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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.00127 |
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| _version_ | 1866910201114787840 |
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| author | Botti, Ana M. Wu, Yikai Cervantes, Brenda Chavez, Claudio Estrada, Juan Holland, Stephen E. Saffold, Nathan Tiffenberg, Javier Uemura, Sho |
| author_facet | Botti, Ana M. Wu, Yikai Cervantes, Brenda Chavez, Claudio Estrada, Juan Holland, Stephen E. Saffold, Nathan Tiffenberg, Javier Uemura, Sho |
| contents | Skipper Charge-Coupled Devices (skipper-CCDs) are pixelated silicon detectors with deep sub-electron resolution. Their radiation hardness and capability to reconstruct energy deposits with unprecedented precision make them a promising technology for space-based X-ray astronomy. In this scenario, optical and near-infrared photons may saturate the sensor, distorting the reconstructed signal. We present a light-tight shield for skipper-CCDs to suppress optical backgrounds while preserving X-ray detection efficiency. We deposited thin aluminum layers on the CCD surface using an e-beam evaporator and evaluated their blinding performance across wavelengths from 650 to 1000 nm using a monochromator, as well as the X-ray transmission using an $^{55}$Fe source. We find that 50 and 100 nm layers provide >99.6% light suppression, with no efficiency loss for 5.9 and 6.4 keV X-rays. In addition, we used Geant4 simulations to extend these results to a broader energy range and quantify the efficiency loss for different aluminum thicknesses. Results show that thin aluminum coatings are an effective, low-cost solution for optical suppression in skipper-CCDs intended for X-ray detection and space instrumentation. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_00127 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Light-tight skipper-CCDs for X-ray detection in space Botti, Ana M. Wu, Yikai Cervantes, Brenda Chavez, Claudio Estrada, Juan Holland, Stephen E. Saffold, Nathan Tiffenberg, Javier Uemura, Sho Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics High Energy Physics - Experiment Space Physics Skipper Charge-Coupled Devices (skipper-CCDs) are pixelated silicon detectors with deep sub-electron resolution. Their radiation hardness and capability to reconstruct energy deposits with unprecedented precision make them a promising technology for space-based X-ray astronomy. In this scenario, optical and near-infrared photons may saturate the sensor, distorting the reconstructed signal. We present a light-tight shield for skipper-CCDs to suppress optical backgrounds while preserving X-ray detection efficiency. We deposited thin aluminum layers on the CCD surface using an e-beam evaporator and evaluated their blinding performance across wavelengths from 650 to 1000 nm using a monochromator, as well as the X-ray transmission using an $^{55}$Fe source. We find that 50 and 100 nm layers provide >99.6% light suppression, with no efficiency loss for 5.9 and 6.4 keV X-rays. In addition, we used Geant4 simulations to extend these results to a broader energy range and quantify the efficiency loss for different aluminum thicknesses. Results show that thin aluminum coatings are an effective, low-cost solution for optical suppression in skipper-CCDs intended for X-ray detection and space instrumentation. |
| title | Light-tight skipper-CCDs for X-ray detection in space |
| topic | Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics High Energy Physics - Experiment Space Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.00127 |