Fast wavefront sensing with new APD detector arrays

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The worldwide focus on the concept of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) has come to the forefront in recent**years, encompassing everything from near Earth objects (NEO) such as asteroids to man-made orbital debris, to**the area of monitoring the security of valuable space assets. After being an active observer for some years,**Canada recently became a full member of the Inter-Agency Space Debris committee. Canada has also recently**signed, along with Australia, the U.K., and the USA, the Space Situational Awareness Accord. This will allow**for coordinated use of each partner's space capabilities for identifying and understanding objects in space. The**shared resources could provide continuous monitoring and authentication and validation via complementary**coverage especially for critical situations.**Honeywell has identified an opportunity to expand their company by integrating new detection technologies**into their cameras, and specifically using the APD arrays which Chapman's group at Dalhousie has expertise in.**Two emerging technologies have been a focus of the HONEYWELL AEROSPACE International Systems**division, but they do not have the capability to pursue a very promising third technology, APD arrays.**We propose to the Engage program to work with Honeywell Aerospace over the our joint pursuit of leading**technologies to address these issues, with our own value added applications in astronomy as an additional**motivator to this research.**To facilitate a detailed understanding of a leading technology for these applications (detector arrays of**Avalanche Photo-Diodes -- APDs), we will analyze and characterize these devices, providing the needed**parameters on the detectors to Honeywell Aerospace such that they can assess the viability of this technology.