Recent Progress on Developments and Characterization of Hybrid CMOS X-ray Detectors

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in hybrid CMOS X-ray detectors, emphasizing their suitability for future space missions due to improved read-out speed and radiation hardness, with experimental results from developed sensors.

Contribution

It presents new developments and testing results of hybrid CMOS sensors specifically designed for X-ray detection in space applications.

Findings

Hybrid CMOS sensors demonstrate fast read-out capabilities.

Tests show enhanced radiation hardness of developed sensors.

Potential for integration into future space-based X-ray telescopes.

Abstract

Future space-based X-ray telescope missions are likely to have significantly increased demands on detector read out rates due to increased collection area, and there will be a desire to minimize radiation damage in the interests of maintaining spectral resolution. While CCDs have met the requirements of past missions, active pixel sensors are likely to be a standard choice for some future missions due to their inherent radiation hardness and fast, flexible read-out architecture. One form of active pixel sensor is the hybrid CMOS sensor. In a joint program of Penn State University and Teledyne Imaging Sensors, hybrid CMOS sensors have been developed for use as X-ray detectors. Results of this development effort and tests of fabricated detectors will be presented, along with potential applications for future missions.