content 20-May-2013 07:05:45

Advanced Technologies - Legacy
The Advanced Technologies Section is engaged in developing innovative technologies for current and future astronomical detectors, for ground-based, spaceborne and lander based applications.

Technology development activities are often applicable to several different potential future missions rather than linked to a single mission or application.

Some of these technologies may be applicable beyond the astronomy/astrophysics field and benefit other domains (e.g. medical detector applications).

The key areas under development are:

  • Scintillation detectors for gamma-rays
  • Compound semiconductor X-ray detectors (GaAs, TlBr, InP and others)
  • Extrinsic semiconductor BIB (blocked-impurity-band) technology detectors
  • Neutron detectors
  • IR bolometers
  • Quantum Well infrared detectors
  • Active Pixel Sensors
  • Cryogenic detectors
  • Micro-coolers for low-temperature detectors
  • Novel infrared suppression filters
  • Lightweight X- and gamma-ray optics (both for planetary and astrophysics applications)
  • Microwave polarimeter
  • Optical components for interferometry
  • Interferometry aperture synthesis and optical phased arrays
  • Formation flight
  • Sensors and analytical instrumentation for water detection
  • Miniaturised payload for planetary exploration
  • Ice penetrator

Last Update: 15 March 2012

For further information please contact: SciTech.editorial@esa.int

See also

  • X-ray and gamma-ray optics (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=50173)
  • LaX3 scintillator research (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=50172)