Astronomy FPA advancements at Rockwell Scientific

Abstract

Advancements in space and ground-based astronomy focal plane array (FPA) technology at Rockwell Scientific Company (RSC) are presented. The review covers the broad base of astronomy work at RSC for both present and next generation FPAs, and details recent achievements in detector, readout, and packaging technologies. RSC astronomy FPA progress includes: RSC FPA delivery for NASA's successful Deep Impact mission, progress on RSC's programs supplying H-2RG FPAs for James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) instruments JWST NIRCam, NIRSpec and FGS; selection of RSC's SIDECAR Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) for use on JWST instruments NIRCam, NIRSpec and FGS and the development of the JWST SIDECAR space flight package; first silicon on the 16 million pixel HAWAII-4RG (4Kx4K); optimization of NIR FPAs for space telescope missions; construction of multiple 16 million pixel 2x2 mosaic FPAs using the HAWAII-2RG readouts, and the development of the Microlensing Planet Finder (MPF) very large, 150 million pixel FPA.

Observing Exoplanets in the Near-Infrared from a High Altitude Balloon Platform

“…The instrument has sensitivity up to 5 µm, but beyond ∼ 4 µm emission from the warm optics and atmosphere dominate the signal. The detector will be maintained at an operating temperature just above 62 K, where the median dark current level is ≤ 0.5 e − /s per pixel (Chuh et al, 2006) in the science band (1 -4 µm).…”

The Exoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope (EXCITE)

“…The detector is maintained at an operating temperature just above 77 K, where the median dark current level is ≤ 0.5 e − /s per pixel. 5 An internal calibrator similar to the one that will be used for ARIEL is used to monitor the performance of the detector array over time, correcting for detector system gain variations. 6, 7 The EXCITE gondola and pointing system are based on the BIT platform, which was successfully demonstrated in a 2015 flight and is scheduled for a ultra long duration balloon (ULDB) flight from New Zealand in 2018.…”