Long wavelength photoconductive detectors for airborne and orbital infrared astronomy

Seven gallium doped germanium (Ge:Ga) photoconductive infrared detectors were fabricated and mounted in integrating cavities. In addition, a cold preamplifier package consisting of J230 junction field effect transistors (JFETs) was produced. Tests of the system under low photon background conditions indicated that sensitivity was limited by the Johnson noise of the load resistor. The detectors were mounted in the Ames cooled grating spectrometer, and flown on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. Good quality astronomical data were obtained during the flight of 7 July 1983.