This thesis is concerned with the development of MOS charge-coupled device (CCD) technology for future applications in X-ray astronomy. Of particular interest is increased detection efficiency of high energy X-ray photons and increased pixel readout speed for large area sensors. Chapter 2 reviews the generation of X-rays, methods for extra-terrestrial X-ray observations, detectors and provides an overview of X-ray astronomy missions. Chapter 3 discusses the CCD and introduces some of the recent technological developments that improve their overall performance for optical and X-ray photon detection. Chapter 4 presents the basic laboratory equipment and methods used to carry out the experimental work of this thesis. Chapter 5 presents the characterisation of new high resistivity devices that were manufactured by e2v technologies during the work of this thesis. Chapter 6 describes a method for estimating the depletion depth of a CCD by analysing the X-ray event patterns that are generated in CCD image data. Chapter 7 presents the equipment developed and experimental measurements taken to evaluate the high energy X-ray quantum efficiency of a high resistivity CCD. Finally, Chapter 8 describes the ongoing development and characterisation of low noise ASICs that are intended for use in future X-ray astronomy missions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:557691 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Murray, Neil John |
| Contributors | Holland, A.; Pool, P. |
| Publisher | Brunel University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/3316 |
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