15 micron cutoff HgCdTe Infrared Detector Arrays for Exo-Astronomy

Abstract

The University of Rochester (UR) infrared detector group is working together with Teledyne Imaging Sensors to develop megapixel HgCdTe 15 µm cutoff wavelength (LW15) detector arrays for future space missions with the goal of identifying key components of biosignatures in the atmospheres of exoplanets. This technology could have the capability of identifying the 15 µm feature, seen in the three terrestrial planets orbiting in a habitable zone in our solar system. Further investigations of the habitability of such rocky planets would then be determined by the detection of abundant oxygen (from the 9.6 µm ozone feature) and water vapor in their spectra.