PLATO fast front end electronics (F-FEE): performance results of the flight models

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Abstract

The Fast Front End Electronic (F-FEE) is a unit of the Fast Camera payloads for ESA’s PLATO mission, which aims at finding and characterising extra-solar planetary systems. In order to achieve its objectives, PLATO relies on high-precision photometry of a large field to continuously monitor and detect transiting exoplanets. The scientific payload of PLATO is based on a multitelescope approach, involving a set of 24 normal cameras working at a cadence of 25 s and monitoring stars with visual magnitude V fainter than V = 8. In addition, PLATO uses two fast cameras working at a cadence of 2.5 s and observing stars in the magnitude range from four to eight. Besides providing star brightness measurements for bright stars, the fast cameras also work as fine guidance sensors for the attitude control system of the spacecraft. Each fast camera is equipped with four CCDs with 4510 × 2255 pixels each, working in frame transfer mode (with 4490 x 2245 light sensitive pixels). The two flight models (FMs) of the F-FEE have now been integrated, tested, and delivered. Performance tests were conducted using first simulated CCD signals where an arbitrary signal generator was used to simulate the PLATO CCD270 signals. This enabled detailed analysis of crosstalk, linearity, gain, and noise at both unit and electronics board levels and allowed optimizing the ADC configuration during development. Following the tests with simulated CCD signals, the F-FEE FMs were tested using four FM CCD270 with flat field and single pixel illuminations under thermal vacuum conditions. During these tests, the CCD temperatures were maintained at −55 °C, while the F-FEE temperature was varied between −40 °C and +25 °C in 10 °C increments. At each temperature, flat field illuminations with varying exposure times were used to assess non-linearity, gain, read noise, dark current, offset, photo response non-uniformity and full well capacity. Single pixel illumination were used to determine the crosstalk but also to characterize the signal chain in terms of over- and undershoot behavior.

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• PLATO fast front end electronics (F-FEE): performance results of the flight models. (deposited 07 Jan 2026 12:47) [Currently Displayed]