NASA SBIR 2006 Solicitation
FORM B - PROPOSAL SUMMARY
PROPOSAL NUMBER: |
06-2 S4.02-9622 |
PHASE 1 CONTRACT NUMBER: |
NNX07CA52P |
SUBTOPIC TITLE: |
Detector Technologies for UV, X-Ray, Gamma-Ray and Cosmic-Ray Instruments |
PROPOSAL TITLE: |
A Near-Infrared Photon Counting Camera for High Sensitivity Astronomical Observation |
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Intevac, Inc.
3560 Bassett Street
Santa Clara, CA 95054 - 2704
(408) 654-9869
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Leslie Tack
ltack@intevac.com
3560 Bassett Street
Santa Clara, CA 95054 - 2704
(408) 588-2150
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words)
The innovation is a Near Infrared Photon-Counting Sensor (NIRPCS), an imaging device with sufficient sensitivity to capture the spectral signatures, in the wavelength range 0.9-1.7 um from very faint extra-solar targets and events with high resolution. The NIRPCS will have near zero read noise and dark rates below the read noise to support photon counting for frame capture times as high as 10 seconds. Up to 10/5 frames can be sequentially captured and digitally averaged. Important NASA applications for the NIRPCS include spectral measurements on extra-solar planets in search of water and bio-markers and measuring the dynamics of galaxies at high redshift to better understand the formation process. The technical objectives of Phase II are centered on more focused study on the behavior of the TE photocathode at the very low cooling temperatures anticipated for the ultimate implementation of this sensor technology by NASA for the astronomy application. The modeling results of the Phase I effort showed that reduction of the electric field in the InP, due to applied cathode bias, reduced the bias dependant hole avalanche and absorber generation contributions to the cathode dark current. Factors of 3.8x and 48.2x reduction in dark current resulted for two redesigned cathodes at an operational temperature of 200K and +2V cathode bias. This occurred by redesign of the epitaxial structure in which the p-doped cap layer was eliminated. However, too much reduction of the electric field in the InP may also reduce the escape probability of hot electrons in the InP to vacuum thereby reducing quantum efficiency. Therefore a technical Phase II objective is to execute a design of experiment (D.O.E) to determine the best epitxial design for maximum quantum efficiency and reduced dark current.
POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
1. Intevac's MOSIRTM camera platform: The NIRPCS will allow Intevac to advance the sensitivity of Intevac's MOSIRTM camera platform to support many important scientific and commercial applications including (i) ground based astronomy applications that require photon counting capability; and (ii) low light Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy (iii) detection of very small defects in semiconductor products (iv) optically monitoring and controlling the photo induced cancer chemotherapy treatments
2. Stand-Off bomb detection and stand-off hazmat/first responder platform: The MOSIR with the NIRPCS will support detection of threats at stand-off distances as much as 50 meters including bomb detection. Hazardous materials, and stand-off chemical analysis for first responder teams.
3. Intevac's Military Night Vision Products and Technology: We foresee reuse of this technology for DOD passive night vision imaging applications, including soldier mobility and target identification, in the 0.9-1.7 um wavelength band.
POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
1. Improve all NIR measurements in the 950-1700 nm band where performance is presently limited by sensor and rad noise and dark current.
2. Spectral measurements on extra-solar planets in search of water and bio-markers.
3. Measuring the dynamics of galaxies at high redshift to better understand the formation process.
4. Space communications systems that require 2-D near infrared photon counting sensors (currently under development at NASA/JPL)
NASA's technology taxonomy has been developed by the SBIR-STTR program to disseminate awareness of proposed and awarded R/R&D in the agency. It is a listing of over 100 technologies, sorted into broad categories, of interest to NASA.
TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING |
Photonics
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Form Generated on 08-02-07 14:39
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