大面积硅微条探测器在轨数据压缩算法的设计与实现

硅微条探测器具有位置分辨高、响应快、低噪声、低功耗等优点,广泛应用在各大加速器试验中,测量粒子径迹.新世纪以来,逐渐应用于空间探测领域.计划中的"悟空"2号暗物质粒子探测卫星的硅微条探测器将至数十万计,将产生海量的原始数据.如何实现探测器快速实时的数据压缩,是其需要解决的一大难题.立足于面向空间应用的硅微条探测器在轨实时压缩算法,算法采用FPGA (Field-programmable Gate Array)搭建流水线结构的方式实现,在提高系统集成度、节省逻辑资源的同时,批量数据处理时最高可将数据压缩率提升至38.4 M通道/s.算法结构具有通用性,设计思想和方案将为"悟空"2号的径迹探测器的研制提供参考.     

空间太阳硬X射线成像仪量能器读出电子学设计

先进天基太阳天文台(ASO-S)是中国科学院空间科学先导专项2期规划的太阳观测卫星,其针对第25个太阳活动峰年,同时观测太阳磁场、日冕物质抛射和太阳耀斑爆发.硬X射线成像仪(HXI)作为该卫星3个科学载荷之一,实现了高时间分辨率和空间分辨率的太阳硬X射线成像观测,其量能器由99套溴化镧闪烁晶体-光电倍增管探测单元和读出电子学板构成,实现了30–200 keV的硬X射线光子能谱测量.针对HXI量能器的观测需求,设计了一套空间高事例率读出电子学系统,并通过实验室测试,证明了该系统单事例读出死时间小于2μs,同时验证了该系统电子学噪声小于120 fC,积分非线性小于2%,满足HXI仪器要求.     

硬X射线成像望远镜系统初步研究

介绍了基于傅立叶变换成像技术的硬X射线成像望远镜,利用双层平行光栅对天体X射线源发出的光进行调制编码,调制后的光由闪烁晶体探测器捕捉并进行光电转换,最后由电子学系统读出.调制准直器型望远镜分为空间调制和时间调制两种类型,时间调制系统要求探测器系统的扫描运动,而空间调制系统不需要运动.对光栅制作工艺进行了研究,给出了准直器的基本结构设计,成功制作了空间调制方式硬X射线成像望远镜原型机所需的关键部件,包括8个碘化铯晶体的探测器模块(含光电倍增管PMT)、8通道成型放大器(其中两套为实验备份)和数据获取系统.对这些部件的设计作了介绍,并给出了电子学系统的测试结果.     

1.2--2.2 GHz宽带低噪声放大器研制

为检测微弱的射电信号,要求望远镜接收机噪声性能良好.低噪声放大器(Low Noise Amplifier, LNA)作为接收机前端关键电路,其噪声系数和增益决定了整机的噪声性能.设计了一款1.2–2.2 GHz的低噪声放大器,电路采用两级级联结构,第2级通过引入负反馈,在改善增益平坦度和拓宽带宽的同时减小噪声,级间经过后级输入阻抗优化后仅需一个隔直电容.并引入有损输出匹配网络,实现高增益、低噪声、良好回波损耗和较为平坦的宽带LNA设计.测试结果表明,在1.2–2.2 GHz频段增益30–33 dB,噪声温度平均值为47 K,输出1 d B压缩点大于11.3 dBm.测试性能良好,可用于该频段接收机系统中.     

BGO量能器大动态范围读出的线性标定系统的设计和实现

暗物质空间探测器是中国科学院紫金山天文台空间实验室提出的,其目的是为了探测暗物质粒子湮灭可能产生的高能电子和伽玛粒子.BGO量能器是暗物质粒子探测卫星主要载荷之一,高能粒子的能量主要沉积在BGO量能器中.为了使探测器覆盖5 GeV~10T'eV的探测范围,要求每个BGO探测单元具有约1.5×10~5的动态范围.为了对这一大动态范围的探测单元进行测试,提出一种比较简易的线性测试方法,并在实验室构建一个相应的测试系统,对BGO量能器探测单元读出系统的线性进行测试.测试结果表明BGO量能器探测单元读出的非线性度好于2.7%.     

暗物质空间探测器BGO量能器的读出设计

暗物质空间探测器是中国科学院紫金山天文台暗物质空间天文实验室提出的,其目的是为了探测暗物质粒子湮灭可能产生的高能电子和伽玛粒子.整个探测器主要由BGO(Bismuth germanate,锗酸铋)高能图像量能器和闪烁体径迹探测器构成.探测器的能量探测范围将覆盖10 GeV到10 TeV的高能电子和伽玛粒子,其中高能粒子的能量主要沉积在BGO量能器中.为了验证探测器方案,紫金山天文台暗物质空间天文实验室设计了暗物质空间探测器BGO量能器的读出系统原型,并对其进行了初步的测试.     

天文选址相机的研制

详细介绍了天文选址用CCD相机的开发研制．系统探测器选用具有累进扫描模式的ICX098ALCCD芯片，采用相关双采样信号读出电路、USB通讯接口实现数据与命令的传输．对系统工作性能进行了详细的测试：12℃条件下暗流约为52adu／see，系统增益(system gain)为2.2e／adu，读出噪声(readout noise)为30e．最后给出了在日本冈山天体物理观测所对大气宁静度的实测结果，该结果与冈山已有仪器测量值吻合．     

超导SIS混频器空间应用发射锁定机构热胀特性测量研究

高灵敏度太赫兹探测模块(High Sensitivity Terahertz Detection Module, HSTDM)是中国空间巡天望远镜---巡天光学设施的后端模块之一, 其核心探测器采用可工作于10K温区的氮化铌超导SIS (Superconductor Insulator Superconductor)混频器. 超导SIS混频前端的锁定机构在力学和热学方面需相应的特殊设计, 以应对发射阶段的力学振动以及工作运行阶段的隔热要求. 为了确认在80K温区锁定机构与混频器前端有效分离, 针对超导SIS混频前端发射锁定机构所用特氟龙材料热胀特性, 开展基于低温LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer)测量和标记划痕法测量以及两种测量方法交叉验证. LVDT实验测量结果表明特氟龙材料收缩率随温度变化与理论模型基本一致, 在80K测得材料收缩率为1.86%. 据此分析, 超导SIS混频前端锁定机构在\lk 80K温度下可与10K冷级的超导SIS混频前端实现有效分离.     

基于100 nm砷化镓pHEMT工艺的C波段宽带低噪声放大器芯片

作为射电天文接收机系统的关键器件, 低噪声放大器的噪声和增益性能对接收机系统的灵敏度有重要影响. 采用100nm砷化镓赝配高电子迁移率晶体管(pseudomorphic High Electron Mobility Transistor, pHEMT)\lk工艺, 研制了一款可覆盖C波段(4--8GHz)的低噪声放大器(Low Noise Amplifier, LNA). 所设计的LNA采用3级共源级联放大拓扑结构, 栅极、漏极双电源供电. 常温下测试表明, 该LNA在4--8GHz频段内平均噪声温度为\lk60K, 在5GHz处获得最低噪声温度50K, 通带内增益($31\pm1.5$)dB, 输入输出回波损耗均优于10dB, 芯片面积为$2.1\times1.1$mm², 可以应用于C波段射电天文接收机以及卫星通信系统等.     

暗物质粒子探测器触发逻辑测试系统的设计和实现?

作为暗物质粒子探测器(DAMPE, Dark Matter Particle Explorer)的一部分,触发系统主要用于判选所需探测的目标粒子(高能电子和伽玛射线)事例,剔除非目标粒子事例。触发系统由触发探测器和触发判选逻辑电路组成。介绍了触发地检测试系统和宇宙线触发系统的设计和功能实现。触发地检系统实现了对触发判选逻辑电路的电子学验证;另外,配合宇宙线触发系统对部分触发逻辑和触发效率进行了测试。主要介绍了触发系统的测试方法和一些初步测试结果。     

Design of the Prototype Readout System of BGO Calorimeter in the Space Dark Matter Detector of Purple Mountain Observatory

A space dark matter detector is proposed by the Key Laboratory of Dark Matter And Space Astronomy of Chinese Academy of Sciences for detecting the high-energy electrons and Gamma particles produced by the annihilation of dark matter in space. The whole detector is mainly composed of the BGO (bismuth germanium oxide) high-energy image calorimeter and scintillation hodoscope. The energy range of the detector will cover the high-energy electrons and Gamma particles of 10 Gev∼10 TeV, in which the energies of high-energy particles are mainly deposited in the BGO calorimeter. For verifying the scheme of the detector, we have designed a prototype readout system for the BGO calorimeter of the space dark matter detector, and made a preliminary test on it.     

The CZT X-ray Imager on AXO

DSRI has initiated a development program of CZT X-ray and gamma raydetectors employing strip readout techniques. A dramatic improvement ofthe energy response was found operating the detectors as so-called driftdetectors. For the electronic readout, modern ASIC chips wereinvestigated. Modular design and the low power electronics will make largearea detectors using the drift strip method feasible. The performance of aprototype CZT system will be presented and discussed. One such detector system has been proposed for future space missions: TheX-Ray Imager (XRI) on the Atmospheric X-ray Observatory (AXO), whichis a mission proposed to the Danish Small Satellite Program and is dedicatedto observations of X-ray generating processes in the Earth's atmosphere. Ofspecial interest will be simultaneous optical and X-ray observations of spritesthat are flashes appearing directly above an active thunderstorm system.Additional objective is a detailed mapping of the auroral X-ray and opticalemission. XRI comprises a coded mask and a 20 cm × 40 cm CZTdetector array covering an energy range from 5 to 200 keV.     

Development of the Emulsion Chamber Detector for Space Observations

The emulsion chamber detector on board the “ShiJian-8” satellite is the first one in China designed especially for observing in space the highenergy electrons and γ-rays. In this paper, the principle of the detector design, the method of data processing and the preliminary results of observations are introduced. The design lifetime of the detector is 15 days on the orbit, and the energy range of detectable particles is 100GeV∼5TeV.     

A Study on the CdZnTe Array Detector

The CdZnTe array detector is a new type of semiconductor detector being rapidly developed in recent years. It possesses a high spatial resolution and a high energy resolution, and it can work at room temperatures. This paper describes the physical properties and working principle of the CdZnTe array detector, as well as the manufacturing technology, including the chip pretreatment, passivation, ohmic electrode preparation, array template selection, and array packaging technology (micro-interconnection). For evaluating the perfor-mance of the detector, the authors have developed successfully a 4 pixel×4 pixel CdZnTe array and an 8 pixel×8 pixel CdZnTe array (with the thicknesses of 5 mm and 2 mm, the pixel size of 2 mm×2 mm, and the gaps of 0.15 mm and 0.2 mm, respectively) in cooperation with the partner. A multi-channel electronic readout system based on the ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) chip is devel-oped independently for the charge measurement of the 4 pixel×4 pixel CdZnTe array. The energy spectra and corresponding energy resolutions of the 16 pixels are obtained with the ¹³⁷Cs radiative source, among them the best resolution is 4.8%@662 kev.     

A Preliminary Research on the Development of the Hard X-ray Imaging Telescope

The hard X-ray imaging telescope based on the Fourier transform imaging technique is introduced. The double-layer parallel gratings are used to make the modulation and coding on the light emerging from a celestial X-ray source, the modulated light is acquired, to make the optoelectronic conversion by scintillation crystal detectors, and ?nally read out by the electronic system. The modulation collimator X-ray telescopes can be divided into two types: the spatial modulation and temporal modulation. The temporal modulation system requires the scanning motion of the detector system, but the spatial modulation system requires no motion. The technology of grating fabrication is investigated, and the basic structure design of the collimators is given. The principal compo- nents of the prototype hard X-ray imaging telescope of spatial modulation type are successfully developed, including the 8 CsI crystal detector modules (contain- ing photomultipliers or PMTs), 8-channel shaping ampli?ers (two of them are prepared for experiments), and the data acquisition system. And the preliminary test results of the electronic system are also given.     

Spada: An Array of Spad Detectors For Astrophysical Applications

Astrophysical studies require accurate, sensitive and fast detectors to detect faint sources with high variability. Recently an array of Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD), SPADA, has been developed. This array is suitable for competitive adaptive optics operations and fast transient image acquisition at a fraction of the current cost of imaging arrays. The fabricated solid-state photon counters are rugged, easily integrated with the optics, free from readout noise, and have very fast frame rates (> 10 kHz, for visible corrections) with nanosecond electronic gating. In this paper, the following are described: the development of silicon monolithic arrays of 60 photon-counters, the detection electronics (based on integrated active quenching circuits for each pixel of the array), the real-time data-processing board implemented into FPGA and some aspects of the mechanical housing.     

High‐order adaptive optical system for Big Bear Solar Observatory

A high‐order Adaptive Optical (AO) system for the 65 cm vacuum telescope of the Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) is presented. The Coudé‐exit of the telescope has been modified to accommodate the AO system and two imaging magnetograph systems for visible‐light and near infrared (NIR) observations. A small elliptical tip/tilt mirror directs the light into an optical laboratory on the observatory's 2^nd floor just below the observing floor. A deformable mirror (DM) with 77 mm diameter is located on an optical table where it serves two wave‐front sensors (WFS), a correlation tracker (CT) and Shack‐Hartman (SH) sensor for the high‐order AO system, and the scientific channels with the imaging magnetographs. The two‐axis tip/tilt platform has a resonance frequency around 3.3 kHz and tilt range of about 2 mrad, which corresponds to about 25″ in the sky. Based on 32 × 32 pixel images, the CT detects image displacements between a reference frame and real‐time frames at a rate of 2 kHz. High‐order wave‐front aberrations are detected in the SH WFS channel from slope measurements derived from 76 sub‐apertures, which are recorded with 1,280 × 1,024 pixel Complex Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) camera manufactured by Photobit camera. In the 4 × 4 pixel binning mode, the data acquisition rate of the CMOS device is more than 2 kHz. Both visible‐light and NIR imaging magnetographs use Fabry‐Pérot etalons in telecentric configurations for two‐dimensional spectro‐polarimetry. The optical design of the AO system allows using small aperture prefilters, such as interference or Lyot filters, and 70 mm diameter Fabry‐Pérot etalons covering a field‐of‐view (FOV) of about 180″ × 180″.     

Photon Spectroscopy with Imaging X-Ray Instruments

Individual X-ray photons in the keV energy range produce hundreds of photoelectrons in a single pixel of a CCD array detector. The number of photoelectrons produced is a linear function of the photon energy, allowing the measurement of spectral information with an imaging detector system. Most solar X-ray telescopes, such as Yohkoh/SXT and Hinode/XRT, use CCD detectors in an integrating mode and are designed to make temperature estimates from multiband filter photometry. We show how such instruments can be used in a new way to perform a limited type of this photon spectroscopy. By measuring the variance in intensity of a series of repeated images through a single filter of an X-ray source, the mean energy per detected photon can be determined. This energy is related to the underlying coronal spectrum, and hence it can be used to deduce the mean plasma temperature. We apply this technique to data from the Yohkoh Soft X-Ray Telescope and compare the temperatures obtained with this technique with the temperatures derived using the standard filter ratio method for a postflare loop system. Given the large dynamic range of the soft X-ray flux observed from the Sun, we describe the requirements for a future instrument that would be better suited to performing photon spectroscopy. B.J. Labonte deceased 24 October 2005.