The Pennsylvania State University High-Energy Astrophysics Detector and Instrumentation (HEADI) Lab, in collaboration with Teledyne Imaging Sensors (TIS), has continued its efforts to improve soft x-ray Hybrid CMOS detectors (HCDs) on several fronts. We report on the read noise and energy resolution for the H1RG and the H2RG using a cryogenic SIDECARTM, which gained TRL 9 and flight heritage through the Water Recovery x-ray Rocket Mission in 2018. We also describe the 40-μm event-driven Speedster-EXD HCD, which has been scaled up from a 64×64 array to an 550×550 array. The readout circuitry within the ROIC for the Speedster-EXD contains a high-gain capacitive transimpedance amplifier (CTIA) to negate pixel cross-talk, in-pixel correlated double sampling (CDS) for correction of reset noise variations, and an in-pixel comparator enabling event-driven readout. Here we report on read noise and energy resolution measurements for the Speedster-EXD and discuss the upcoming BlackCAT CubeSAT, on which the Speedster-EXD550 will fly, raising the TRL of these HCDs. Further, to meet the requirements of future high-throughput and high spatial resolution Lynx-like x-ray observatories, HCDs with fast readout and small pixel sizes have been developed. Here we report on the energy resolution and the lowest measured read noise of any x-ray HCD to-date for the 12.5-μm 128×128 prototype Small-pixel HCD, as well as present the current results for the newest x-ray HCD, the Small-pixel1024. The Small-pixel1024 is a 12.5μm 1024×1024 HCD utilizing a high-gain CTIA and in-pixel CDS. Finally, we report on the development efforts between Penn State and Teledyne on a new event-driven HCD, which will retain the low read noise of the Small-pixel HCD while having event-driven capabilities like the Speedster-EXD.
BlackCAT is a NASA-funded 6U CubeSat mission planned to be launch-ready in 2025. BlackCAT will use its wide field-of-view and arcminute-scale localization to identify gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), gravitational-wave counterparts, and other high-energy transient events. The mission will send rapid alerts after detection of a transient event, enabling prompt follow-up from other ground- and space-based observatories. The science instrument is a coded aperture telescope, using a focal plane with four Speedster-EXD550 event-driven X-ray hybrid CMOS detectors (HCDs) and a gold-plated nickel coded mask to localize source positions. We describe methods for the calibration of the detectors and the assembled coded-aperture instrument. We also briefly discuss plans for in-flight commissioning and calibration.
The BlackCAT CubeSat is an X-ray coded-aperture-telescope observatory that is expected to launch in 2025. It is designed for observations of bright X-ray sources in the 0.5–20 keV band. The instrument will have a wide field of view (0.85 steradian) and be capable of catching gamma ray bursts (GRBs) from the distant universe, galactic transients, and flares from blazars, while monitoring the X-ray sky. In addition to the primary high-redshift GRB science, BlackCAT can monitor known source variability and search for rare and exciting events including gravitational-wave X-ray counterparts, magnetar flares, supernova shock breakouts, and tidal disruption events. The mission will thus function as a multiwavelength and multi-messenger complement to present and future facilities including LIGO, VIRGO, KAGRA, IceCube, KM3NET, LSST, LOFAR, SKA, and CTA. Rapid notifications of burst positions will be transmitted to the ground via satellite network and then relayed to the GCN. The name BlackCAT is derived from its scientific emphasis on black-holerelated transient events being observed with a coded aperture telescope (CAT). BlackCAT will serve as the scientific payload aboard a commercial 6U CubeSat spacecraft provided by NanoAvionics US. Novel event-driven X-ray hybrid CMOS detectors will form the focal plane array. In addition to carrying out science programs related to distant GRBs, transients, and X-ray sky monitoring, BlackCAT will also serve as a pathfinder for future economical missions combining multiple BlackCAT modules on either a single small satellite or on multiple CubeSats. BlackCAT will also serve as a platform for new X-ray hybrid CMOS detector development. An overview of BlackCAT in its current development state and its current status will be presented.
The novel Speedster-EXD550 is a 550×550-pixel x-ray Hybrid CMOS Detector (HCD) with event-driven readout capabilities and 40-micron pixel pitch. In event-driven readout mode, only the pixels that contain sufficient liberated charge from the absorption of an x-ray will be read out. Event-driven readout allows for even faster readout speed than other HCDs, reaching readout speeds up to 10,000 frames/sec. The high frame rate of the Speedster-EXD550 is desirable for future missions as the effects of dark current and x-ray pile-up will be reduced. The readout circuitry within the ROIC for the Speedster-EXD550 contains a high-gain capacitive transimpedance amplifier, in-pixel correlated double sampling, and an in-pixel comparator enabling event-driven readout. The Speedster-EXD550 also utilizes column-parallel on-chip digitization. The ability of the Speedster-EXD550 will be demonstrated on BlackCAT, a funded NASA CubeSat mission. Testing and characterization of the Speedster-EXD550 has been done by the Penn State High Energy Astrophysics Detector and Instrumentation lab in both full-frame and event-driven readout modes. A radioactive 55Fe source was used for the measurements presented. Here, we discuss the methods and recent results for the characterization of the Speedster-EXD550 dark current, read noise, gain, and gain variation.
BlackCAT is a NASA CubeSat mission planned to be launch-ready in early 2025. Using a wide-field telescope, this 6U CubeSat will monitor the soft x-ray sky, searching for high-redshift Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs), gravitational-wave counterparts, and other transient events. After detecting burst events, BlackCAT will be capable of transmitting rapid alerts to enable prompt follow-up observations. The instrument is composed of a coded-aperture telescope using an array of event-driven x-ray Hybrid CMOS Detectors (HCDs) in its focal plane. In this paper, we provide a brief update on the design and status of the mission.
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