Technology

Detectors and optics

We develop technology for detectors and optics. Our detector systems and their read-out work at temperatures close to absolute zero, to obtain the best possible sensitivity in large cameras and spectrometers with arrays of detectors. Optical components that manage incoming signals—front-ends—allow for compact spectrometers and can go along with the best possible (cold) detectors. The detectors and optics that we develop can be optimized depending on the science case of a space mission. Our technology is therefore applicable in space instruments for various types of radiation: X-rays, terahertz and visible light.

Imaging spectroscopy via combinations of detectors and optical front-ends

For X-ray astronomy and exoplanet research, we build integral field units, which simultaneously create images and spectra while distinguishing colours at an accuracy of one tenth or even a thousandth of the wavelength. In scientific terms: the resolving power ranges from 10 to 1000s. At visible and near-infrared wavelengths, for exoplanet science and earth observation, regular optical front-ends lose their intrinsic resolving power. Therefore we develop compact optical front-ends, to push the resolving power of spectrometers from 10 to 100,000.
At far-infrared wavelengths, for star-formation astronomy and cosmology, we develop cameras and on-chip spectrometers with a resolving power of about 100.