Speaker
Description
The Quantum Capacitance Detector (QCD) is a new high-sensitivity direct detector under development for low background applications such as far-infrared spectroscopy from a cold space telescope. The QCD has demonstrated an optically-measured noise equivalent power of 2x10-20 W Hz-1/2 at 1.5THz, making it among the most sensitive far-IR detectors systems ever demonstrated, and meeting the requirements for spaceborne spectroscopy. The QCD has also demonstrated single photon detection and counting of 1.5THz radiation. Up to this point, a readout frequency of the order of 2.8GHz has been used. For spaceborne applications, a reduction of readout frequency is desired in order to minimize the readout power requirements. To that effect, we have fabricated and tested a 5x5 array of Quantum Capacitance Detectors with pixel readout frequencies between 613 and 648MHz. There were 4 different detector designs in the array. We have characterized the array under optical illumination with 1.5THz radiation. The measured Noise Equivalent Powers measured under 10-19W of optical loading varied between 2x10^-20 and 6x10-20W/Hz^1/2.
| Student (Ph.D., M.Sc. or B.Sc.) | N |
|---|---|
| Less than 5 years of experience since completion of Ph.D | N |
