Why Detectors are Important Don Figer RIDL, RIT

2 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium This is Why Detectors are Important TRANSLATION: With better detectors, you make more discoveries, solve more problems, cure more people, identify more threats, reduce war, and manage resources more effectively.

3 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Make Discoveries: Galactic Center El Centro Galáctico: Gatley/NOAO/KPNO, (PtSi array) G. Neugebauer & E. E. Becklin/Caltech (PbS)

4 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium The Galactic Center: Closeup Forrest, Pipher, & Stein 1986, IRTF, 32x32 InSb

5 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium ”Imaging” Detectors for non-imaging Applications: Spectroscopy Figer et al. 2000

6 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Cure People

7 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Identify Threats Threats to national space security assets – inter-continental ballistic missiles – anti-satellite kill vehicle – orbital debris – laser blinding systems Threats to people/homeland – bio/chem hazards – dirty bombs

8 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Reduce War Monitoring – treaty compliance – nuclear proliferation – arms buildup Enabling pre-emptive strikes Enabling conflict resolution

9 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Manage Resources Water Vegetation Forests Atmosphere (e.g. ozone)

10 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Enter Quantum-Limited Imaging Detectors

11 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Quantum-Limited Imaging Detectors These detectors are limited by the information carried by a photon. – existence – wavelength – polarization The task to realize these detectors is difficult. It’s “easier said than done…..”

12 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Read Noise

13 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Better Detector or Bigger Telescope

14 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium James Webb Space Telescope

15 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Hunt for Dark Energy Brown 2007, PhD Thesis

16 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Finding Earth-like Planets Clampin 2005, SDW

17 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Imaging at Night

18 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Traditional Low-Light Limitations Integration Time ShortInfinite

19 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium LIDAR+Photon Counting Simulation 3D Point CloudIntegrated 2D Intensity Image Utilizing Laser for Illumination LIDAR Imaging Full MoonHalf MoonNew Moon Gm-APD as a Photon Counter Under Ambient Illumination

20 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Key Detector Characteristics Dark Current Dark Current λ/Δλ QE λ λ Read Noise Read Noise ΔtΔt ΔtΔt Quantum-Limited Imaging Detector P P Earth System Science Earth System Science Biomedical Imaging Biomedical Imaging Homeland Safety Homeland Safety Defense

21 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Challenges

22 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium QLID Technology Challenges Non-standard (non-CMOS) fabrication Cold temperature operation (10’s mK?) False counts (afterpulsing) Long dead times Low spectral resolution Polarization?

23 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Challenges=$$$

24 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium George Smith and Willard Boyle Invent CCDs at Bell Labs in 1969

25 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium The First Astronomical CCD Image In 1973, the American company Fairchild Imaging developed their first commercial CCD. Consisting of 100 x 100 pixels, it was used in 1974 to produce the first astronomical photo ever taken by a digital camera. It consisted of an image of the Moon captured using a 20-centimetre telescope, by Jim Janesick (

26 IT Collaboratory 2009 Research Symposium Summary Detectors play a crucial role in high performance photon sensing instruments. Some of the most demanding future applications require new advanced detectors. We are at the cusp of the era of quantum- limited imaging detectors