{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":17488,"title":"Proof-of-concept and feasibility demonstrations for an avalanche photodiode/photoelastic modulator-based imaging polarimeter","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10741,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10740,"level":3,"code":"TX08.1.1","title":"Detectors and Focal Planes","definition":"Detectors, focal planes and readout integrated circuits provide large-format array technologies that require high quantum efficiency (QE); low noise, high resolution, uniform, and stable response; low power and cost; and high reliability. These technologies include low-noise, high-speed, low-power and radiation hardened readout integrated circuit (ROIC) electronics; superconducting sensors; spectral detectors; polarization-sensitive detectors; radiation-hardened detectors; and micro-Kelvin and sub-Kelvin high sensitivity detectors that cover the spectrum from submillimeter wave (Far-IR) to X-ray.","exampleTechnologies":"Backshort Undergrid bolometer arrays, Mercury Cadmium Telluride and Strained Superlattice Arrays, charge coupled devices, sidecar readout integrated circuits, radiometric calibration and abnormality correction algorithms (e.g. non-uniformity)","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":2,"currentTrl":2,"description":"Building on the successful heritage of JPL's Multiangle SpectroPolarimetric Imager (MSPI), we propose infusing HgCdTe avalanche photodiode (APD) array technology into the MSPI camera architecture. This concept includes a custom readout integrated circuit (ROIC) that demodulates the 42 kHz waveform from a single photoelastic modulator (PEM) by sorting the APD charge pulses into 3 bins associated with each pixel, from which intensity I and Stokes parameters Q and U are derived. This innovation yields superior signal-to-noise performance and extends MSPI polarimetry into the ultraviolet and midwave infrared, enabling characterization of high-altitude hazes and the vertical gradient of droplet sizes near the tops of liquid water clouds. These new capabilities are important because the recent slowdown in global mean surface temperature rise has been linked to stratospheric aerosols, and cloud-top droplet size information helps mitigate biases in microwave retrievals of precipitation rates. MSPI's current dual-PEM approach requires two detector rows at any given wavelength to recover I, Q, and U (confining polarimetry to a few bands), and incurs a noise penalty that requires pixel averaging to improve performance and limits the polarimetric spectral range to the visible through shortwave infrared. The proposed technology eliminates one PEM from each camera, reduces mass, and recovers I, Q, and U at all UV-MWIR wavelengths with just one detector row in each band. We will validate this approach in the laboratory using a small APD array. To demonstrate the feasibility of meeting the speed, noise, and power constraints for a large pushbroom array, we will design and simulate the custom ROIC that performs the on-chip temporal multiplexing, and fabricate and test the critical pixel-level charge-sorting circuit. The entry level of this technology is TRL 2. Our 32-month investigation will advance the overall demodulation approach to TRL 3 and the in-pixel sorting circuit to TRL 4.","destinations":[{"lkuCodeId":1543,"code":"EARTH","description":"Earth","lkuCodeTypeId":526,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"DESTINATION_TYPE","description":"Destination Type"}}],"startYear":2015,"startMonth":1,"endYear":2017,"endMonth":8,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":105613,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"David","lastName":"Diner","fullName":"David J Diner","fullNameInverted":"Diner, David J","middleInitial":"J","primaryEmail":"david.j.diner@jpl.nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":363458,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Pamela","lastName":"Millar","fullName":"Pamela S Millar","fullNameInverted":"Millar, Pamela S","middleInitial":"S","primaryEmail":"pamela.s.millar@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":16561,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Amber","lastName":"Emory","fullName":"Amber E Emory","fullNameInverted":"Emory, Amber E","middleInitial":"E","primaryEmail":"amber.emory@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"coInvestigators":[{"contactId":415970,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Russell","lastName":"Chipman","fullName":"Russell Chipman","fullNameInverted":"Chipman, Russell","primaryEmail":"russell.chipman@optics.arizona.edu","publicEmail":false,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":55745,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Bruce","lastName":"Hancock","fullName":"Bruce R Hancock","fullNameInverted":"Hancock, Bruce R","middleInitial":"R","primaryEmail":"bruce.r.hancock@jpl.nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":333993,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Michael","lastName":"Hoenk","fullName":"Michael Hoenk","fullNameInverted":"Hoenk, Michael","primaryEmail":"Michael.Hoenk@jpl.nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":210340,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jeff","lastName":"Beck","fullName":"Jeff Beck","fullNameInverted":"Beck, Jeff","primaryEmail":"Jeff.Beck@drs.com","publicEmail":false,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":259861,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Karen","lastName":"Piggee","fullName":"Karen R Piggee","fullNameInverted":"Piggee, Karen R","middleInitial":"R","primaryEmail":"karen.r.piggee@jpl.nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":499135,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Xiaoli","lastName":"Sun","fullName":"Xiaoli Sun","fullNameInverted":"Sun, Xiaoli","primaryEmail":"xiaoli.sun-1@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"caption":"ALHAT - ETD Autonomous Landing & Hazard Avoidance Tech Earth Science Technology Office","file":{"fileExtension":"png","fileId":5117,"fileName":"91-1373479894122","fileSize":234412,"objectId":6698,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"228.9 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"png","fileId":5117,"fileName":"91-1373479894122","fileSize":234412,"objectId":6698,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"228.9 KB"}],"id":6698,"title":"91-1373479894122.png","description":"ALHAT - ETD Autonomous Landing & Hazard Avoidance Tech Earth Science Technology Office","libraryItemTypeId":1095,"projectId":17488,"primary":true,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1095,"code":"IMAGE","description":"Image","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}}],"transitions":[],"primaryImage":{"file":{"fileExtension":"png","fileId":5117,"fileSizeString":"0 Byte"},"id":6698,"description":"ALHAT - ETD Autonomous Landing & Hazard Avoidance Tech Earth Science Technology Office","projectId":17488,"publishedDateString":""},"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"SMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4909,"organizationName":"Science Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"ACT","active":true,"description":"
Objectives
The ACT funds the research, development, and demonstration of component- and subsystem-level technologies to reduce the risk, cost, size, mass, and development time of missions and infrastructure.
The ACT brings instrument, platform, and information system components to a maturity level that allows their integration into other NASA-funded technology projects, such as those funded by the Instrument Incubator Program. The ACT advances core component technologies to a technology readiness level (TRL) that enables their eventual infusion into missions. Some components are directly infused into mission designs by flight projects. Other components “graduate” to other programs for further development.
Although current ACT investments are primarily geared toward developing components for instruments, the ACT also develops new ways to perform measurements and process data products to expand research and application capabilities.
Overview
Advanced Component Technologies (ACT) implements technology developments that advance the state-of-the-art of instruments, Earth- and space-based platforms, and information systems. The ACT program
ESTO's technology development approach is end-to-end: