On-Orbit Performance of Pd/4H-SiC Schottky UV Detectors in a Low-Earth Orbit

Abstract

The monitoring of solar ultraviolet radiation from a space platform is now considered essential for a wide range of fieldsincluding solar physics, atmospheric science and astrobiology. 4H-Silicon Carbide (4H-SiC) is a superior alternative toconventional materials like silicon for the fabrication of UV detectors for adverse space conditions due to its inherentradiation hardness and visible-blind nature. This paper describes the space qualification and deployment of indigenouslydeveloped Pd/4H-SiC Schottky UV detectors in a low-earth orbit (LEO) and their on-board performance. Two SiC UVdetectors were flown as a rad-hard sun detection sensor in the nanosatellite INS-2TD. The sensor has carried out solar UVflux observations continuously since its launch in February 2022 and the data gathered during the first seven months offlight is discussed in this paper.