Developments in MCT technology at ASELSAN

ASELSAN, the largest defense company in Türkiye, develops high performance electro-optical systems for various applications. Research and development activities have been carried out on developing HgCdTe (MCT) detectors for long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) and mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR). In this paper, recent results for VGA 15μm pitch MWIR MCT detectors at IDDCA level are presented. P-on-n MCT epilayers are used for FPA fabrication with either mesa or planar pixel structures. Typically, over 99% operability and less than 20mK NETD values are achieved for 15μm pitch 640x512 format MWIR MCT FPAs at IDDCA level (F/4) in a repeatable fashion. Thermal cycle, mechanical shock, vibration and environmental tests (such as storage and operation under hot and cold temperatures) were applied to these MWIR MCT IDDCAs and passed successfully. Besides ongoing efforts on development of FPAs with 15μm pixel pitch, development activities for pixel pitch reduction also initiated recently for MWIR MCT and very promising results are achieved.