An innovative architecture for a wide band transient monitor on board the HERMES nano-satellite constellation

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel compact wide-band X-ray and gamma-ray detector architecture for nanosatellite missions, utilizing silicon drift detectors and scintillators to achieve broad energy sensitivity within strict size and sensitivity constraints.

Contribution

It introduces an innovative detector architecture with custom ASICs and integration solutions enabling wide energy range detection from 2 keV to 2 MeV on nanosatellites.

Findings

Achieved wide energy range sensitivity from 2 keV to 2 MeV.

Demonstrated compactness suitable for nanosatellite constraints.

Validated performance of the integrated detector system.

Abstract

The HERMES-TP/SP mission, based on a nanosatellite constellation, has very stringent constraints of sensitivity and compactness, and requires an innovative wide energy range instrument. The instrument technology is based on the "siswich" concept, in which custom-designed, low-noise Silicon Drift Detectors are used to simultaneously detect soft X-rays and to readout the optical light produced by the interaction of higher energy photons in GAGG:Ce scintillators. To preserve the inherent excellent spectroscopic performances of SDDs, advanced readout electronics is necessary. In this paper, the HERMES detector architecture concept will be described in detail, as well as the specifically developed front-end ASICs (LYRA-FE and LYRA-BE) and integration solutions. The experimental performance of the integrated system composed by scintillator+SDD+LYRA ASIC will be discussed, demonstrating that the requirements of a wide energy range sensitivity, from 2 keV up to 2 MeV, are met in a compact instrument.