Initial Assessment of Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Cells as Large-Area Sensors for Precise Flux Calibration

TL;DR

This study explores the potential of using large-area monocrystalline silicon solar cells as precise flux calibration sensors for astrophysical instrumentation, aiming to improve calibration accuracy at the millimagnitude level.

Contribution

It provides initial characterization data on silicon solar cells for their application as large-area flux calibration sensors in astronomy.

Findings

Solar cells show promising linearity and uniformity.

Dark current and noise levels are acceptable for calibration.

Further detailed testing is recommended.

Abstract

As the precision frontier of large-area survey astrophysics advances towards the one millimagnitude level, flux calibration of astronomical instrumentation remains an ongoing challenge. We describe initial testing of silicon solar cells as large-aperture precise calibration photodiodes. We present measurements of dark current, linearity, frequency response, spatial response uniformity, and noise characteristics of the Sunpower C60 solar cells, an interdigitated back-contact 125mm x 125mm monocrystalline solar cell. We find that these devices hold considerable promise as large-area flux calibration sensors and warrant further characterization.