HgCdTe APD Arrays for Astronomy: Natural Guide Star Wavefront Sensing and Space Astronomy

Abstract

This dissertation describes work I have conducted over five academic years 2013/14 through 2017/18 as a NASA Space Technology Research Fellow at the University of Hawai'i Institute for Astronomy. The focus has been the characterization and improvement of the Selex Avalanche Photodiode HgCdTe InfraRed Array (SAPHIRA), a 320 x 256@24um pitch metal organic vapor phase epitaxy mercury cadmium telluride array that provides new capabilities and performance for near infrared (NIR) astronomy. This has involved more than a dozen arrays, working closely with the manufacturer so as to provide feedback for improvement of the next generation.

PhD thesis Successfully defended 9 May 2018. 126 pages. Committee members were Donald Hall, Christoph Baranec, Jessica Lu, Jeffrey Kuhn, and John Learned