Enabling Technologies for Gamma-ray Astrophysics: Advancing the Technical Readiness Level of the AstroPix Silicon Pixel Detectors

This technology advancement proposal will extend the work supported through NASA's Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) program to develop already mature Silicon (Si) technologies in ground-based detectors for use in space-based instruments. High Voltage CMOS Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (HV MAPS) are low power, easy to fabricate, and can improve the sensitivity of gamma-ray telescopes in keV and MeV energy regimes by up to an order of magnitude at the lowest energies. We are leveraging the expertise in the ground-based development of these high-spatial-resolution pixel detectors to raise the TRL from 4 to 5 through our funded APRA. The goal of this Roman Technology Fellowship is as follows: - Optimize and finalize HV MAP pixel architecture and digital readout for medium-energy gamma-ray telescopes. - Fabricate and test these detectors to verify that they meet the requirements of a gamma-ray telescope, such as AMEGO-X. - Build and environmentally test a standalone prototype, thereby increasing the TRL. The prototype can also be flown as a piggy-back instrument on either a balloon payload or sounding rocket

This technology will enable a suite of future missions in high-energy and multimessenger astrophysics from SmallSats to Probe scale.

The goals of the Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship (RTF) program in astrophysics are to provide early-career researchers the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to lead astrophysics flight instrument development projects, including suborbital investigations, in preparation to become Principal Investigators (PIs) of future NASA astrophysics missions; to develop innovative technologies for space astrophysics that have the potential to enable major scientific breakthroughs; and to foster new talents by putting early career instrument builders on a trajectory towards long-term positions.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.