The primary goal of the HAWAII 4RG-15 (H4RG-15) development is to provide a 16 megapixel 4096x4096 format at significantly reduced price per pixel while maintaining the superb low background performance of the HAWAII 2RG (H2RG). The H4RG-15 design incorporates several new features, notably clocked reference output and interleaved reference pixel readout, that promise to significantly improve noise performance while the reduction in pixel pitch from 18 to 15 microns should improve transimpedance gain although at the expense of some reduction in full well and possible increase in crosstalk. We report the results of very preliminary characterization of a science grade Phase 2 kc 2.5 p.m H4RG-15 operated in both conventional and Interleaved Reference Pixel (IRP) 32-output mode and have demonstrated that the CDS averaged read noise at 200 kHz pixel rate is comparable to, and possibly slightly below, that of the best Phase 1 H4RG-15s. We have also investigated the characteristics of pixels exhibiting RTN in the IRP frames.

Teledyne’s H2RG focal plane arrays have been widely used in scientific infrared and visible instruments for ground-based and space-based telescopes. The majority of applications use the H2RG with 2.5 micron cutoff HgCdTe detector pixel at an operating temperature of ~77 K (LN2). The exceptionally low dark current of the 2.5 micron H2RG allows for operation at higher temperatures which facilitates simplified instrument designs and therefore lower instrument cost. Performance data of 2.5 micron H2RG arrays at 77K, 100 K, and 120 K are presented and are discussed as a function of detector bias and pixel readout rate. This paper also presents performance data of 1.75 micron and 5.3 micron H2RG focal plane arrays and discusses some of the inherent performance differences compared to 2.5 micron cutoff arrays. A complete infrared camera system that uses the H2RG focal plane array and SIDECAR ASIC focal plane electronics is introduced.

Teledyne’s silicon hybrid CMOS focal plane array technology has matured into a viable, high performance and high- TRL alternative to scientific CCD sensors for space-based applications in the UV-visible-NIR wavelengths. This paper presents the latest results from Teledyne’s low noise silicon hybrid CMOS visible focal place array produced in 4K×4K format with 10 μm pixel pitch. The H4RG-10 readout circuit retains all of the CMOS functionality (windowing, guide mode, reference pixels) and heritage of its highly successful predecessor (H2RG) developed for JWST, with additional features for improved performance. Combined with a silicon PIN detector layer, this technology is termed HyViSI™ (Hybrid Visible Silicon Imager). H4RG-10 HyViSI™ arrays achieve high pixel interconnectivity (<99.99%), low readout noise (<10 e- rms single CDS), low dark current (<0.5 e-/pixel/s at 193K), high quantum efficiency (<90% broadband), and large dynamic range (<13 bits). Pixel crosstalk and interpixel capacitance (IPC) have been predicted using detailed models of the hybrid structure and these predictions have been confirmed by measurements with Fe-55 Xray events and the single pixel reset technique. For a 100-micron thick detector, IPC of less than 3% and total pixel crosstalk of less than 7% have been achieved for the HyViSI™ H4RG-10. The H4RG-10 array is mounted on a lightweight silicon carbide (SiC) package and has been qualified to Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6). As part of space qualification, the HyViSI™ H4RG-10 array passed radiation testing for low earth orbit (LEO) environment.

The primary goal of the HAWAII 4RG-15 (H4RG-15) development is to provide a 16 megapixel 4096x4096 format at significantly reduced price per pixel while maintaining the superb low background performance of the HAWAII 2RG (H2RG). The H4RG-15 design incorporates several new features, notably clocked reference output and interleaved reference pixel readout, that promise to significantly improve noise performance while the reduction in pixel pitch from 18 to 15 microns should improve transimpedance gain although at the expense of some degradation in full well and crosstalk. During the Phase-1 development, Teledyne has produced and screen tested six hybrid arrays. In preparation for Phase-2, the most promising of these are being extensively characterized in the University of Hawaii's (UH) ULBCam test facility originally developed for the JWST H2RG program. The end-to-end performance of the most promising array has been directly established through astronomical imaging observations at the UH 88-inch telescope on Mauna Kea. We report the performance of these Phase-1 H4RG-15s within the context of established H2RG performance for key parameters (primarily CDS read noise), also highlighting the improvements from the new readout modes.

In preparation for the large number of infrared pixels required in the era of Extremely Large Telescopes, Teledyne, in partnership with the University of Hawaii and GL Scientific, has been funded to develop the next generation of largeformat infrared focal plane array for ground-based astronomy; the 4096 × 4096 pixel (15 micron pitch) H4RG-15. Teledyne has successfully designed, produced, and tested the first generation H4RG-15 prototype arrays. This paper reports on the functionality and performance test results of the H4RG-15 prototypes and provides status of the 2012 pilot production effort.

Teledyne Imaging Sensors develops and produces high performance infrared sensors, electronics and packaging for astronomy and civil space. These IR sensors are hybrid CMOS arrays, with HgCdTe used for light detection and a silicon integrated circuit for signal readout. Teledyne manufactures IR sensors in a variety of sizes and formats. Currently, the most advanced sensors are based on the Hawaii-2RG (H2RG), 2K×2K array with 18 μm pixel pitch. The HgCdTe detector achieves very low dark current (<0.01 e-/pixel/sec) and high quantum efficiency (80-90%) over a wide bandpass. Substrate-removed HgCdTe can simultaneously detect visible and infrared light, enabling spectrographs to use a single focal plane array (FPA) for Visible-IR sensitivity. The SIDECARTM ASIC provides focal plane electronics on a chip, operating in cryogenic environments with very low power (<11 mW). The H2RG and SIDECARTM have been qualified to NASA Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6). Teledyne continues to advance the state-of-the-art and is producing a high speed, low noise array designed for IR wavefront sensing. Teledyne is also developing a 4K×4K, 15 µm pixel infrared array that will be a cost effective module for the large focal planes of the Extremely Large Telescopes and future generation space astronomy missions.