An Assessment of UV Sensor Materials and Architectures for Sensitive UV Spectrometer Production

In an effort to mitigate risk, we propose completing an assessment, including modeling, of relevant UV sensor materials and architectures. These materials will be benchmarked against UV enhanced Si for the design and justification of next generation UV spectrometers. SiC, AlGaN and other cutting-edge materials present interesting detector physics opportunities however, to date their implementation for NASA applications has been limited. There is debate as to whether this hesitancy is a result intrinsic detector/sensor performance metrics, fabrication limitations or a cultural investment into existing detector materials. In this work we aim to answer this question and assess, if these materials can supplant existing technologies, or when they will be able to. This study will be used to justify future funding opportunities and win new work at GSFC.

Following assessment of UV sensor materials completed in the first year we are proceeding to experimentally assess the best candidate material's, silicon carbide's (SiC), performance as a UV detector for spectroscopic observations using gas cells containing atmospheric trace gases, principally formaldehyde. contributing to deep-UV opacities. We will further compare SiC to other technologies, based on our year-1 parametrization, using GSFCs planetary spectrum generator (PSG) simulations. Our aim is to assess, if these materials, SiC in particular, can supplant existing technologies and develop requisite technical expertise in UV detector operation, calibration, and characterization of instrument level response, positioning GSFC to win future UV detector development opportunities.

This work will help guide the direction for materials and architecture choice for next generation UV spectrometers. It will assess existing technologies based on a literature assessment and involve sensor and spectrometer modeling to assess both material physics, detector design and more practical limitations associated with material source quality and fabrication limitations. This will help GSFC win new work in the development of capabilities for UV observations

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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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