Proton-induced secondary particle environment for infrared sensor applications

Abstract

We present measurements of the proton-induced secondary particle environment in the vicinity of an infrared focal plane array. Measurements were made of the energy depositions from secondary electrons and scattered protons from the interior of a cryogenic test dewar using an infrared detector array. The results are compared with model predictions and analyzed for implications to space-based infrared sensors.

Transient radiation effects in ultra-low noise HgCdTe IR detector arrays for space-based astronomy

“…The amount of diffusion depends on the hit location with respect to the pixel border. The high end of the test data distribution could be due to delta electrons from the surrounding material in the dewar, scattered protons and rare nuclear reactions, which were not included in the current analysis [9].…”

“…3. These large events could be due to delta electrons and scattered protons (lower energy and higher LET) from the surrounding material, and an occasional nuclear reaction [9].…”