IRAD - Plasma spectroscopy through direct detection with CMOS imaging sensors

An electron spectroscopy instrument to enable measurements at altitudes that were previously inaccessible currently under development through the H-TIDES program makes use of a commercially available scientific Charge Coupled Device (CCD) as a direct detection sensor. Compared to a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, the CCD has superior noise performance as well as a low technical risk in terms of electron sensitivity. However, the constant charge accumulation and slow readout speed introduce a limiting temporal and 2-dimensional blurring uncertainty corresponding to uncertainty of the measured energy levels and minimum auroral feature size / dispersion rate.

This work will address the electron energy sensitivity technical risk by selecting and evaluating candidate commercial / scientific CMOS sensors in parallel with the CCD sensors under evaluation by the H-TIDES effort, paving the way for instruments no longer limited by the temporal and 2-dimensional uncertainty limits imposed by the use of a CCD sensor.

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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