First measurements with DUO/ROSITA pnCCDs

A new generation of pnCCDs has been developed for the proposed X-ray astronomy missions, DUO and ROSITA. The DUO/ROSITA CCD is a frame store pnCCD based on the concept of the XMM-Newton pnCCD and has both, improved performance and new features. This detector permits accurate spectroscopy of X-rays as well as imaging and high time resolution with high quantum efficiency in the energy band from 0.3 keV to 10 keV. Interfering electron-hole pair generation due to optical and UV light is prevented by a deposition of an on-chip filter. We describe the frame store pnCCDs developed and fabricated for the DUO and ROSITA missions in the semiconductor laboratory of the Max-Planck-Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik. An overview about the CCD concept and design is given along with some details about the fabrication of the devices. In addition, we introduce a new analog signal processor which has been developed specifically for the readout of the frame store pnCCD signals. The main focus of this paper is to present the very first measurements with this CCD type and its analog signal processor. Towards this aim we report the operation of this new sensor and its key performance parameters. Finally we discuss ongoing and future tests with the DUO/ROSITA CCDs.