Abstract
Space-based gamma-ray telescopes such as the Fermi Large Area Telescope have used single sided silicon strip detectors to measure the position of charged particles produced by incident gamma rays with high resolution. At energies in the Compton regime and below, two dimensional position information within a single detector is required. Double sided silicon strip detectors are one option; however, this technology is difficult to fabricate and large arrays are susceptible to noise. This work outlines the development and implementation of monolithic CMOS active pixel silicon sensors, AstroPix, for use in future gamma-ray telescopes. Based upon detectors designed using the HVCMOS process at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, AstroPix has the potential to maintain the high energy and angular resolution required of a medium-energy gamma-ray telescope while reducing noise with the dual detection-and-readout capabilities of a CMOS chip. The status of AstroPix development and testing as well as outlook for application in future telescopes is presented.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 020 |
| Journal | Proceedings of Science |
| Volume | 420 |
| State | Published - May 8 2023 |
| Event | 10th International Workshop on Semiconductor Pixel Detectors for Particles and Imaging, Pixel 2022 - Santa Fe, United States Duration: Dec 12 2022 → Dec 16 2022 |
Funding
The AstroPix_v3 quad chip will be used on the Astropix Sounding rocket Technology dEmonstration Payload (A-STEP), currently scheduled for launch in late 2024. The 2U payload will consist of three layers of AstroPix_v3 quad chips with a thin aluminum housing (Fig. 9b), along with supporting electronics. A sounding rocket flight of roughly 10 minutes will take A-STEP 500 km above ground and provide the opportunity to measure cosmic rays and gamma rays. The project intention is to demonstrate functionality of the AstroPix sensors in a relevant space environment by reconstructing these charged particle tracks. The A-STEP project kicked off in October 2022 led through Goddard Space Flight Center with support from Wallops Flight Facility engineering support and the Sounding Rocket Program Office for coordination and planning.