In-orbit performance of avalanche photodiode as radiation detector onboard a pico-satellite Cute-1.7+APD II

Abstract

Cute-1.7+APD II is the third pico-satellite developed by students at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. One of the primary goals of the mission is to validate the use of avalanche photodiodes (APDs) as a radiation detector for the first time in a space experiment. The satellite was successfully launched by an ISRO PSLV-C9 rocket in Apr 2008 and has since been in operation for more than 20 months. Cute-1.7+APD II carries two reversetype APDs to monitor the distribution of low energy particles down to 9.2 keV trapped in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO), including South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) as well as aurora bands. We present the design parameters and various preflight tests of the APDs prior to launch, particularly, the high counting response and active gain control system for the Cute-1.7+APD II mission. Examples of electron/proton distribution, obtained in continuous 12-hour observations, will be presented to demonstrate the initial flight performance of the APDs in orbit.

On the double peak structure of avalanche photodiode response to monoenergetic x-rays at various temperatures and bias voltages

“…Yet, the use of avalanche photodiodes as x-ray detectors is found in the literature, e.g. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. The response of avalanche photodiodes to high-energy electrons has also been reported in the literature [31,32].…”

Improved x-ray detection and particle identification with avalanche photodiodes

“…[1][2][3][4] Due to this, APDs are extensively used in a large variety of physics, [5][6][7][8] medical, 9 and aerospace applications. 10 We have studied x-rays with energies between 1 and 10 keV and observed two distinct APD responses to monoenergetic x-rays absorbed in different depths inside the APD. By constructing APD specific standard traces and using a pulse-by-pulse fitting technique, we improved the APD energy resolution by a factor of 2 and the time resolution by 30%.…”

“…They provide a compact, robust, magnetic field insensitive solution for light and x-ray detection with gains on the order of 100 and fast response times [1][2][3][4] . Due to this, APDs are extensively used in a large variety of physics [5][6][7][8] , medical 9 and aerospace applications 10 .…”