AstroPix: A Pixelated HVCMOS Sensor for Space-Based Gamma-Ray Measurement

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2501.11698v1.pdf (23.26 MB)

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http://arxiv.org/abs/2501.11698

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https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2501.11698
 http://hdl.handle.net/11603/37674

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UMBC Faculty Collection
UMBC Center for Space Sciences and Technology (CSST) / Center for Research and Exploration in Space Sciences & Technology II (CRSST II)

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Date

2025-01-20

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journal articles
preprints
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This work was written as part of one of the author's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.
Public Domain

Subjects

Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics

Abstract

A next-generation medium-energy gamma-ray telescope targeting the MeV range would address open questions in astrophysics regarding how extreme conditions accelerate cosmic-ray particles, produce relativistic jet outflows, and more. One concept, AMEGO-X, relies upon the mission-enabling CMOS Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor silicon chip AstroPix. AstroPix is designed for space-based use, featuring low noise, low power consumption, and high scalability. Desired performance of the device include an energy resolution of 5 keV (or 10% FWHM) at 122 keV and a dynamic range per-pixel of 25-700 keV, enabled by the addition of a high-voltage bias to each pixel which supports a depletion depth of 500 um. This work reports on the status of the AstroPix development process with emphasis on the current version under test, version three (v3), and highlights of version two (v2). Version 3 achieves energy resolution of 10.4 +\- 3.2 % at 59.5 keV and 94 +\- 6 um depletion in a low-resistivity test silicon substrate.