Astrophysics Breakout Don Figer RIT, RIDL

3 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Charge to Breakout Sessions Breakout groups will determine: – the most pressing questions in their area that leverage QLIDs – the most important detector characteristics for answering these questions – the specific technologies that are most promising for achieving these characteristics – the hurdles for implementing these technologies – the R&D roadmap for overcoming these hurdles – the funding opportunities for executing the R&D roadmap The four areas are: – biomedical – astrophysics – Earth system science – defense/homeland security Group leads will present findings in the final session of the workshop. 3

4 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Breakout Session Leads Biomedical Tim Tredwell Astrophysics Don Figer Earth Systems Science Jeff Puschell Defensee/Homeland Security Mark Bocko 4

5 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium The Top Five Science Drivers for Detectors: Astrophysics 1.What is dark energy? (QE, read noise, DC) 2.What is dark matter? (QE, read noise, DC) 3.What processes alter the surfaces of planets/moons? (thermal imaging, LIDAR, dynamic features with DFPA) 4.Do Earth-like planets exist? 5.Does extraterrestrial life exist? (O 3, MIR) 6.When was the Universe enriched with metals? 7.How were galaxies assembled? 5

6 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium The Top Detector Characteristics for: Astrophysics 1.in-pixel wavelength discrimination 2.high QE across broad range 3.low dark current 4.zero read noise 5.time-tagging (for LIDAR) 6.larger formats (>10K x 10K)‏ 7.lower power, higher temp. operation 8.lower cost operation (e.g. standardized ASIC, easier than SIDECAR)‏ 9.high dynamic range: 1 - 1E7 photons 10.high speed capabilities, yet retain low noise 6

7 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Reference Chart: Key Detector Characteristics Dark Current Dark Current λ/Δλ QE λ λ Read Noise Read Noise ΔtΔt ΔtΔt Quantum-Limited Imaging Detector P P Earth System Science Earth System Science Biomedical Imaging Biomedical Imaging Homeland Safety Homeland Safety Defense

8 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Detector Performance Requirements for: Astrophysics 8 ParameterCurrentGoal Format Pixel Size Read Noise Dark Current QE Latent Image Flux Rate Capacity Operating Temperature Fill Factor Radiation Immunity Susceptibility to Radiation Transients Technology Readiness Level

9 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium The Most Promising Detector Technologies for: Astrophysics 1.TES, SSPD: wavelength detection 2.SSPD, GM-APD: zero read noise 3.MCP: single photon counting UV 4.GM-APD: time-tagging 5.Digital solid state photomultiplier array (BiB, Rockwell Anaheim/Boeing) 6.DFPA 9

10 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Hurdles for the Most Promising Detector Technologies for: Astrophysics 1.TES: QE, temperature, format 2.GM-APD: afterpulsing 3.SSPD: cold operation 4.TES: extremely cold, not ideal wavelength coverage 5.DFPA: for low backgrounds?? 10

11 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Detector R&D Roadmap for: Astrophysics 1.GM-APD a)demonstrate 1 e-/s/pixel b)demonstrate ~64x64 diode/ROIC array at 150 K c)design megapixel array and demonstrate at telescope 2.SSPD (NbN) a)demonstrate an array with high QE 3.TES a)demonstrate QE vs. lambda from UV to MIR b)find magic material that operates at higher T c)demonstrate low noise 4.DFPA a)demonstrate low background capability b)demonstrate long integration time c)demonstrate low noise 11

12 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Funding Possibilities: Astrophysics 1.NASA ROSES APRA, PIDDP 2.NSF ATI 3.Private 4.DARPA MTO BAA 5.Stimulus funding 12