Improved low dark current MWIR/LWIR MCT detectors: first results of ROIC and MCT tests

Within the TRP program “Development of Low Dark Current MWIR/LWIR Detectors” ne MCT material was tested with reduced dark current for low photon flux applications. A specific ROIC design was set up within this program to allow a proper characterization of the material and act as a demonstrator for further ROIC derivates. Demonstrator assemblies were prepared and tested. The poster will highlight the specific design approaches for the ROIC and the MCT. Four different topologies for the input stage on the ROIC were implemented to allow direct assessment of the impact of the design approach. A part of these input stages were designed using radiation hardened cell library. The ROIC doesn’t contain any internal state machine but id fully controlled via a high speed SPI interface driven by an external sequencer. A test setup will be highlighted. A liquid helium cryostat was prepared to allow dark current measurements in an environment which does not suffer from parasitic radiation sources. The same setup is capable for operation with external illumination and optical filers, which can be moved into the beam. The detector assemblies are presented. A two-step approach is shown which is initially scanning the performance of the different input topologies. A final detector assembly is selected upon the best performance; final assemblies are shown, the test results will be given on the poster.