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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

High resolution decoding of Multi-Anode Microchannel Array detectors

The Multi-Anode Microchannel Array (MAMA) is a photon counting detector which utilizes a photocathode for photon to electron conversion, a microchannel plate (MCP) for signal amplification and a proximity focused anode array for position sensitivity. The detector electronics decode the position of an event through coincidence discrimination. The decoding algorithm which associates a given event with the appropriate pixel is determined by the geometry of the array. A new algorithm incorporated into a CMOS Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) decoder which improves the pixel spatial resolution is described. The new algorithm does not degrade the detector throughput and does not require any modifications to the detector tube. The standard MAMA detector has a pixel size of 25 x 25 square microns, but with the new decoder circuit the pixel size is reduced to 12.5 x 12.5 square microns. We have built the first set of decode electronics utilizing the new ASIC chips and report here on the first imaging tests of this system.

Kasle, David B.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Fast, High-Precision Readout Circuit for Detector Arrays

The GEO-CAPE mission described in NASA's Earth Science and Applications Decadal Survey requires high spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution measurements to monitor and characterize the rapidly changing chemistry of the troposphere over North and South Americas. High-frame-rate focal plane arrays (FPAs) with many pixels are needed to enable such measurements. A high-throughput digital detector readout integrated circuit (ROIC) that meets the GEO-CAPE FPA needs has been developed, fabricated, and tested. The ROIC is based on an innovative charge integrating, fast, high-precision analog-to-digital circuit that is built into each pixel. The 128×128-pixel ROIC digitizes all 16,384 pixels simultaneously at frame rates up to 16 kHz to provide a completely digital output on a single integrated circuit at an unprecedented rate of 262 million pixels per second. The approach eliminates the need for off focal plane electronics, greatly reducing volume, mass, and power compared to conventional FPA implementations. A focal plane based on this ROIC will require less than 2 W of power on a 1×1-cm integrated circuit. The ROIC is fabricated of silicon using CMOS technology. It is designed to be indium bump bonded to a variety of detector materials including silicon PIN diodes, indium antimonide (InSb), indium gallium arsenide (In- GaAs), and mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) detector arrays to provide coverage over a broad spectral range in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet spectral ranges.

Rider, David M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Novel Si(1-x)Ge(x)/Si heterojunction internal photoemission long wavelength infrared detectors

There is a major need for long-wavelength-infrared (LWIR) detector arrays in the range of 8 to 16 microns which operate with close-cycle cryocoolers above 65 K. In addition, it would be very attractive to have Si-based infrared (IR) detectors that can be easily integrated with Si readout circuitry and have good pixel-to-pixel uniformity, which is critical for focal plane array (FPA) applications. Here, researchers report a novel Si(1-x)Ge(x)/Si heterojunction internal photoemission (HIP) detector approach with a tailorable long wavelength infrared cutoff wavelength, based on internal photoemission over the Si(1-x)Ge(x)/Si heterojunction. The HIP detectors were grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), which allows one to optimize the device structure with precise control of doping profiles, layer thickness and composition. The feasibility of a novel Si(1-x)Ge(x)/Si HIP detector has been demonstrated with tailorable cutoff wavelength in the LWIR region. Photoresponse at wavelengths 2 to 10 microns are obtained with quantum efficiency (QE) above approx. 1 percent in these non-optimized device structures. It should be possible to significantly improve the QE of the HIP detectors by optimizing the thickness, composition, and doping concentration of the Si(1-x)Ge(x) layers and by configuring the detector for maximum absorption such as the use of a cavity structure. With optimization of the QE and by matching the barrier energy to the desired wavelength cutoff to minimize the thermionic current, researchers predict near background limited performance in the LWIR region with operating temperatures above 65K. Finally, with mature Si processing, the relatively simple device structure offers potential for low-cost producible arrays with excellent uniformity.

Lin, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The evaluation of a deformable diffraction grating for a stigmatic EUV spectroheliometer

Two crucial areas in the development of the high resolution EUV spectroheliometer are the elastically deformable toroidal diffraction grating and the open-structure imaging pulse counting detector system. The optical performance of a high frequency toroidal grating at EUV wavelengths was verified with a 3600 groove/mm master grating on a spherical concave blank. An open-structure (256 x 1024) pixel, multi-anode microchannel array was developed and tested as a pulse counting detector system. These two systems verify the proof of concept of the spectroheliometer design.

Timothy, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS2011

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

We report our recent efforts on advancing of antimonide superlattice based infrared photodetectors and demonstration of focal plane arrays based on a complementary barrier infrared detector (CBIRD) design. By optimizing design and growth condition we succeeded to reduce the operational bias of CBIRD single pixel detector without increase of dark current or degradation of quantum efficiency. We demonstrated a 1024x1024 pixel long-waveleng thinfrared focal plane array utilizing CBIRD design. An 11.5 micrometer cutoff focal plane without anti-reflection coating has yielded noise equivalent differential temperature of 53 mK at operating temperature of 80 K, with 300 K background and cold-stop. Imaging results from a recent 10 micrometer cutoff focal plane array are also presented. These results advance state-of-the art of superlattice detectors and demonstrated advantages of CBIRD architecture for realization of FPA.

infrared↗
NASA NTRS2011

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

We report our recent efforts on advancing of antimonide superlattice based infrared photodetectors and demonstration of focal plane arrays based on a complementary barrier infrared detector (CBIRD) design. By optimizing design and growth condition we succeeded to reduce the operational bias of CBIRD single pixel detector without increase of dark current or degradation of quantum efficiency. We demonstrated a 1024x1024 pixel long-wavelength infrared focal plane array utilizing CBIRD design. An 11.5 micrometer cutoff focal plane without anti-reflection coating has yielded noise equivalent differential temperature of 53 mK at operating temperature of 80 K, with 300 K background and cold-stop. Imaging results from a recent 10 micrometer cutoff focal plane array are also presented. These results advance state-of-the art of superlattice detectors and demonstrated advantages of CBIRD architecture for realization of FPA.

heterostructure↗
NASA NTRS2011

Superlattice Barrier Infrared Detector Development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

We report recent efforts in achieving state-of-the-art performance in type-II superlattice based infrared photodetectors using the barrier infrared detector architecture. We used photoluminescence measurements for evaluating detector material and studied the influence of the material quality on the intensity of the photoluminescence. We performed direct noise measurements of the superlattice detectors and demonstrated that while intrinsic 1/f noise is absent in superlattice heterodiode, side-wall leakage current can become a source of strong frequency-dependent noise. We developed an effective dry etching process for these complex antimonide-based superlattices that enabled us to fabricate single pixel devices as well as large format focal plane arrays. We describe the demonstration of a 1024x1024 pixel long-wavelength infrared focal plane array based the complementary barrier infrared detector (CBIRD) design. An 11.5 micron cutoff focal plane without anti-reflection coating has yielded noise equivalent differential temperature of 53 mK at operating temperature of 80 K, with 300 K background and cold-stop. Imaging results from a recent 10 ?m cutoff focal plane array are also presented.

superlattice↗
NASA NTRS1988

Short wavelength 128 by 128 focal plane arrays for remote sensing applications

Short-wavelength (1-2.5-micron) 128x128 focal plane arrays have been fabricated and demonstrated with high pixel yields and dark-current-limited performance. The detector material is HgCdTe grown by LPE on a sapphire substrate which yields high-performance uniform detectors. The detector arrays were characterized at temperatures of 80-150 K; the peak quantum efficiency at 2.4 microns is 80 percent. The multiplexer is a Reticon FET switch with output amplifiers. It is noted that the long-term goal of this project is to develop a 150x1000 mosaicked focal plane for use in the HIRIS instrument on the Earth Observing System.

Bothwell, Mary↗
NASA NTRS2008

Recent Developments in Transition-Edge Strip Detectors for Solar X-Rays

LMSAL and NIST are developing position-sensitive x-ray strip detectors based on Transition Edge Sensor (TES) microcalorimeters optimized for solar physics. By combining high spectral (E/ delta E approximately equals 1600) and temporal (single photon delta t approximately equals 10 micro s) resolutions with imaging capabilities, these devices will be able to study high-temperature (>l0 MK) x-ray lines as never before. Diagnostics from these lines should provide significant new insight into the physics of both microflares and the early stages of flares. Previously, the large size of traditional TESs, along with the heat loads associated with wiring large arrays, presented obstacles to using these cryogenic detectors for solar missions. Implementing strip detector technology at small scales, however, addresses both issues: here, a line of substantially smaller effective pixels requires only two TESs, decreasing both the total array size and the wiring requirements for the same spatial resolution. Early results show energy resolutions of delta E(sub fwhm) approximately equals 30 eV and spatial resolutions of approximately 10-15 micron, suggesting the strip-detector concept is viable.

Rausch, Adam J.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Reducing the Read Noise of the James Webb Space Telescope Near Infrared Spectrograph Detector Subsystem

We describe a Wiener optimal approach to using the reference output and reference pixels that are built into Teledyne's HAWAII-2RG detector arrays. In this way, we are reducing the total noise per approximately 1000 second 88 frame up-the-ramp dark integration from about 6.5 e- rms to roughly 5 e- rms. Using a principal components analysis formalism, we achieved these noise improvements without altering the hardware in any way. In addition to being lower, the noise is also cleaner with much less visible correlation. For example, the faint horizontal banding that is often seen in HAWAII-2RG images is almost completely removed. Preliminary testing suggests that the relative gains are even higher when using non flight grade components. We believe that these techniques are applicable to most HAWAII-2RG based instruments.

Rauscher, Bernard↗
NASA NTRS2015

Sparsely-Bonded CMOS Hybrid Imager

A method and device for imaging or detecting electromagnetic radiation is provided. A device structure includes a first chip interconnected with a second chip. The first chip includes a detector array, wherein the detector array comprises a plurality of light sensors and one or more transistors. The second chip includes a Read Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) that reads out, via the transistors, a signal produced by the light sensors. A number of interconnects between the ROIC and the detector array can be less than one per light sensor or pixel.

Cunningham, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS2012

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

We report our recent efforts on advancing of antimonide superlattice based infrared photodetectors and demonstration of Focal Plane Arrays (FPA) based on a complementary barrier infrared detector (CBIRD) design. By optimizing design and growth condition we succeeded to reduce the operational bias of CBIRD single pixel detector without increase of dark current or degradation of quantum efficiency. We demonstrated a 1024x1024 pixel long-wavelength infrared focal plane array utilizing CBIRD design. An 11.5 ?m cutoff FPA without anti-reflection coating has yielded noise equivalent differential temperature of 53 mK at operating temperature of 80 K, with 300 K background and cold-stop. In addition, we demonstrated 320x256 format FPA based on the n-CBIRD design. The resulting FPAs yielded noise equivalent differential temperature of 26 mK at operating temperature of 80 K, with 300 K background and cold-stop. These results advance state-of-the art of superlattice detectors and demonstrated advantages of CBIRD architecture for realization of FPA.

unipolar barrier↗
NASA NTRS2020

Position-Sensitive Magnetic Calorimeters for Lynx

We describe the performance of position-sensitive metallic magnetic calorimeter X-ray detectors for potential future astrophysics missions, such as Lynx. The motivation behind this is to achieve a large focal plane area by increasing the number of pixels compared to the number of readout channels (called hydra). The detector consists of a 5×5 array of gold absorbers thermally coupled to a paramagnetic sensor. Since each absorber has a different thermal link to the sensor, it generates a different pulse shape and enables discrimination of pixel position. Recently, we have been successfully able to discriminate 25 averaged pulse shapes by means of rise-time and pulse height. The measured pulse shapes and distribution agree well with the modeling results. The estimated energy resolutions based on the pulse height and noise data we measured are 2.8–3.7 eV for MnKα X-ray photons at 50 mK.

Magnetic calorimeters↗
NASA NTRS2019

GaN/AlGaN Avalanche Photodiode Detectors for High Performance Ultraviolet Sensing Applications

The shorter wavelengths of the ultraviolet (UV) band enable detectors to operate with increased spatial resolution, variable pixel sizes, and large format arrays, benefitting a variety of NASA, defense, and commercial applications. AlxGa1-xN semiconductor alloys, which have attracted much interest for detection in the UV spectral region, have been shown to enable high optical gains, high sensitivities with the potential for single photon detection, and low dark current performance in ultraviolet avalanche photodiodes (UV-APDs). We are developing GaN/AlGaN UV-APDs with large pixel sizes that demonstrate consistent and uniform device performance and operation. These UV-APDs are fabricated through high quality metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) growth on lattice-matched, low dislocation density GaN substrates with optimized material growth and doping parameters. The use of these low defect density substrates is a critical element to realizing highly sensitive UV-APDs and arrays with suppressed dark current under high electric fields.Optical gains greater than 5X10 (exp 6) with enhanced quantum efficiencies over the 350-400 nm spectral range have been demonstrated, enabled by a strong avalanche multiplication process. Furthermore, we are developing 6X6 arrays of devices to test high gain UV-APD array performance at ~355 nm. These variable-area GaN/AlGaN UV-APD detectors and arrays enable advanced sensing performance over UV bands of interest with high resolution detection for NASA Earth Science applications.

Sood, Ashok K.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Real-time processor for staring receivers

The design, fabrication, and testing of a state-of-the-art, high-throughput on-focal plane IR-image signal processor is described. The processing functions performed are frame differencing and thresholding. The final focal plane array will consist of a 128 x 128-pixel platinum-silicide detector bump-mounted to an on-chip CCD multiplexer. The processor is in a 128-channel parallel-pipeline format. Each channel consists of a pixel regenerator (charge differencer), 128-pixel frame store CCD memory, pixel differencer, second pixel regenerator, thresholder (analog comparator), and digital latch. Four parallel analog outputs and four parallel digital outputs are included. The digital outputs provide a bit map of the image. All analog clock signals (128 KHz, 256 KHz, and 5 MHz) are generated by on-chip TTL-input clock drivers. TTL clock driver inputs are generated off-chip. The technology is low-temperature surface and buried channel CCD/CMOS/indium bump. The design goal was 8-bit resolution at 77 K and 1000 frames/s. Applications include point- or extended-target motion detection with thresholding. Design trade-offs and enhancements (such as on-chip detector gain compensation and a simple window processor) are discussed.

Hanzal, Brian↗
NASA NTRS2010

AXTAR: Mission Design Concept

The Advanced X-ray Timing Array (AXTAR) is a mission concept for X-ray timing of compact objects that combines very large collecting area, broadband spectral coverage, high time resolution, highly flexible scheduling, and an ability to respond promptly to time-critical targets of opportunity. It is optimized for sub-millisecond timing of bright Galactic X-ray sources in order to study phenomena at the natural time scales of neutron star surfaces and black hole event horizons, thus probing the physics of ultra-dense matter, strongly curved spacetimes, and intense magnetic fields. AXTAR s main instrument, the Large Area Timing Array (LATA) is a collimated instrument with 2 50 keV coverage and over 3 square meters effective area. The LATA is made up of an array of super-modules that house 2-mm thick silicon pixel detectors. AXTAR will provide a significant improvement in effective area (a factor of 7 at 4 keV and a factor of 36 at 30 keV) over the RXTE PCA. AXTAR will also carry a sensitive Sky Monitor (SM) that acts as a trigger for pointed observations of X-ray transients in addition to providing high duty cycle monitoring of the X-ray sky. We review the science goals and technical concept for AXTAR and present results from a preliminary mission design study

Ray, Paul S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Imaging by time-tagging photons with the multi-anode microchannel array detector system

The capability and initial use of the Multi-Anode Microchannel Array (MAMA) detector in the time-tag mode is reported. The detector hardware currently in use consists of a visible-light detector tube with a semitransparent photocathode proximity-focused to a high-gain curved-channel microchannel plate MCP. The photoevents are detected by a (256 x 1024)-pixel coincidence-anode array with pixel dimensions of 25 x 25 microns connected to charge-sensitive amplifiers and event-detection circuitry. In the time-lag mode, the detector delivers the pixel address and the time of arrival for each detected photon to an accuracy of 10 microns. The maximum count rate is limited by the speed of data-acquisition hardware. The MAMA detector in the time-lag mode is currently being evaluated in programs of astrometry and speckle imaging.

Timothy, J. G.↗