High Performance Detector Technologies

Subtopic Problem Statement/Description: Technologies that support ultraviolet (UV), X-ray, and gamma ray detector and instruments are needed to support missions and programs aligned with the National Academies' Astro2020 Decadal Survey (Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s) [Ref. 1] and the NASA's Astrophysics Division priorities [Refs. 2-4]. Advancements in UV detector capabilities have potential to impact the detector system decisions currently being assessed for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), and X-ray astrophysics has potential short-term needs in instruments for a Probe Class mission that could launch within a decade. This subtopic covers detector requirements for a broad range of wavelengths from UV through gamma ray for applications in Astrophysics, Earth Science, Heliophysics, and Planetary Science [Refs. 5-7]. Requirements across the board are for greater numbers of readout pixels, lower power, faster readout rates, greater quantum efficiency, low noise (e.g. enabling photon counting), and enhanced energy resolution. The subtopic broadly seeks advancements in both semiconductor and superconductor-based detector technologies, as well as supporting components such as next-generation readouts, magnetic shielding, and additive manufacturing of electronics (AME) for high-density interconnects in focal planes. Superconducting detector technologies, especially single-photon devices, are also being investigated for NASA astrophysical applications in future space missions. Distant sources in astrophysics are naturally in the photon-starved regime, which makes them suitable for quantum applications. This necessitates the exploitation of quantum effects to obtain the highest sensitivity observations allowed by nature. Proposed efforts must be directly linked to a requirement for a NASA mission and should reference current NASA missions and mission concepts where relevant. These include, but are not limited to: Explorers, Discovery, Cosmic Origins, Physics of the Cosmos, Solar-Terrestrial Probes, Vision Missions, and Earth Science Decadal Survey missions [Refs. 8-13]. Proposals are expected to be linked a particular critical gap from the the current state of the art as described in the subtopic's priority items. Note: Detector technologies aimed at infrared (IR) applications should be directed to the INSTALG.2.S26A subtopic.