I. Prochazka1, J. Kodet1,2, J. Blazej1 K.G. Kirchner3, F. Koidl3

Presented at

Workshop on Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris 27 - 28 April 2015,Laboratoire APC, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France

1Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic2TU Munich, Geodetic Observatory Wettzell, Bad Kötzting, Germany

3Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria

Solid State Photon Countersfor Laser Ranging to Orbital Space Debris

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

OUTLINE

Requirements put on detectors

Detectors available - review

Si SPAD detectors

Ge, InGaAs SPAD detectors

Superconducting detectors

Conclusion

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

Requirements put on detectors for space debris laser ranging

EXPERIMENT ENERGY BUDGET= > single photon response

high Photon Detection Efficiency (PDE)

LASER SOURCES AVAILABLE & SAFETY= > sensitive @ 532 or 1064 or 1550 nm

OPTICAL TRACKING TELESCOPE FoV= > detector aperture >= (50) 100 um

FIELD OPERATION, ROBUST AND RELIABLE

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

Photon counting detectors key parameters for laser ranging

VACUUM / PHOTOCATHODE basedApertures 1 mm .. 1 meterWavelength range UV ….. 1550 nmPhoton Detect.Eff. 30 % ….0.1 %

SEMICONDUCTING detectorsApertures up to 0.5 mmWavelength 532 ... 1064 nm Si 532 ... 1550 nm Ge / 77K 1064 . 1550 nm InGaAsPDE 70 % .. 1 % Si

SUPERCONDUCTING detectors (kryo-cooled)Apertures max. 10 um (50 um ?)Wavelength 532 …. 1550 nm PDE > 50 % @ 1550 nm

Si SPAD 500um, TE cooled

Superconducting detector 10 x 10 um

Hamamatsu photomultipliers

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

Single Photon Detectors made by CTU since 1984

Si ,200 um,TE cooled GaAs messa GaAsP, 350 um

Complete detector packages

60 mm

130 mm

Detector chips

Active quenching and gating circuit

I. Prochazka, Phys. Status Solidi, Vol 2, No.5, 1524-1532 (2005)

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

Si SPAD Detector Package for SLR

Detector aperture 200 um , f/D=1, => acceptable FoV

Photon Det. Efficiency >~ 30 % @ 532 nm

Used by > 20 SLR stations worldwide

Applied for the first space debris laser tracking demonstration

Self-consistent compact package SPAD 200 um, 3 x TE cooled in vacuum collecting optics f/D = 1.0 active quenching and gate circuit 50 x 50 x 130 mm, 300 g

I.Prochazka et al, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 84, 046107 (2013)

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

SPAD detector package for SLRapplied for space debris laser tracking

Shanghai, China, discarded US rocket (ID 2007-006G)July 17, 2008

Mt. Stromlo, Australia, 2003 www.eos-aus.com/space/education/..

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

SPAD detector package with high PDEfor space debris tracking

High Photon Detection Efficiency PDE SAP500 detector by Laser Components APD on Si, 0.5 mm diameter, ~ 100 V break. PDE exceeds 60 % @ 532 nm @ 15V ab

(M.Stipcevic, 2011)

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

SPAD detector package with high PDE #2for space debris tracking

HQE Detector package developed Standard SPAD housing & optics Single TE cooling to -8oC 1 : 1 replaceable to other SPADs

detectors at SLR systemsmechanics/optics/signals/cables

220 ps @ 15V ab

< 25 kHz @ 15V ab

Prochazka I, et al, Journal Advances in Space Research, JASR11779

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

SPAD detector package with high PDE #3Space debris tracking, G.Kirchner, F.Koidl, Graz August 2013

Range 2174 km

targets distances up to 3200 kmtargets cross section min 0.3 m2

effective return quote 0.3 … 26 % ranging precision 0.3 … 4 m

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

Germanium SPAD Detector Packagefor 1540 nm , 1994 -

Ge SPAD, 100 um / 77 K

PDE 2 - 5% @ 1540 nm

dark count >= 1 MHz

SLR and space debris LR @ 1540 nm demonstrated: CRL Tokyo, EOS Australia at Mt. Stromlo

250 mm

H.Kunimori et al, Journal of Optics, Pure and Applied Optics, No.2 (2000), p1-4

I.Procházka et al, Optics Letters, Vol.21 (17), September 1, (1996), p 1375-1377

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

InGaAs/InP Photon Detectors

Fujitsu, ø 30 μm FPD5W1KS

Wavelength range VIS … 1550 nm

Active area 60 um diameter max.

Detection efficiency > 15 % @ 1064 nm 13 % @ 1550 nm

Dark count rate < 25 kHz / - 60 C

InGaAs technology still in progress

candidate for 1064 nm operation in a near future

Separate absorption multiplication APD S.Cova, NIST 2004 ,I.Procházka, Applied Optics, Vol 40, No 33, p.1-6, 2001

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

Single Quantumsuperconducting nanowire single photon

detectors

• Sensitive from UV to MIR• High efficiency for NIR: >75% for 1310nm,>70%

1550nm • Short dead time: 5-10 ns• High time resolution: < 50 ps time jitter • Low noise: tunable dark countrate 1-100 Hz• Small size 10 (50 ?) um diameter only

G. Bulgarini, Val Zviler, Single Quantum BV, Lorentzweg 1, 2628CJ Delft, Netherlands

I.Prochazka et al, Laser solutions for Orbital Space Debris. Université Paris Diderot, 2015

Conclusion

Photon counting is the only receiver option for laser rangingto orbiting space debris.

SPADs based on Si provide good detection efficiency at 532 nm, existing, available, heritage

SPADs based on InGaAs are promising candidates for 1064 nm range, energy budget IF available

Supeconducting detectors are a dream for future systemsoperating at 1540 nm, energy budget, eye safety IF available

Good News - Europe is a leader in developing these detectors

We should not miss this chance !

Thanks for your attention