Detector characterization of a near-infrared discrete avalanche photodiode 5×5 array for astrophysical observations
Abstract
We present detector characterization of a state-of-the-art near-infrared (950nm - 1650 nm) Discrete Avalanche Photodiode detector (NIRDAPD) 5×5 array. We designed an experimental setup to characterize the NIRDAPD dark count rate, photon detection efficiency (PDE), and non-linearity. The NIRDAPD array was illuminated using a 1050 nm light-emitting diode (LED) as well as 980 nm, 1310 nm, and 1550 nm laser diodes. We find a dark count rate of 3.3×106 cps, saturation at 1.2x108 photons per second, a photon detection efficiency of 14.8% at 1050 nm, and pulse detection at 1 GHz. We characterized this NIRDAPD array for a future astrophysical program that will search for technosignatures and other fast (> 1 Ghz) astrophysical transients as part of the Pulsed All-sky Near-infrared Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (PANOSETI) project. The PANOSETI program will consist of an all-sky optical (350 - 800 nm) observatory capable of observing the entire northern hemisphere instantaneously and a wide-field NIR (950 - 1650 nm) component capable of drift scanning the entire sky in 230 clear nights. PANOSETI aims to be the first wide-field fast-time response near-infrared transient search.
- Publication:
-
Infrared Technology and Applications XLV
- Pub Date:
- May 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.2519207
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1906.03837
- Bibcode:
- 2019SPIE11002E..2GL
- Keywords:
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- Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 8 pages, 7 figures, 1 table