The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) is a high resolution IR spectrometer (lambda/Delta lambda congruent to 1200) which will map global temperatures and identify atmospheric aerosols from orbit by monitoring key atmospheric absorption lines. The focal plane consists of ten bilinear photovoltaic (PV) and two photoconductive (PC) HgCdTe detector arrays (modules) sampling a 3.7 to 15.4 mu m spectral window in 15 bands. To attain the desired temperature accuracy, tight constraints on focal plane performance parameters such as linearity better than 0.1%, quantum efficiency (QE) on the order of 70%, low noise or noise equivalent quantum flux density (NEQFD), and no outages at key spectral lines have been imposed. Assessment of focal plane performance begins at the detector and readout levels where flight candidate detector arrays and CMOS readouts are selected. PV detector arrays and their readouts are hybridized (PC modules are wire-bonded directly) into modules which are then individually tested under simulated flight conditions. Five of the twelve module types are incorporated into an engineering-level (EM) focal plane upon which the module level tests are repeated as a prelude to the fabrication and testing of a separate, fully populated, flight-level (PFM) focal plane. Module testing has demonstrated that many difficult system requirements have been met, and work continues to optimize module performance. Lockheed Martin IR Imaging Systems'(LMIRIS) overall design of the infrared (IR) Detector/Dewar assembly and focal plane development program is given, followed by a summary of PV and PC module data.

AIRS is a key instrument in NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) Program. Passive IR remote sensing is performed using a high resolution grating spectrometer design with a wide spectral coverage focal plane assembly (FPA). The hybrid HgCdTe focal plane consists of twelve modules, ten photovoltaic (PV) and two photoconductive (PC), providing spectral response from 3.7 to 15.4 micrometers. The PV modules use silicon readout integrated circuits (ROICs) joined to the detector arrays as either direct or indirect hybrids. The PC modules are optically chopped and led out to warm electronics. Operating at 58 K, the sensitivity requirements approach BLIP in the critical 4.2 and 15.0 micrometer bands. The optical footprint coupled with the support and interface components of the focal plane make it a very large assembly, 53 mm multiplied by 66 mm. Dispersed energy from the grating is presented to the modules through 17 narrowband filters mounted 0.2 mm above the focal plane in a single, removable precision assembly. With PV and PC devices on the same focal plane operating simultaneously, shielding and lead routing as well as ROIC design have been optimized to minimize any interactions between them. Multilayer carriers have been designed to lead out the closely spaced PC arrays and the entire focal plane itself. Multilayer shielded flex cables are used to interconnect the focal plane to a very unique dewar. The tightly spaced optical pattern, along with more than 50 components in the focal plane, make this a highly complex assembly. The vacuum dewar, while providing approximately 600 leadouts, is directly coupled to the cold spectrometer and operates at 155 K while cooling the focal plane to 58 K via a sapphire rod interfaced to a pulse tube cooler. This paper discusses the key features of the FPA/dewar assembly, modeling/analyses done in support of the design, and results of design validation activities to date.

There has been significant progress during the past several years in photovoltaic (PV) HgCdTe technology for advanced long wavelength remote sensing applications. Useful cutoff wavelengths have been extended to beyond 17.0 micrometer. Junction quality has been improved to the point that D* greater than 3 multiplied by 1011 cm-(root)Hz/W can be achieved in arrays at temperatures of 60 - 65 K. The atmospheric infrared sounder (AIRS) instrument, scheduled for launch in the year 2000 as part of the NASA EOS Program, uses over 4000 PV HgCdTe detector elements organized into ten linear multiplexed arrays, with cutoff wavelengths extending as far as 15.0 micrometer at 60 K. The AIRS instrument also uses two long linear arrays of photoconductive (PC) HgCdTe detectors for the 13.7 - 15.4 micrometer band. These PC detector arrays have cutoff wavelengths of 16.0 - 17.0 micrometer and achieve D* values of 3 - 5 multiplied by 1011 cm-(root)Hz/W at 60 K. PV HgCdTe offers many advantages over PC HgCdTe for advanced remote sensing instruments: negligible 1/f noise, much higher impedance so that cold preamps or multiplexers are possible, configurational versatility with backside- illuminated two-dimensional arrays of closely spaced elements, 10X - 100X better linearity, dc coupling for measuring the total incident photon flux, and a (root)2 higher BLIP D* limit. In this paper we compare the relative merits of PV and PC HgCdTe for advanced remote sensing instruments, and we review recent data for both PV and PC HgCdTe arrays with cutoff wavelengths as long as 17.5 micrometer.

Higher resolution and wider IR spectral coverage is needed to improved infrared sounding instruments. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), chosen by NASA to fly on the Earth Observing System, addresses these needs with advanced PV HgCdTe detector arrays designed to cover the spectral range from 3.7 micrometers to 13.6 micrometers with an average resolution of (lambda) /(Delta) (lambda) equals 1200. High performance detectors and advanced readout integrated circuit electronics make it possible to meet mission requirements. For convenience, the AIRS focal plane has been partitioned into four MWIR modules spanning the spectral range from 3.7 micrometers to 8.22 micrometers , and six LWIR modules for wavelengths above 8.8 micrometers . This paper focuses on the AIRS readout device and recent developments in p-on-n heterojunction detector technology at Loral. The detector arrays, operating at 60 K, readily satisfies the requirements of the AIRS instrument. Detector arrays with 4.7 micrometers cutoff wavelength at 60 K and 20 mV reverse bias have RdAs typically greater than 1010 (Omega) (DOT) cm2, with dark signals less than 0.6 fA and detector capacitances less than 0.6 pf for a 50 micrometers by 10 micrometers detector. AR coated MW arrays exhibit quantum efficiencies of greater than 80 percent. Reverse breakdowns are more than -150 mV. Module data for 15.1 micrometers detectors with anti-reflection coating exhibit quantum efficiencies greater than 70 percent and dark currents less than 8 nanoamps at 20 mV reverse bias. Also, excellent module linearity meeting the AIRS stringent requirements is achieved. Of course, measurements of MW detectors require extremely high gain transimpedance amplifiers. The AIRS MWIR readout structures prove to be exceptional in their ability to characterize these high impedance detectors. The charge sensitive input amplifiers on these readout devices utilize an equivalent input integration capacitor of less than 10 fFd to achieve ultrahigh transimpedance gain, and reset noise is suppressed with on focal plane correlated double sampling. LWIR readouts use ultralow noise buffered direct injection preamplifiers. The readouts have a robust architectures with differential input and outputs to minimize EMI and built in redundancy for survivability. Description of the readout device is presented, as well as linearity measurements of both the readout and complete modules.

AIRS is a key facility instrument on the first post meridian platform as part of NASA'a Earth Observing System (EOS) program. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder measurement technique is based on passive IR remote sensing using a high spectral resolution grating spectrometer. The structure of the infrared focal plane for the AIRS instrument has been defined and is presented in this paper. The optical footprint of 8.1 mm by 36.3 mm along with the necessary support and interface components leads to a focal plane assembly of 53 mm by 66 mm, the largest ever built at LIRIS. With 4208 diodes and 274 photoconductors in the same focal plane to achieve the wide spectral coverage from 3.7 to 15.4 micrometers , a modular approach is required. Ten PV modules utilize silicon readout integrated circuits (ROICs) joined to the detector arrays as either direct or indirect hybrids while two PC modules cover the 13.7 to 15.4 mm range, optically chopped and led out to uncooled preamplifiers. The simultaneous operation of PV and PC devices in the same focal plane has required unique approaches to shielding, ROIC output design and lead routing. High D*'s of 7E14 and 3E11 cm- Hz1/2/W are needed to meet the sensitivity requirements of the 4.2 and 15.0 micrometers regions respectively. The 35 micrometers by 800 micrometers PC detectors on a 50 micrometers pitch have necessitated modifications to standard delineation techniques, while the MW performance is nearly D* BLIP for PV devices. Dispersed energy is presented to the modules through 17 narrow band filters packaged into a single precision assembly mounted within 0.18-0.25 mm of the focal plane surface. The more than 50 components comprising the focal plane in conjunction with the tightly spaced optical pattern presented by the grating add a high degree of complexity to the assembly process. This paper focuses on the architectural constraints derived from performance, interface, and reliability requirements. Key aspects of these requirements are presented and their impact on the partitioning of the 12 modules is discussed. The rationale for the spectral range assigned to each module is reviewed relative to PV and PC performance capabilites. ROIC design guidelines and physical contraints due to manufacturability and assembly. Results of structural and thermal analyses for the various module configurations and assembled focal plane to determine compliance with the stringent stability and positional requirements are presneted. Specific features of the module carrier/interface boards and the multilayered focal plane carrier/interface board are included as well as a review of the overall assembly sequence of the focal plane as influenced by repairability and reliability considerations. The comprehensive redundance strategy applied to the design of the FPA/dewar assembly will be reviewed, and the approach for operation/survival in the radiation environment is discussed. Key features of the ROIC, PV, and PC array designs will be presented along with results of analyses performed.