Tiled Silicon-Photomultiplier Array Read-Out Integrated Circuit

The objective of this program is to develop a monolithic, multichannel, photon counting readout integrated circuit (ROIC) that can interface with microchannel plate photomultiplier tubes (MCP-PMT) for high-dynamic range space-based light imaging, detection, and ranging (LIDAR) applications. The ROIC will be designed and implemented in a standard, commercially available silicon-germanium (SiGe) bipolar Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (BiCMOS) process that is well suited to high-speed applications while offering a degree of radiation hardness due to the SiGe. ROIC will be designed to interface with an MCP-PMT detector and have enough flexibility to interface to other photon counting detectors such as silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs).

The goal of this proposal is a fully integrated ROIC that interfaces to an MCP-PMT or SiPM array, creating a nearly universal photon counting solution. This meets the existing and urgent ROIC requirements of NASA missions in the realm of aerosol, cloud and oceanographic (ACO) LIDAR measurements. The arrays can also be used for Cosmic Particle Detection missions and is readily adaptable to both airborne and space deployed LIDAR systems.

A fully integrated, ROIC that interfaces to an MCP-PMT or SiPM array is also of interest to a number of other government and non-government commercial applications. Other Government Department of Defense Department of Energy Non-Government Commercial Applications of a SiPM ROIC Medical Imaging Freedom Photonics will leverage existing commercial relationships to address these applications.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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