ShortWave Infrared Focal plane Technology for Close-range Active Mineralogy Mapping (SWIFT-CAMM)

We propose to develop a Photon-Counting Integrated Circuit (PCIC) mega-pixel focal plane array (FPA) imager with highest sensitivity, lowest noise and hence highest signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) among all imagers covering the shortwave infrared band, and to incorporate the prototype PCIC imager into a prototype imaging spectroscopy CAMM instrument for real-time operation on a planetary surface to guide rover targeting, sample selection (for missions involving sample return), and science optimization of data returned to earth, thus improving science return from instruments used to study the elemental, chemical, and mineralogical composition of planetary materials. During Phase I, we will develop and prototype a limited-size array of PCIC detector pixels as well as design and model the imaging spectrometer CAMM instrument. In Phase II, we will develop and prototype a mega-pixel PCIC focal plane array (FPA) imager as well as the imaging spectrometer CAMM instrument incorporating the PCIC imager.