Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9510-5627

Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Thesis (Ph.D.)

Department or Program

Engineering Sciences

First Advisor

Eric Fossum

Abstract

Astronomers’ pursuit of detecting light from increasingly faint and distant objects in the expanse of space necessitates continuous improvement in signal-to-noise ratio of camera technology. Recent advancements in solid-state detector technologies have enabled the determination of photon-number, including single photon events, enabling observations at the fundamental limits of physics. These developments are instrumental not only for standard two-dimensional imaging but also for advanced spectroscopy, which increasingly drives future astrophysical applications. This thesis presents an evaluation of three next-generation silicon-based detectors capable of photon-counting with deep-sub-electron input-referred read noise: the electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD), the single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), and the CMOS quanta image sensor (QIS). Each technology overcomes traditional noise limits through distinct mechanisms. The EMCCD is built using a CCD sensor design that additionally employs repeated impact ionization to amplify the signal during readout, thereby reducing input-referred readout noise to deep-sub-electron levels and facilitating single-photon counting. SPAD devices utilize fast in-pixel signal amplification via impact ionization and positive feedback to achieve negligible effective read noise and precise time-of-arrival measurements of photons, enabling high-precision distance measurement and photon-counting. QIS devices take a distinct approach by utilizing a novel CMOS pixel topology that increases conversion gain without the need for impact ionization, thereby reducing readout noise to deep-sub-electron levels and enabling photon-number resolution, high dynamic range, and high spatial resolution. By characterizing a representative device from each category, this thesis assesses their respective suitability for spaceflight missions. Additionally, a summary analysis of emerging CCD and CMOS image sensors featuring “Skipper” readout for photon-number-resolving applications is also provided for comparison. Ultimately, this thesis synthesizes the current requirements for advanced image sensors in astrophysics applications, details the methods of image sensor characterization and contributions to the field, and analyzes how the performance of these next-generation detectors can guide the planning of future space missions.

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