Description: In this proposed Phase II E/X, we plan on further developing the novel Quanta Image Sensor (QIS) imaging platform for use in future NASA missions as well as other scientific, industrial and consumer, low-light, photon-counting applications. The outcome of this project will be a UV/EUV photon-counting QIS camera module that is visible light blind and does not require electron avalanche multiplication. This sensor will have photon-number resolving capability in addition to low dark count rate and high quantum efficiency with high spatial resolution, large image format, low operating voltage and low power consumption. This technology will overcome the limitations of the previous technology by achieving this performance at room temperature, with ~100% duty cycle, strong radiation tolerance and zero dead time. The R&D work in Phase I provided a fundamental base for this development and gave a complete picture of the performance that was achieved with the previous generation of QIS detectors. During Phase II, a second-generation QIS test chip was designed, fabricated, and tested. The new test chip was able to demonstrate significantly improved performance both relative to the previous generation QIS device as well as the other devices currently available on the market. The work to be performed during this Phase II E/X will enable Gigajot to translate the successful R&D performed in Phase I and Phase II into a commercial product.

Benefits: The potential result of this project will be a photon-number resolving UV/EUV image sensor that is visible-blind, making it one of the only types of detectors of its kind. This device could be used to accurately determine the UV/EUV quantum yield of Silicon, which has not been done before. UV detection can be used for a number of astrophysics studies including studying proto-planets, exoplanet atmospheres, coronagraph, and surface reflectance. This would be beneficial to future NASA missions such as HabEx, LUVOIR and the ESA-NASA Solar Orbiter.

There are a number of other applications that could also benefit from this work. Many high-end imaging applications such as scientific imaging could utilize this detector for flow cytometry or fluorescence microscopy. Industrial and automotive applications could use this detector for high-resolution surface inspection or for long range flame detectors.