Evaluation of a solid state photomultiplier focal plane array in the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command CALM facility

摘要

Abstract: The U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command facility for the characterization of advanced low-background mosaics (CALM) is operated by Rockwell International Corporation. The facility supports a cryogenic test chamber with controlled background (flood) and target sources. The test chamber allows the measurement of focal plane array response to a moving point image in the presence of a radiant background that may be controlled over a range from less than 10$+9$/ to over 10$+14$/ photons/second-square centimeter. An ancillary data acquisition system is capable of performing a 15-bit analog-to-digital conversion of focal plane array output data and storing processed digital data at 2 megabytes per second. This paper describes the facility and its use in the evaluation of a solid state photomultiplier (SSPM) focal plane array. The SSPM is a back illuminated, impurity band conduction device capable of detecting individual photons over infrared wavelengths extending from 1 to 28 micrometers. A description of the test configuration, test conduct, and data analysis are presented along with results of the SSPM evaluation. !7