LUVCam the Little Ultraviolet Camera: a low-cost high-performance UV CMOS camera

Aaron Tohuvavohu; Mark Barnet; Shaojie Chen; Christopher Damaren; Maria Drout; Julia Empey; Jean-Christophe Fronteddu; Braden Gail; Ajay Gill; Gavin Hay; Sarik Jeram; Christopher Matzner; Patrick Nkwari; Dhwanil Patel; Emma Seabrook; Mohamed Shaaban; Suresh Sivanandam; Jacob Taylor; Phil Van-Lane

doi:10.1117/12.3020037

22 August 2024 LUVCam the Little Ultraviolet Camera: a low-cost high-performance UV CMOS camera

Aaron Tohuvavohu, Mark Barnet, Shaojie Chen, Christopher Damaren, Maria Drout, Julia Empey, Jean-Christophe Fronteddu, Braden Gail, Ajay Gill, Gavin Hay, Sarik Jeram, Christopher Matzner, Patrick Nkwari, Dhwanil Patel, Emma Seabrook, Mohamed Shaaban, Suresh Sivanandam, Jacob Taylor, Phil Van-Lane

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 13093, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2024: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 130930P (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3020037
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2024, Yokohama, Japan

Abstract

Astronomy-grade cameras with robust performance and heritage in the space environment have long been costly, substantially limiting capacity for space-based astronomy and creating a resource barrier to access. Additionally, ultraviolet observations have historically been limited by the low-sensitivity of most sensors in this wavelength range. The LUVCam program is designed to address both issues, providing a high-performance, low-cost, UV/optical camera system sufficiently capable to support a wide-array of space-based astronomy missions. LUVCam features a large format, low-noise, large pixel, and high quantum efficiency, commercial-off-the-shelf backside illuminated CMOS sensor, packaged with custom built readout electronics and thermomechanical structure. LUVCam is ITAR-free, and cheap to fabricate, opening up new opportunities for access to space telescopes. LUVCam has reached TRL 6, and has passed qualification testing for operation in low-earth orbit, with competitive performance from 200-900 nm. LUVCam is manifested for multiple near-term orbital missions, including a technology demonstration CubeSat, and a UV transient astronomy SmallSat.

Conference Presentation

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Aaron Tohuvavohu, Mark Barnet, Shaojie Chen, Christopher Damaren, Maria Drout, Julia Empey, Jean-Christophe Fronteddu, Braden Gail, Ajay Gill, Gavin Hay, Sarik Jeram, Christopher Matzner, Patrick Nkwari, Dhwanil Patel, Emma Seabrook, Mohamed Shaaban, Suresh Sivanandam, Jacob Taylor, and Phil Van-Lane "LUVCam the Little Ultraviolet Camera: a low-cost high-performance UV CMOS camera", Proc. SPIE 13093, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2024: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 130930P (22 August 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3020037

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