# Stray and Scattered Light Considerations in a Non-contiguous Array of Commercial CMOS Sensors in a Space Mission

## TL;DR

This paper discusses the challenges and mitigation strategies for stray and scattered light in a non-contiguous CMOS sensor array for space telescopes, highlighting design considerations and optical complexities.

## Contribution

It introduces specific stray light mitigation strategies tailored for non-contiguous CMOS sensor arrays in space telescopes, addressing unique optical and mechanical challenges.

## Key findings

- Analysis of stray light paths in non-contiguous arrays
- Design considerations for filter placement and ghost mitigation
- Impact of additional mechanical structures on scattered light

## Abstract

Recent advances in CMOS technology have potential to significantly increase the performance, at low-cost, of an astronomical space telescope. Arrays of sensors in space missions are typically contiguous and act as a monolithic detector. A non-contiguous array, with gaps between individual commercial CMOS detectors, offers potential cost and schedule benefits but poses a unique challenge for stray/scattered light mitigation due to complexities in the optomechanics. For example, if the array of detectors is being fed a large field of view, then each detector will have a different angle of incidence. Any individual bandpass filters need to be held perpendicular to the incoming beam so as not to create variances of central wavelength transmission from detector to detector. It naturally follows that the optical design can force filter ghosts to fall between detectors. When dealing with well-focused, high-intensity beams, first and second order stray light path analyses must be conducted to determine scattered light from glints off of individual optics/opto-mechanics or detector specific vane structures. More mechanical structures are necessary for imaging with non-contiguous arrays, all of which have potential to increase scattered light. This proceeding will document various stray light mitigation strategies for a non-contiguous array of sensors in a space telescope.