Instruments of RT-2 experiment onboard CORONAS-PHOTON and their test and evaluation II: RT-2/CZT payload

• Published in: Experimental astronomy 2011-02, Vol.29 (1-2), p.27-54
• Main Authors: Kotoch, Tilak B., Nandi, Anuj, Debnath, D., Malkar, J. P., Rao, A. R., Hingar, M. K., Madhav, Vaibhav P., Sreekumar, S., Chakrabarti, Sandip K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astronomy; Chemistry and Earth Sciences; Computer Science; Observations and Techniques; Original Article; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Statistics for Engineering
• ISSN: 0922-6435; 1572-9508
• DOI: 10.1007/s10686-010-9189-y

Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detectors are high sensitivity and high resolution devices for hard X-ray imaging and spectroscopic studies. The new series of CZT detector modules (OMS40G256) manufactured by Orbotech Medical Solutions (OMS), Israel, are used in the RT-2/CZT payload onboard the CORONAS-PHOTON satellite. The CZT detectors, sensitive in the energy range of 20 to 150 keV, are used to image solar flares in hard X-rays. Since these modules are essentially manufactured for commercial applications, we have carried out a series of comprehensive tests on these modules so that they can be confidently used in space-borne systems. These tests lead us to select the best three pieces of the ‘Gold’ modules for the RT-2/CZT payload. This paper presents the characterization of CZT modules and the criteria followed for selecting the ones for the RT-2/CZT payload. The RT-2/CZT payload carries, along with three CZT modules, a high spatial resolution CMOS detector for high resolution imaging of transient X-ray events. Therefore, we discuss the characterization of the CMOS detector as well.