Two-Color Radiation Hardened Gamma-Ray Noise Suppressing FPA Design Program

Radiation Hardened multi-color infrared (IR) focal planes are required for the US Navy Aegis Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) interceptor system. The key to meeting the system requirements for the SM-3 and other missile interceptor systems is the development of multi-color radiation hardened two-color long wave (LW) focal plane arrays (FPAs) with very high pixel operability. One of the shortfalls in current two-color IR FPA technology is the relative immaturity, in terms of transient gamma-ray/beta flux suppression capability, of the readout integrated circuits (ROICs) used. Several FPA manufacturers have demonstrated transient gamma-ray (or gamma) noise reduction in single color ROICs, but none of these FPA sources have addressed gamma noise suppression in multi-color ROICs. Innovative approaches are required to extend existing single-color mitigation techniques and develop new radiation noise mitigation technologies for two-color FPAs. The objective of this proposed Phase I effort is to design a radiation hardened ROIC which will be used in the development and production of an SM-3 two-color IR FPA. The proposed IR FPA will be hardened to radiation induced transient noise, have a high frame rate, simultaneously readout in two colors, and have an SM-3 compatible mechanical and electrical footprint.