The Direct Detector program is developing advanced devices and systems for the direct detection of photons (i.e., light) to meet a range of future science and commercial mission needs. The program produces mission-enhancing and mission-enabling advanced detectors in the major discipline areas of earth science, astrophysics, planetary, and space physics. The program develops and thoroughly characterizes detector systems which achieve optimum performance under the environmental conditions dictated by each specific space application, ranging from near absolute zero for sensitive astronomy missions to room temperature operation for commercial and planetary missions. This means achieving background-limited performance in a multi-element array, operating at the temperatures and integration times defined by the mission design.
The program presently concentrates on advanced infrared detection techniques, and has as a goal the expansion into other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, including advanced high-energy detectors. The program involves the OSS and OMTPE user communities in the definition and conduct of programs, to accomplish effective hand-offs of advanced detector technologies to the users and to the relevant project offices.
Only tasks available on-line are listed.
The Infrared Technology Server at Ames has more information about the infrared detector and cryogenic cooler technology efforts at the NASA Ames Research Center.
The Center for Space Microelectronics Technology (CSMT) Sensor Technology Page at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is now online!
Si:As and Si:Sb BIB Focal Plane Arrays from the Science Center at Rockwell International Corporation.
The world wide web uniform resource locator (URL) for this page is:
http://ranier.oact.hq.nasa.gov/Sensors_page/DD/DDoverview.html
