High Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy VII

High energy, optical, and infrared detectors are critical to the performance of astronomical observatories. Improvement in these detectors is critical to improving the sensitivity and quality of imaging and spectroscopic data collected on astronomical objects. In the next decade, increasingly larger focal plane arrays will be central to many new instruments and observatories. For high energy detectors, new detector technologies enable new observatory concepts. For optical detectors, nearly perfect arrays have been achieved using CCD detectors. Some CCDs now achieve reflection limited QE from UV to ~900nm, 2 electrons readout noise, high linearity, large dynamic range, and hundreds of millions of pixels in large mosaic focal planes, however recent telescopes performing precision measurements are uncovering new subtle effects in these detectors. Optical CMOS-based detectors while not extending their QE as far to the red, are beginning to appear in backside illuminated form and have the promise of achieving CCD performance, while offering lower power and lower noise at high frame rates, and added functionality such as flexible and complex region of interest readout. This conference will explore the latest developments in both of these technologies. Meanwhile, infrared detector performance continues to improve and infrared arrays are now being made larger, faster and with lower noise: 16 megapixel arrays have been demonstrated, quantum efficiency is over 80%, and readout noise can be as low as 3-5 electrons with multiple sampling. Furthermore, avalanche photodiodes made of HgCdTe are improving and single photon counting is now possible. 

This biennial conference provides a leading forum for the presentation of the latest advancements in high energy, optical, and infrared detectors. Research groups and manufacturers are encouraged to provide up-to-date reviews of their work in the field. The conference will cover new detector technologies currently under development for near-term space missions and ground-based applications, goals for long-range technology development, lessons learned from existing flight detectors and detector calibration, radiation and reliability issues. This conference will allow ample time for discussion and interaction between participants.