Designing large pixelated CdTe detection planes for hard X-ray transients detection

TL;DR

This paper explores the design and challenges of large pixelated CdTe detection planes for hard X-ray transient detection, emphasizing their importance for future multi-messenger astronomy and GRB detection.

Contribution

It demonstrates the suitability of CdTe detectors for large-area detection planes and discusses key parameters for their implementation in future wide-field X-ray monitors.

Findings

CdTe detectors are well suited for large detection planes.

Larger field of view enhances GRB detection more than effective area.

Design considerations for detectors exceeding 1 m².

Abstract

We discuss the need for very large detection planes for the detection of hard X-ray transients in the multi-messenger era that started with the quasi-simultaneous detection of GRB~170817A by \textit{Fermi}/GBM and \textit{INTEGRAL}/SPI on one hand and the gravitational waves event GW 170817, detected by the LVC collaboration, on the other hand. Then, we present a brief survey of current and future instruments and their expected sensitivity, pointing the fact that the gain in the number of GRBs is achieved by future projects thanks to their larger field of view rather than to their larger effective area. Based on our experience with \textit{SVOM}/ECLAIRs, we then address various problems associated with the realization of very large detection planes (\mbox{$\ge 1 \mathrm m^{2}$}), and we demonstrate that CdTe detectors are well suited for this task. We conclude with a discussion of some key parameters that must be taken into account in the realization of instruments based on these detectors. We hope that this paper will motivate the elaboration of detailed proposals of large area wide-field hard X-ray monitors that will be crucially needed in the next decade.