A Robust and Versatile Analog-to-Digital Converter for Space Exploration Spectroscopy on Satellites

A robust, versatile, on-demand incremental Analog to Digital converter for space exploration spectroscopy on satellites has been developed and characterized. The main application of the proposed circuit is the detection of X and Gamma rays in space within the THESEUS exploration mission, whose aim is a deeper investigation of high energy transient phenomena over the complete universe history. This investigation can be carried out thanks to multiple instruments on different satellites, which require a smart synchronization among the modules. The on-demand conversion of the proposed ADC avoids hysteretic behavior over different samples processing, requirement fundamental in spectroscopic applications, which also leads to power consumption reduction operating the converter only when necessary. Finally, since the ADC will be employed in a dual-mode front-to-back-end circuit for X and Gamma detection, it must exhibit maximum flexibility and re-configurability. The presented ADC is one of the key-modules of the core ASIC of the THESEUS mission called ORION, thus particular focus has been also given to reliability and robustness.