Germanium Charge-Coupled Devices for Large-Format, Low-Noise Hard X-Ray Sensors

We are proposing to develop large-format charge-coupled devices (CCDs) on bulk germanium, with sensitivity spanning both soft and hard X-ray bands (0.5 - 50 keV). These devices will demonstrate the characteristics that make silicon CCDs desirable for astronomy -- notably large format, excellent uniformity, low read noise, excellent spectral resolution, and noiseless on-chip charge summation -- in a material that covers a wider energy band than silicon. Compared to the cadmium zinc telluride detectors currently used for hard X-ray sensing, these germanium devices will be larger format, exhibit superior spectral resolution, and not require hybrid integration (bump bonding). The proposed work builds on significant internal research and development in this area at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. To date, we have demonstrated functional 1 kpixel germanium CCDs, fabricated in the same state-of-the-art tool set used to build our silicon CCDs and displaying lower read noise than comparable silicon CCDs. The goals of the proposed effort are to demonstrate a 512 x 512 x 24 micron-pitch germanium CCD with dark noise < 1 e-/pixel/second at an operating temperature of 100 K and < 5 electrons of read noise. These developments could dramatically improve the energy resolution and field of view of future imaging missions in the hard X-ray band.

The Astrophysics Research and Analysis program (APRA) supports suborbital and suborbital-class investigations, development of detectors and supporting technology, laboratory astrophysics, and limited ground based observing. Basic research proposals in these areas are solicited for investigations that are relevant to NASA's programs in astronomy and astrophysics, including the entire range of photons, gravitational waves, and particle astrophysics. The emphasis of this solicitation is on technologies and investigations that advance NASA astrophysics missions and goals.

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