Characterization of a large-format, fine-pitch CdZnTe pixel detector for the HEFT balloon-Borne experiment

We have developed a large-format CdZnTe pixel detector with custom, low-noise ASIC readout, for astrophysical applications. In particular, this detector is targeted for use in the High-Energy Focusing Telescope (HEFT), a balloon-borne experiment with focusing optics for 20-70 keV. The detector is a 24/spl times/44 pixel array of 498-/spl mu/m pitch. As a focal plane detector, uniformity from pixel to pixel is very desirable. In this paper, we present the characterization of some detector properties for the 1056 pixels on the HEFT detector. These properties include electronic noise, leakage current, spectral resolution, and count rate.