Polarization-Sensitive Focal Plane Array for Compact Imaging Spectrometers

This proposal seeks to investigate a novel infrared detector array based on black phosphorus-arsenic (BP-As) that promises to reduce the size, weight, and power of imaging spectrometers. The ability to classify spectral information from a scene is central to NASA’s Earth- and planetary-imaging missions. To this end, there has been increasing interest in integrating compact infrared imaging spectrometers with CubeSats. However, it is technically challenging to miniaturize infrared imaging spectrometers without sacrificing performance, primarily because a long optical path is needed to separate wavelengths of light, and sensitive infrared detector arrays require cooling systems.

BP-As detector arrays hold enormous potential to enhance infrared imaging spectrometers. BP-As offers two key advantages that can reduce size, weight, and power: a dynamically tunable wavelength range allows each detector to separately measure wavelengths of light, eliminating the need for a long optical path; and, BP-As detectors exhibit high performance at ambient temperatures, eliminating the need for a bulky cooling system. Additionally, BP-As exhibits electrical characteristics that enable critical polarization-sensitive measurements, such as reflected solar radiance.

To develop a BP-As detector array, we will quantify the electrical properties of BP-As at room temperature and investigate light trapping techniques to maximize device absorption. Then, single BP-As photodetectors will be constructed with nanofabrication. Next, we will explore large-scale fabrication of the detectors, so that we can demonstrate spectral imaging by varying the wavelength range. Once a detector array has been fabricated and demonstrated, it will significantly enhance NASA’s imaging missions by introducing a novel approach to miniaturizing polarization-sensitive infrared imaging spectrometers.

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