2017 March: H2RG test detector delivered at IRAP/OMP

The H2RG detector that SPIRou will use to test and validate the whole instrument (until we receive the final H4RG from Teledyne Imaging Sensors / TIS in 2017 Q3) was just delivered and installed at the rear of the camera.

This engineering-grade HgCdTe 2kx2k detector, featuring 18 µm pixels and a 2.4 µm cutoff wavelength, is owned by Université de Montreal (UdeM) and was lent to the SPIRou team to avoid delaying instrument integration and validation. Although 40% smaller than the full-size H4RG detector that we will use for science observations at CFHT (Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope), this H2RG detector allows to collect 70% of the spectral information over 92% of the spectral range, enough for demonstrating that SPIRou is behaving as expected and matching scientific requirements.

Following delivery, the detector was unpacked and tested within the SPIRou clean room, in a dedicated electrostatic discharge (ESD) protected area. The detector was then installed at the rear of the camera and connected, ready for the forthcoming cryogenic cycle. Installation and tests were performed at IRAP/OMP under the supervision of Philippe Vallée from UdeM, and with help from the local SPIRou team.