James Beletic

Title: Imaging Sensor Technologies for Astronomy, Planetary Exploration & Earth Observation

Abstract: Teledyne Imaging Sensors (TIS) is a world leader in the development and production of visible and infrared focal plane arrays.  TIS arrays are used by nearly every major astronomical observatory, on the ground and in space (including HST, JWST, WISE, and JMAPS).   TIS arrays are in several planetary exploration missions, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Deep Impact / EPOXI, New Horizons, Rosetta, and the Moon Mineralogy Mapper.  For Earth Observation, TIS sensors and electronics are flying in or being built for several missions including GOES, Himawari, LDCM TIRS, and the Orbiting Carbon Observatory.

TIS designs and produces hybrid CMOS imaging sensors that combine a detector layer with a CMOS readout circuit.  The detector layer can be optimized for the wavelength of operation; TIS primarily uses silicon for x-ray, UV and visible sensing and Mercury-Cadmium-Telluride (HgCdTe) for visible-infrared sensing.  The bandgap of the HgCdTe can be tuned to optimize the cutoff wavelength for the specific application (e.g. 1.7 and 2.5 micron shortwave, 5 micron midwave, or 10 to 15 micron longwave).  Since HgCdTe is also sensitive to visible light, a single detector can be used for the 400-2500 nm bandpass that is useful for Earth science or the 400-3500 nm bandpass that is appropriate for some planetary science spectral imaging applications.  Some of Teledyne’s sensors are analog devices. Other sensors are fully integrated systems-on-a-chip that include high speed analog-to-digital converters: photons in, digital data out.  For the analog readout circuits, TIS has developed a special application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that provides all functionality of focal plane electronics on a small chip, giving a large savings in size, weight and power for space missions.  This ASIC is used in three of the instruments of the James Webb Space Telescope, for the ACS Repair of the Hubble Space Telescope, and for the JMAPS astrometry mission.

The development and production of imaging sensors is enabled by a world-class CMOS design group, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, and unique capabilities in MBE growth of infrared detector material.  This talk will present an overview of the imaging technologies at TIS, and will identify those sensors that are most applicable to Astronomy, Planetary Exploration and Earth observation.