Enhanced broadband (11-15 µm) QWIP FPAs for space applications

A thirty months ESA project started in March 2008, whose overall purpose is to expand and assess the performance of broadband (11-15 µm) quantum detectors for spectro-imaging applications: Dispersive Spectrometers (DS) and Fourier Transform Spectrometers (FTS). We present here the technical requirements, the development approach chosen as well as preliminary signal to noise ratio (SNR) calculations. Our approach is fully compatible with the final array format (1024x256, pitch 50-60μm). We expect the requested uniformity, operability and SNR levels to be achieved at the goal temperatures (60K for FTS applications and 50K for DS applications). The performance level will be demonstrated on 256x256, 50µm pitch arrays. Also, operability and uniformity issues will be addressed on large mechanical 1024x256 hybrid arrays.