Integration of a Testbench for the Optical and Thermal Characterization of Near-Infrared Detectors Used in Ground and Space-Based Astronomy

The mercury-cadmium-tellurium (MCT) sensors are considered the ideal infrared detectors to equip focal plane arrays (FPAs) of astronomical scientific missions. To tackle Europe be self-sufficient on this technology and promote reach same maturity level attained by current MCT market leaders, Astronomy European Infrared Detector (ASTEROID) project aims provide with capability manufacture high-performance FPAs devoted use, space astronomy, ground-based telescope infrastructures. resulting detector will a hybridized array CdZnTe substrate 2k × pixels 15 μm pixel pitch. Institut de Física d'Altes Energies (IFAE) lead task validate performance respect hybridization reliability between readout integrated circuit (ROIC) submitting it several low-temperature thermal cycles. After every stress, optically characterized in order measure any degradation possible problems operability. perform such tasks, two custom setups, focused optical cryo-vacuum aspects, were developed, which, used conjunction, allows cool down from room temperature up ~30 K, while is electro-optically terms linearity, gain, quantum efficiency, cosmetics defects, among others. whole system setup fully described article as part work packages assigned IFAE test assess at operating after