Infrared detectors,  cooled to cryogenic temperatures are widely used in astronomical instruments for research in astronomy. Custom test facilities are required in order to evaluate the electro-optical performance of these detectors at cryogenic temperatures. A new test facility called FIAT (Facility for Infrared Array Testing) has been designed, manufactured and being assembled at ESO for characterizing the next generation state-of-the-art large format near infrared detectors for the ESO’s ELT instruments. This new instrument has a suitable cryogenic environment for cooling the detectors down to 30K and it will provide a low thermal background for evaluating various performance parameters of the new detectors. It is expected that the instrument will be accepted into the detectors laboratories soon.

As part of its commissioning for use with this next generation of detectors, a series of tests will be performed on the test facility, using an engineering grade near infrared detector. These tests will  range from cryogenic and thermal control, ensuring cool downs and warm ups meet the required rate, optical source alignments to project diffraction limited spots onto the detector, electro-mechanical control of various cryogenic mechanisms, to operation and verification of the detector performance in the instrument.

The commissioning phase of the instrument provides good opportunities for a physics or electronics engineering student to get intimately involved with the new facility commissioning, working with the detector group, learn and contribute to multiple engineering disciplines ranging from optics, cryogenics, electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as a good grounding in black-body physics. The specific master’s project under the supervision of the detector group will focus on one or more of these disciplines depending on the interests and abilities of the student. Good knowledge of scripting languages would also be useful, together with a good command of written and spoken English.

Supervisor: N. Bezawada (Electronic Engineering Department – Detector System Group)