A detector characterization setup for testing performance under space environmental conditions

Abstract

We report on the design of a new laboratory setup for testing the performance of optical and thermal sensors at temperatures ranging from 50 K to 350 K and pressures ranging from ambient atmospheric pressures down to 10´5 mbar. The system will be built around a closed-cycle cooled cryostat which houses the device under test. Optical stimuli will be provided by a calibrated selectable light source which provides collimated light from an integrating sphere or a cavity blackbody. Bandpass filters as well as imaging targets can be selected for determining the spectral response and modular transfer function. Data acquisition from the device under test will be accomplished using an automated test bench based on a custom-made FPGA interface adaption board.