HgCdTe avalanche photodiode array detectors with single photon sensitivity and integrated detector cooler assemblies for space lidar applications

Sun, Xiaoli; Abshire, James B.; Krainak, Michael A.; Lu, Wei-Tao; Beck, Jeff; Sullivan, William; Mitra, P.; Rawlings, Dick M.; Fields, R. A.; Hinkley, David; Hirasuna, Bradley

doi:10.1117/1.oe.58.6.067103

Cited by 28 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The laser output power can be continuously adjusted over a wide range according to the target range. Third, it uses a new linear mode photon counting HgCdTe avalanche photodiode (APD) array with near quantum limited sensitivity from visible to mid-infrared wavelength [ 29 ], which maximizes the receiver sensitivity and gives long-distance ranging capability. The APD gain can be adjusted from unity to above 1000 with little excess noise and the APD array gives linear analog outputs over a wide dynamic range.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small All-Range Lidar for Asteroid and Comet Core Missions

Sun

Cremons

Mazarico

et al. 2021

Sensors

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We report the development of a new type of space lidar specifically designed for missions to small planetary bodies for both topographic mapping and support of sample collection or landing. The instrument is designed to have a wide dynamic range with several operation modes for different mission phases. The laser transmitter consists of a fiber laser that is intensity modulated with a return-to-zero pseudo-noise (RZPN) code. The receiver detects the coded pulse-train by correlating the detected signal with the RZPN kernel. Unlike regular pseudo noise (PN) lidars, the RZPN kernel is set to zero outside laser firing windows, which removes most of the background noise over the receiver integration time. This technique enables the use of low peak-power but high pulse-rate lasers, such as fiber lasers, for long-distance ranging without aliasing. The laser power and the internal gain of the detector can both be adjusted to give a wide measurement dynamic range. The laser modulation code pattern can also be reconfigured in orbit to optimize measurements to different measurement environments. The receiver uses a multi-pixel linear mode photon-counting HgCdTe avalanche photodiode (APD) array with near quantum limited sensitivity at near to mid infrared wavelengths where many fiber lasers and diode lasers operate. The instrument is modular and versatile and can be built mostly with components developed by the optical communication industry.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small All-Range Lidar for Asteroid and Comet Core Missions

Sun

Cremons

Mazarico

et al. 2021

Sensors

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“…The MCT e-APD detection system was used for the low-signal channel. Recently, a similar e-APD detection system was validated for 1.6-µm IPDA lidar applications at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) [29,30]. The e-APD consists of 16 pixels, arranged in 4 × 4 pixel-array, with 80 × 80 µm 2 pixel-size.…”

Section: Ipda Lidar Receiver and Data Acquisitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne Testing of 2-μm Pulsed IPDA Lidar for Active Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

et al. 2021

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The capability of an airborne 2-μm integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) lidar for high-accuracy and high-precision active remote sensing of weighted-average column dry-air volume mixing ratio of atmospheric carbon dioxide (XCO2) is demonstrated. A test flight was conducted over the costal oceanic region of the USA to assess instrument performance during severe weather. The IPDA targets CO2 R30 absorption line using high-energy 2-μm laser transmitter. HgCdTe avalanche photodiode detection system is used in the receiver. Updated instrument model included range correction factor to account for platform attitude. Error budget for XCO2 retrieval predicts lower random error for longer sensing column length. Systematic error is dominated by water vapor (H2O) through dry-air number density derivation, followed by H2O interference and ranging related uncertainties. IPDA XCO2 retrieval results in 404.43 ± 1.23 ppm, as compared to 405.49 ± 0.01 ppm from prediction models, using consistent reflectivity and steady elevation oceanic surface target. This translates to 0.26% and 0.30% relative accuracy and precision, respectively. During gradual spiral descend, IPDA results in 404.89 ± 1.19 ppm as compared model of 404.75 ± 0.73 ppm indicating 0.04% and 0.23% relative accuracy, respectively. Challenging cloud targets limited retrieval accuracy and precision to 2.56% and 4.78%, respectively, due to H2O and ranging errors.

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“…The 2x8 pixel array has its ROIC inside the silicon substrate under the HgCdTe APD pixels to minimize the stray capacitance [17]. The electrical bandwidth is about 50 MHz [19]. Single photon events can be detected when the APD gain is above 500 [17]- [19].…”

Section: Hgcdte Apd Array Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The electrical bandwidth is about 50 MHz [19]. Single photon events can be detected when the APD gain is above 500 [17]- [19]. The pixel size is 64 by 64 µm on a 64 µm pitch.…”

Section: Hgcdte Apd Array Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has collaborated with Leonardo DRS Electro-Optical Infrared Systems to develop HgCdTe APD arrays for space lidar receivers. Two types of HgCdTe APD focal plane arrays (FPA) have been developed, 4x4 pixel HgCdTe APD arrays with 80x80 µm pixel size for trace gas lidar [15], [16] and 2x8 pixel linear mode photon counting (LMPC) HgCdTe APD arrays with 64x64 µm pixel size as precursor detector systems for swath mapping lidar [17]- [19]. The quantum efficiency of these detectors can be tailored to be > 90% from 0.9 to 4.3 µm by proper AR coating and HgCdTe thickness adjustment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Proton Radiation Effects on HgCdTe Avalanche Photodiode Detectors

Sun

Abshire

Lauenstein

et al. 2021

IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.

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Space radiation damage and proton induced transient effects were evaluated on 4.4 µm cutoff HgCdTe avalanche photodiode (APD) arrays developed by Leonardo DRS. Device performances as a function of total dose up to 100 krad (Si) were measured with ~60 MeV protons on 3 types of APD samples: 4x4 pixel APD fanout arrays with and without connection to a read-out integrated circuit (ROIC), and a 2x8 pixel photon counting APD focal plane array (FPA). A gamma-ray test was also conducted to study ionization effects. Both APD arrays exhibited a small decrease in the quantum efficiency and a linear increase in the dark current with the proton fluence. The 2x8 pixel photon counting FPA also exhibited an increase in the dark count rate with proton dose. After the proton irradiation and an overnight room temperature warm-up, the APD dark currents at 80 K increased significantly in both types of APD arrays. All radiation damage to these HgCdTe APD arrays annealed out after baking them at >85 °C for several hours. Transient protons through the devices were found to cause large pulses at the detector output but recover within 1 µs.

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HgCdTe avalanche photodiode array detectors with single photon sensitivity and integrated detector cooler assemblies for space lidar applications

Cited by 28 publications

References 17 publications

Small All-Range Lidar for Asteroid and Comet Core Missions

Small All-Range Lidar for Asteroid and Comet Core Missions

Airborne Testing of 2-μm Pulsed IPDA Lidar for Active Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

Proton Radiation Effects on HgCdTe Avalanche Photodiode Detectors

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