New Sensing Capabilities for Space Situational Awareness

This proposal addresses a revolutionary approach to the objective of developing large field-of-view, high-sensitivity VLWIR/SWIR sensors to detect and track space objects. This Phase I effort will emphasize development of low background, thermal infrared (IR) Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs) with multi-waveband capability. During the Phase I effort we will use new methods to decrease the dark current and improve the sensitivity of detectors and develop new techniques for pixel-collocated multi-waveband capability. Our approach to this Phase I is a revolutionary approach, to develop a new junction architecture, the lateral-collection planar micro-junction based on single-layer Liquid Phased Epitaxy (LPE), that is more tolerant of defects and that eliminates interfaces and process steps where contamination and defects can be introduced. Furthermore, this new technology will be pixel-collocated sensitive to VLWIR/SWIR and will be compatible with usual (as produced by BAE Systems) silicon Read Out Integrated Circuits (ROICs) for back illuminated Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs). Supporting this effort is BAE SYSTEMS. BAE SYSTEMS has agreed to donate to the small company long wave infrared material to as well as full use of its extensive infrared processing facility.