Low-noise, low-power HgCdTe/Al2O3 1024 x 1024 FPAs

Lester J. Kozlowski; Kadri Vural; Donald E. Cooper; C. Y. Chen; D. M. Stephenson; Scott A. Cabelli

doi:10.1117/12.255179

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21 October 1996 Low-noise, low-power HgCdTe/Al₂O₃ 1024 x 1024 FPAs

Lester J. Kozlowski, Kadri Vural, Donald E. Cooper, C. Y. Chen, D. M. Stephenson, Scott A. Cabelli

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Proceedings Volume 2817, Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing IV; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.255179
Event: SPIE's 1996 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1996, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

We have developed two high performance 1024 multiplied by 1024 focal plane arrays for astronomy, spectroscopy, surveillance and conventional imaging. Each hybrid consists of a photovoltaic HgCdTe detector array, fabricated on Al₂O₃ substrate and having photoresponse cutoff wavelength optimized for each specific application, mated to a CMOS silicon readout via indium column interconnects. In addition to updating the performance of our 1024 multiplied by 1024 FPA for astronomy developed in 1994, we introduce a second 1024 multiplied by 1024 having capability for operation at TV-type frame rates. The latter device also has low read noise but at much higher bandwidth by virtue of its capacitive transimpedance amplifier input and pipelined readout architecture. Both devices have been shown capable of consistently achieving background-limited sensitivity at very low infrared backgrounds (less than or equal to 10⁹ photons/cm2-sec) by their low read noise, low dark current including negligible MOSFET self-emission, and high quantum efficiency. FPA pixel operability as high as 99.94% with mean peak D* of 10¹⁴ cm-Hz^1/2/W has been demonstrated. Proprietary hybridization and mounting techniques are being used to insure hybrid reliability after many thermal cycles. The hybrid methodology has been modeled using finite element modeling to understand the limiting mechanisms; very good agreement has been achieved with the measured reliability.

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Lester J. Kozlowski, Kadri Vural, Donald E. Cooper, C. Y. Chen, D. M. Stephenson, and Scott A. Cabelli "Low-noise, low-power HgCdTe/Al₂O₃ 1024 x 1024 FPAs", Proc. SPIE 2817, Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing IV, (21 October 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.255179

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