Are there any major technical challenges to be faced?
• Beam splitters • Large (8-12 cm) elements are needed • High surface quality (lambda/20) is necessary to preserve image quality and modulation efficiency • Robust material are essential to survive launch • Thermal management • The power budget for the ISIM is extremely restrictive • The power dissipation and parasitic losses of the 8k x 8k focal plane arrays are a concern • Data rates • The near-IR channel of IFIRS can produce about 11 Gb/day (uncompressed). • Mid-IR performance • Operation longer than 11 µm either needs development of low dark current HgCdTe or 8K closed cycle cooler to permit operation of Si:As BIBs. Back to the Berkeley NGST page.
