Toward Fast, Low-Noise, Radiation-Tolerant X-ray Imaging Arrays for Lynx: Raising Technology Readiness Further

The most recent biennial Physics of the Cosmos Program Annual Technology Report (PATR) identifies ‘fast, low-noise, megapixel X-ray imaging arrays’ as a top-priority technology development need for future PCOS strategic astrophysics missions. The Lynx large mission concept now under study by NASA for presentation to the Astro2020 Decadal Survey, in particular, includes a High-Definition X-ray Imaging instrument requiring a combination of readout rate, noise, spatial resolution and size that cannot be furnished by currently mature technologies. We intend to continue to raise the technical readiness of advanced ‘digital’ CCD technology to meet the requirements of Lynx and other strategic high-energy astrophysics missions. This work will build on our current SAT-funded, MIT-led effort to demonstrate sensors with high-speed, low-noise amplifiers and low-power CCD charge transfer, and on a companion APRA-funded, Stanford-led effort to develop low-power signal processing application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) compatible with our CCD technology. At the midpoint of our current digital CCD sensor development effort, we have reported very encouraging progress, with read noise reduced to 4.2 electrons, RMS at 2.5 MHz readout rate, and with CCD clock power per unit area only ~4% of that of legacy (Chandra) CCDs. By the end of this year we expect to have met Lynx requirements for read noise, and to be poised to mate our small, single-channel test sensor with a prototype signal processing ASIC. Our proposed continuation will leverage prior MIT Lincoln Laboratory and NASA investment to test a large (2k x 1k pixel) device with 8 outputs adapted to exploit fully the low-noise potential of the ASIC signal processor. We will first characterize the fast readout performance of this sensor using laboratory electronics and then demonstrate fast, multichannel, low-noise and low-power operation with the ASIC. We will also characterize the radiation tolerance of this device. This effort will raise the technology readiness of digital CCD and associated low-power signal-processing technology for Lynx further toward TRL 4.

The Strategic Astrophysics Technology program (SAT) supports focused development efforts for key technologies to the point at which they are ready to feed into major missions in the three science themes of the Astrophysics Division: Exoplanet Exploration, Cosmic Origins, and the Physics of the Cosmos. This program is specifically designed to address middle technology readiness level (TRL) "gaps" between levels 3 and 6: the maturation of technologies that have been established as feasible, but which are not yet sufficiently mature to incorporate into flight missions without introducing an unacceptable level of risk. NASA does not require a data management plan for proposals to SAT.

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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