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le 03 Apr, 2017

First NISP detectors arrive at CPPM!

The end of March is an important date for the Euclid project at the CPPM. NASA delivers the first detectors selected to be embarked on board the NISP instrument of the Euclid mission. These detectors are selected by their performance and will then be embedded on the Euclid satellite which will be launched in 2020 for a six-year mission at the Lagrange 2 point.

This first delivery of H2RG detectors is accompanied by two full days of reception, the purpose of which is to ensure that the detectors delivered are physically integral by performing a visual inspection of the elements using a binocular and a lamp To UV. This visual inspection is then followed by a so-called good health test of the detectors, which consists of a test of the acquisition electronics at room temperature (20 ° C.).

Each detector has 2048x2048 pixels, and is specifically designed in Cadmium Mercury Telluride (HgCdTe) to be sensitive to near-infrared light (from 0.9 to 2 μm).

All tests on detectors are carried out by a team of the RENOIR group who is responsible for the smooth running of the reception and is trained for this purpose.

The detectors will thus be received at the CPPM by deliveries of four detectors and then will be tested in the characterization cryostats (at -193 ° C). At the end, a total of twenty detectors will be characterized at the CPPM, and sixteen of them will be integrated on the focal plane of the instrument, representing a field of view 0.5 deg² (approximately two times the angular size of the moon) Is delivered to ESA for integration into the Euclid satellite structure. Once launched, Euclid will conduct a systematic survey of the galaxies on a total field of observation of 15 000 deg² (slightly less than half the visible sky). The data from this survey will then be used to refine the current cosmological models and study the matter and dark energy composing more than 95% of our Universe.

The esa press release is available here