I am working on the development of advanced X-ray CCDs and their readout electronics for a proposed NASA X-ray probe mission - Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS).
I am also involved in the development of novel X-ray detector technologies (e.g. Single electron sensitive Read Out / SiSeRO) which can provide order of magnitude faster readout speeds and sub-electron level of noise performance. Such detectors will key to the development of sensitive spectro-imagers for the next generation flagship astronomy missions.
I am interested in the X-ray spectro-polarimetric studies of galactic black hole systems and Gamma Ray Burst events to understand their radiation emission mechanisms.
I am also involved in the development of novel X-ray detector technologies (e.g. Single electron sensitive Read Out / SiSeRO) which can provide order of magnitude faster readout speeds and sub-electron level of noise performance. Such detectors will key to the development of sensitive spectro-imagers for the next generation flagship astronomy missions.
I am interested in the X-ray spectro-polarimetric studies of galactic black hole systems and Gamma Ray Burst events to understand their radiation emission mechanisms.
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We summarize recent results from our NASA-funded technology development program to develop imaging sensors required for future strategic missions, and describe the prototype CCD sensor we are developing for AXIS, the Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite mission concept recently proposed in response to NASA’s Astrophysics Probe Explorer call. We have designed and are fabricating at MIT Lincoln Laboratory a 16-output, 1440 x 1440 pixel frame-store CCD to serve as a form/fit/function prototype for AXIS. This sensor incorporates the low-voltage, single-polysilicon gate and low-noise pJFET technologies we have proven in previous work. Our goal is to demonstrate a device meeting or exceeding the noise, spectral resolution and frame-rate requirements of AXIS when operated with the Multi-channel Readout Chip developed by our team at Stanford University. We also describe our strategy for optimizing CCD output amplifier architecture and design for even lower noise and faster readout for AXIS and subsequent high-energy astrophysics missions.
Progress toward fast, low-noise, low-power CCDs for Lynx and other high-energy astrophysics missions
The Water Recovery X-Ray Rocket (WRXR) was a suborbital rocket payload that was launched and recovered in April 2018. The WRXR flew two technologies being developed for future large x-ray missions: x-ray reflection gratings and a hybrid CMOS detector (HCD). The large-format replicated gratings on the WRXR were measured in ground calibrations to have absolute single-order diffraction efficiency of ∼60 % , ∼50 % , and ∼35 % at CVI, OVII, and OVIII emission energies, respectively. The HCD was operated with ∼6 e − read noise and ∼88 eV energy resolution at 0.5 keV. The WRXR was also part of a two-payload campaign that successfully demonstrated NASA sounding rocket water recovery technology for science payloads. The primary instrument, a soft x-ray grating spectrometer, targeted diffuse emission from the Vela supernova remnant over a field-of-view >10 deg2. The flight data show that the detector was operational during flight and detected x-ray events from an on-board calibration source, but there was no definitive detection of x-ray events from Vela. Flight results are presented along with a discussion of factors that could have contributed to the null detection.
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