Type-II superlattice detectors for high-performance SWaP detectors and HOT HD applications at IRnova

In this paper, the main parameters contributing to the high-imaging quality of IRnova's Type-II superlattice (T2SL) detectors are studied: the sensitivity, uniformity, modulation transfer function (MTF) and random telegraph signal (RTS). High-sensitivity and good uniformity across the detectors are displayed by their low-noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) with average values of 22 mK (@ F/5.5, 125 K) and very narrow histograms. MTF values very close to the ideal ones have been demonstrated for Oden MW detectors, reaching 0.6 at the Nyquist frequency, along with a single-digit number of flickering pixels. Furthermore, thanks to the optimization of design and fabrication processes of Oden MW detectors, diffusion-limited dark current densities have been reached that are independent of the perimeter/area ratio for the pitch sizes down to 10 μm. Leveraging this achievement is the upcoming Njord MW HD detector (1280×1024 pixels, 10 μm pitch), for which the bias- and temperature-dependence have been assessed using IRnova's in-house simulations tools. NETD values lower than 25 mK are shown for temperatures up to 140 K. The simulations were based on measured bias- and temperature- dependencies of the detectors on 10 μm pitch, combined with parameters of the dedicated 1280×1024 ROIC on 10 μm pitch design.