Developments In The Saphira Family Of Hgcdte Apd Infrared Arrays For Low Flux Sensing: Present And Future

SAPHIRA (320x256/24 mu m) is the first of a family of HgCdTe APD infrared sensors for NIR/SWIR sensing in low flux conditions for scientific applications. The paper will present the status of the latest developments of detectors suitable for a range of ground and space applications including wavefront sensing, low flux imaging, Lidar and high speed optical communications. The next generation SAPHIRA (512x512/24 mu m) array has an architecture specific to pyramid wavefront sensors, supported by a consortium comprising European Southern Observatory, Max Planck Institute, NRC Herzberg Institute and Potsdam University. A 1kx1k/15 mu m, 3-side buttable sensor called Ike Pono after the Hawaiian for 'far-vision' is aimed at extreme, low-flux imaging, supported by NASA through the University of Hawaii, Institute of Astronomy. A large area device suitable for LIDAR and supported by NASA also demonstrates a performance suitable for high speed optical communication applications. Most recently the development of a 2k x 2k/ 15 mu m device for scientific imaging has started with the support of ESA.