Microchannel-plate detector development for ultraviolet missions

Lauro Conti; Jürgen Barnstedt; Sebastian Buntrock; Sebastian Diebold; Lars Hanke; Christoph Kalkuhl; Norbert Kappelmann; Thomas Kaufmann; Thomas Rauch; Beate Stelzer; Thomas Schanz; Klaus Werner; Hans-Rudolf Elsener; Sarah Bouguerousa; Thomas Keilig; Alfred Krabbe; Philipp Maier; Andreas Pahler; Mahsa Taheran; Jürgen Wolf; Kevin Meyer; Daniel M. Schaadt

doi:10.1117/12.2560663

13 December 2020 Microchannel-plate detector development for ultraviolet missions

Lauro Conti, Jürgen Barnstedt, Sebastian Buntrock, Sebastian Diebold, Lars Hanke, Christoph Kalkuhl, Norbert Kappelmann, Thomas Kaufmann, Thomas Rauch, Beate Stelzer, Thomas Schanz, Klaus Werner, Hans-Rudolf Elsener, Sarah Bouguerousa, Thomas Keilig, Alfred Krabbe, Philipp Maier, Andreas Pahler, Mahsa Taheran, Jürgen Wolf, Kevin Meyer, Daniel M. Schaadt

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11444, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 114440K (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2560663
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2020, Online Only

Abstract

The Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Tübingen (IAAT) has a long-term experience in developing and building space-qualified imaging and photon counting microchannel-plate (MCP) detectors, which are sensitive in the ultraviolet wavelength range. Our goal is to achieve high quantum efficiency and spatial resolution, while maintaining solar blindness and low-noise characteristics. Our flexible detector design is currently tailored to the specific needs of three missions: For the ESBO DS (European Stratospheric Balloon Observatory – Design Study) we provide a sealed detector to the STUDIO instrument (Stratospheric Ultraviolet Demonstrator of an Imaging Observatory), a 50 cm telescope with a UV imager for operation at an altitude of 37-41 km. In collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics we plan a space mission with a CubeSat-sized farultraviolet spectroscopic imaging instrument, featuring an open version of our detector. A Chinese mission, led by the Purple Mountain Observatory, comprises a multi-channel imager using open and sealed detector versions. Our MCP detector has a cesium activated p-doped gallium-nitride photocathode. Other photocathode materials like cesium-telluride or potassium-bromide could be used as an alternative. For the sealed version, the photocathode is operated in semi-transparent mode on a MgF₂ window with a cut-off wavelength of about 118 nm. For missions requiring sensitivity below this cut-off, we are planning an open version. We employ a coplanar cross-strip anode and advanced low-power readout electronics with a 128-channel charge-amplifier chip. This publication focuses on the progress concerning the main development challenges: the optimization of the photocathode parameters and the sophisticated detector electronics.

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Lauro Conti, Jürgen Barnstedt, Sebastian Buntrock, Sebastian Diebold, Lars Hanke, Christoph Kalkuhl, Norbert Kappelmann, Thomas Kaufmann, Thomas Rauch, Beate Stelzer, Thomas Schanz, Klaus Werner, Hans-Rudolf Elsener, Sarah Bouguerousa, Thomas Keilig, Alfred Krabbe, Philipp Maier, Andreas Pahler, Mahsa Taheran, Jürgen Wolf, Kevin Meyer, and Daniel M. Schaadt "Microchannel-plate detector development for ultraviolet missions", Proc. SPIE 11444, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 114440K (13 December 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2560663

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