruhl, J E; Schaffer, K K; Schwan, D; Shirokoff, E; Spieler, H G; Staniszewski, Z; Stark, A A; Vanderlinde, K; Vieira, J D; Vu, C; Westbrook, B; Williamson, R

2012-07-01

A technological milestone for experiments employing transition edge sensor bolometers operating at sub-Kelvin temperature is the deployment of detector arrays with 100s-1000s of bolometers. One key technology for such arrays is readout multiplexing: the ability to read out many sensors simultaneously on the same set of wires. This paper describes a frequency-domain multiplexed readout system which has been developed for and deployed on the APEX-SZ and South Pole Telescope millimeter wavelength receivers. In this system, the detector array is divided into modules of seven detectors, and each bolometer within the module is biased with a unique ∼MHz sinusoidal carrier such that the individual bolometer signals are well separated in frequency space. The currents from all bolometers in a module are summed together and pre-amplified with superconducting quantum interference devices operating at 4 K. Room temperature electronics demodulate the carriers to recover the bolometer signals, which are digitized separately and stored to disk. This readout system contributes little noise relative to the detectors themselves, is remarkably insensitive to unwanted microphonic excitations, and provides a technology pathway to multiplexing larger numbers of sensors.

Comparison between Silicon-Carbide and diamond for fast neutron detection at room temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Obraztsova, O.; Ottaviani, L.; Klix, A.; Döring, T.; Palais, O.; Lyoussi, A.

2018-01-01

Neutron radiation detector for nuclear reactor applications plays an important role in getting information about the actual neutron yield and reactor environment. Such detector must be able to operate at high temperature (up to 600° C) and high neutron flux levels. It is worth nothing that a detector for industrial environment applications must have fast and stable response over considerable long period of use as well as high energy resolution. Silicon Carbide is one of the most attractive materials for neutron detection. Thanks to its outstanding properties, such as high displacement threshold energy (20-35 eV), wide band gap energy (3.27 eV) and high thermal conductivity (4.9 W/cm·K), SiC can operate in harsh environment (high temperature, high pressure and high radiation level) without additional cooling system. Our previous analyses reveal that SiC detectors, under irradiation and at elevated temperature, respond to neutrons showing consistent counting rates as function of external reverse bias voltages and radiation intensity. The counting-rate of the thermal neutron-induced peak increases with the area of the detector, and appears to be linear with respect to the reactor power. Diamond is another semi-conductor considered as one of most promising materials for radiation detection. Diamond possesses several advantages in comparison to other semiconductors such as a wider band gap (5.5 eV), higher threshold displacement energy (40-50 eV) and thermal conductivity (22 W/cm·K), which leads to low leakage current values and make it more radiation resistant that its competitors. A comparison is proposed between these two semiconductors for the ability and efficiency to detect fast neutrons. For this purpose the deuterium-tritium neutron generator of Technical University of Dresden with 14 MeV neutron output of 1010 n·s-1 is used. In the present work, we interpret the first measurements and results with both 4H-SiC and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond detectors irradiated with 14 MeV neutrons at room temperature.

Section 1: Interfacial reactions and grain growth in ferroelectric SrBi{sub 2}Ta{sub 2}O (SBT) thin films on Si substrates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dickerson, B.D.; Zhang, X.; Desu, S.B.

1997-04-01

Much of the cost of traditional infrared cameras based on narrow-bandgap photoelectric semiconductors comes from the cryogenic cooling systems required to achieve high detectivity. Detectivity is inversely proportional to noise. Generation-recombination noise in photoelectric detectors increases roughly exponentially with temperature, but thermal noise in photoelectric detectors increases only linearly with temperature. Therefore `thermal detectors perform far better at room temperature than 8-14 {mu}m photon detectors.` Although potentially more affordable, uncooled pyroelectric cameras are less sensitive than cryogenic photoelectric cameras. One way to improve the sensitivity to cost ratio is to deposit ferroelectric pixels with good electrical properties directly on mass-produced,more » image-processing chips. `Good` properties include a strong temperature dependence of the remanent polarization, P{sub r}, or the relative dielectric constant, {epsilon}{sub r}, for sensitive operation in pyroelectric or dielectric mode, respectively, below or above the Curie temperature, which is 320 C for SBT. When incident infrared radiation is chopped, small oscillations in pixel temperature produce pyroelectric or dielectric alternating currents. The sensitivity of ferroelectric thermal detectors depends strongly on pixel microstructure, since P{sub r} and {epsilon}{sub r} increase with grain size during annealing. To manufacture SBT pixels on Si chips, acceptable SBT grain growth must be achieved at the lowest possible oxygen annealing temperature, to avoid damaging the Si chip below. Therefore current technical progress describes how grain size, reaction layer thickness, and electrical properties develop during the annealing of SBT pixels deposited on Si.« less

Methods of and apparatus for radiation measurement, and specifically for in vivo radiation measurement

DOEpatents

Huffman, D.D.; Hughes, R.C.; Kelsey, C.A.; Lane, R.; Ricco, A.J.; Snelling, J.B.; Zipperian, T.E.

1986-08-29

Methods of and apparatus for in vivo radiation measurements rely on a MOSFET dosimeter of high radiation sensitivity which operates in both the passive mode to provide an integrated dose detector and active mode to provide an irradiation rate detector. A compensating circuit with a matched unirradiated MOSFET is provided to operate at a current designed to eliminate temperature dependence of the device. Preferably, the MOSFET is rigidly mounted in the end of a miniature catheter and the catheter is implanted in the patient proximate the radiation source.

Cryogenic readout for multiple VUV4 Multi-Pixel Photon Counters in liquid xenon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Giovanni, A.

2018-03-01

This work concerned the preliminary tests and characterization of a cryogenic preamplifier board for an array made of 16 S13370-3050CN (VUV4 family) Multi-Pixel Photon Counters manufactured by Hamamatsu and operated at liquid xenon temperature. The proposed prototype is based on the use of the Analog Devices AD8011 current feedback operational amplifier. The detector allows for single photon detection, making this device a promising choice for the future generation of neutrino and dark matter detectors based on liquid xenon targets.

K-band single-chip electron spin resonance detector.

PubMed

Anders, Jens; Angerhofer, Alexander; Boero, Giovanni

2012-04-01

We report on the design, fabrication, and characterization of an integrated detector for electron spin resonance spectroscopy operating at 27 GHz. The microsystem, consisting of an LC-oscillator and a frequency division module, is integrated onto a single silicon chip using a conventional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology. The achieved room temperature spin sensitivity is about 10(8)spins/G Hz(1/2), with a sensitive volume of about (100 μm)(3). Operation at 77K is also demonstrated. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An efficient, movable single-particle detector for use in cryogenic ultra-high vacuum environments.

PubMed

Spruck, Kaija; Becker, Arno; Fellenberger, Florian; Grieser, Manfred; von Hahn, Robert; Klinkhamer, Vincent; Novotný, Oldřich; Schippers, Stefan; Vogel, Stephen; Wolf, Andreas; Krantz, Claude

2015-02-01

A compact, highly efficient single-particle counting detector for ions of keV/u kinetic energy, movable by a long-stroke mechanical translation stage, has been developed at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik (Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, MPIK). Both, detector and translation mechanics, can operate at ambient temperatures down to ∼10 K and consist fully of ultra-high vacuum compatible, high-temperature bakeable, and non-magnetic materials. The set-up is designed to meet the technical demands of MPIK's Cryogenic Storage Ring. We present a series of functional tests that demonstrate full suitability for this application and characterise the set-up with regard to its particle detection efficiency.

Gallium arsenide quantum well-based far infrared array radiometric imager

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Forrest, Kathrine A.; Jhabvala, Murzy D.

1991-01-01

We have built an array-based camera (FIRARI) for thermal imaging (lambda = 8 to 12 microns). FIRARI uses a square format 128 by 128 element array of aluminum gallium arsenide quantum well detectors that are indium bump bonded to a high capacity silicon multiplexer. The quantum well detectors offer good responsivity along with high response and noise uniformity, resulting in excellent thermal images without compensation for variation in pixel response. A noise equivalent temperature difference of 0.02 K at a scene temperature of 290 K was achieved with the array operating at 60 K. FIRARI demonstrated that AlGaAS quantum well detector technology can provide large format arrays with performance superior to mercury cadmium telluride at far less cost.

Detector with internal gain for short-wave infrared ranging applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fathipour, Vala; Mohseni, Hooman

2017-09-01