ARIEL early engineering model H1RG IR detector: test bench description and first characterization results

Abstract

The fourth medium class ESA mission Atmospheric Remote-Sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey also known as ARIEL is dedicated to the study of exoplanets. The goal of this mission is to characterize the atmosphere of exoplanets to find out what they are made of, how they form and evolve. The satellite is composed of two instruments: AIRS, for ARIEL Infrared Spectrometer, and a Fine Guidance System (FGS) which is used both to monitor the satellite position and as a near infrared spectrometer and photometer. AIRS instrument is made of two channels; one covers the spectral range 1.95 μm – 3.9 μm (called CH0) and the other 3.9 μm – 7.8 μm (called CH1). Both detectors are H1RG IR detectors based on MCT (Mercury Cadmium Telluride) technology. During AIRS’ operations, the detectors will be operated in window mode. On CH1, the targeted window size is set to 64 columns over 130 lines. We will present the first results of characterization of early engineering model of CH1 detector performed on a dedicated test bench at the Astrophysics department of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). The detector control electronics is based on home developed electronics which is very similar to the one which will be used onboard of the AIRS instrument. The detector is operated in differential mode using the separate reference output available on the H1RG detectors. First the AIRS acquisition chain will be presented and then we will present he characterization results acquired with the detector operated in window mode.