Large-format high-spatial resolution cross-strip readout MCP detectors for UV astronomy

Vallerga, J. V.; Raffanti, Rick; Tremsin, Anton S.; Siegmund, Oswald H. W.; McPhate, Jason B.; Varner, G.

doi:10.1117/12.857820

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…This would enable use of a larger slit. Current MCP technology has demonstrated spatial resolutions as small as ∼17 μm over a surface area of 47 mm, with potential for expansion to 100 mm [22]. In addition, Apogee backilluminated CCDs can achieve pixels as small as ∼10 μm over a 36 mm surface area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Diffuse Interstellar Cloud Experiment: a high-resolution far-ultraviolet spectrograph

et al. 2012

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We have designed, assembled, and launched a sounding rocket payload to perform high-resolution far-ultraviolet spectroscopy. The instrument is functionally a Cassegrain telescope followed by a modified Rowland spectrograph. The spectrograph was designed to achieve a resolving power (R=λ/δλ) of 60,000 in a compact package by adding a magnifying secondary optic. This is enabled by using a holographically ruled grating to minimize aberrations induced by the second optic. We designed the instrument to observe two stars on opposing sides of a nearby hot/cold gas interface. Obtaining spectra of the O VI doublet in absorption toward these stars can provide new insight into the processes governing hot gas in the local interstellar medium. Here we present the optical design and alignment of the telescope and spectrograph, as well as flight results.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Diffuse Interstellar Cloud Experiment: a high-resolution far-ultraviolet spectrograph

et al. 2012

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“…The grating spectrally disperses the echelle orders and corrects for grating aberrations. 17 • The cross-strip MCP detector 18,19 is circular in format, 40 mm in diameter, and capable of total global count rates of ∼10 6 counts/second. The cross-strip anode allows for high resolution imaging, with the location of a photoelectron cloud determined by the centroid of current readout from nine anode "fingers" along the x and y axes.…”

Section: Instrument Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cross-strip MCP detector was built and optimized to meet the CHESS spectral resolution specifications at Sensor Sciences. 18,19 The detector has a circular format and a diameter of 40 mm. The detector uses two plates made from lead silicate glass, each containing an array of 10 µm diameter channels.…”

Section: Cross-strip Anode Microchannel Plate Detectormentioning

confidence: 99%

The fourth flight of CHESS: spectral resolution enhancements for high-resolution FUV spectroscopy

Kruczek¹,

Nell²,

Fleming³

et al. 2018

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray

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In this proceeding, we describe the scientific motivation and technical development of the Colorado Highresolution Echelle Stellar Spectrograph (CHESS), focusing on the hardware advancements and testing of components for the fourth and final launch of the payload (CHESS-4). CHESS is a far ultraviolet rocket-borne instrument designed to study the atomic-to-molecular transitions within translucent cloud regions in the interstellar medium. CHESS is an objective echelle spectrograph, which uses a mechanically-ruled echelle and a powered (f/12.4) cross-dispersing grating; it is designed to achieve a resolving power R > 100,000 over the band pass λλ 1000-1600Å. CHESS-4 utilizes a 40 mm-diameter cross-strip anode readout microchannel plate detector, fabricated by Sensor Sciences LLC, to achieve high spatial resolution with high global count rate capabilities (∼ MHz). An error in the fabrication of the cross disperser limited the achievable resolution on previous launches of the payload to R ∼ 4000. To remedy this for CHESS-4, we physically stress the echelle grating, introducing a shallow toroidal curvature to the surface of the optic. Preliminary laboratory measurements of the resulting spectrum show a factor of 4-5 improvement to the resolving power. Results from final efficiency and reflectivity measurements for the optical components of CHESS-4 are presented, along with the pre-flight laboratory spectra and calibration results. CHESS-4 launched on 17 April 2018 aboard NASA/University of Colorado Boulder sounding rocket mission 36.333 UG. We present flight results for the observation of the γ Ara sightline.

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“…The cross-strip MCP detector was built and optimized to meet the CHESS spectral resolution specifications at Sensor Sciences. 17,18 The detector has a circular format and a diameter of 40 mm. The microchannel plates are lead silicate glass, containing an array of 10-micron diameter channels.…”

Section: Cross-strip Anode Microchannel Plate Detectormentioning

confidence: 99%

The re-flight of the Colorado high-resolution Echelle stellar spectrograph (CHESS): improvements, calibrations, and post-flight results

et al. 2016

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In this proceeding, we describe the scientific motivation and technical development of the Colorado Highresolution Echelle Stellar Spectrograph (CHESS), focusing on the hardware advancements and testing supporting the second flight of the payload (CHESS-2). CHESS is a far ultraviolet (FUV) rocket-borne instrument designed to study the atomic-to-molecular transitions within translucent cloud regions in the interstellar medium (ISM). CHESS is an objective f/12.4 echelle spectrograph with resolving power > 100,000 over the band pass 1000 − 1600Å. The spectrograph was designed to employ an R2 echelle grating with "low" line density. We compare the FUV performance of experimental echelle etching processes (lithographically by LightSmyth, Inc. and etching via electron-beam technology by JPL Microdevices Laboratory) with traditional, mechanically-ruled gratings (Bach Research, Inc. and Richardson Gratings). The cross-dispersing grating, developed and ruled by Horiba Jobin-Yvon, is a holographically-ruled, "low" line density, powered optic with a toroidal surface curvature. Both gratings were coated with aluminum and lithium fluoride (Al+LiF) at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). Results from final efficiency and reflectivity measurements for the optical components of CHESS-2 are presented. CHESS-2 utilizes a 40mm-diameter cross-strip anode readout microchannel plate (MCP) detector fabricated by Sensor Sciences, Inc., to achieve high spatial resolution with high count rate capabilities (global rates ∼ 1 MHz). We present pre-flight laboratory spectra and calibration results. CHESS-2 launched on 21 February 2016 aboard NASA/CU sounding rocket mission 36.297 UG. We observed the intervening ISM material along the sightline to Per and present initial characterization of the column densities, temperature, and kinematics of atomic and molecular species in the observation.

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Large-format high-spatial resolution cross-strip readout MCP detectors for UV astronomy

Cited by 11 publications

References 17 publications

The Diffuse Interstellar Cloud Experiment: a high-resolution far-ultraviolet spectrograph

The Diffuse Interstellar Cloud Experiment: a high-resolution far-ultraviolet spectrograph

The fourth flight of CHESS: spectral resolution enhancements for high-resolution FUV spectroscopy

The re-flight of the Colorado high-resolution Echelle stellar spectrograph (CHESS): improvements, calibrations, and post-flight results

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