Testing of InGaAs, microbolometer and pyroelectric detectors in support of the EarthCARE mission

A test programme for infrared detectors in support of the EarthCARE mission is discussed. Commercially available linear InGaAs arrays from XenICs, Belgium (cut-off wavelengths 1.7, 2.2 and 2.5 μm), 384 x 288 amorphous silicon microbolometer arrays from ULIS, France and un-windowed single element lithium tantalate pyroelectric detectors from Infratec, Germany have been studied in detail to assess their suitability for EarthCARE and to provide performance data to aid in the design of the flight instruments. Tests included radiation resistance (cobalt60 and 60 MeV protons plus a heavy ion latch-up test for the InGaAs and microbolometer arrays), dark signal, noise, output stability, linearity, crosstalk and spectral response. In addition, the pyroelectric detectors were tested for low microphony.