Announcement
It is our pleasure to announce that the next installment of the SDW series will be held in Canberra, Australia between the 6th and the 10th of October 2025.
The 8th installment of a successful series of workshops will bring together the scientists and engineers who develop, produce, implement and operate the most advanced imaging sensors used in scientific instrumentation. The focus is given to the fields of astronomy and earth sciences.
Registration will open in January 2024. We will invite the submission of abstracts on:
- Status & plans for astronomical facilities & instrumentation (ground & space)
- Earth and Planetary Science missions and instrumentation
- Laboratory instrumentation (physical chemistry, synchrotrons, etc.)
- Detector materials (from Si and HgCdTe to strained layer superlattices)
- Sensor architectures - CCD, monolithic CMOS, hybrid CMOS, APDs
- Sensor electronics
- Sensor packaging and mosaics
- Sensor testing and characterization
- Non-astronomical applications
- Curved detectors
- Quantizing CCDs for Astronomy
- Simulators, post-processing tools, etc
The workshop builds on a consolidated format that includes talks from the leading experts in the technology and scientific fields, and provides extensive time for discussions during oral/poster sessions, and interactive roundtables. Informal discussions continue during group activities promoted by the social and cultural events featuring the best offered by the location of choice, Canberra. The workshop formula is tailored to keep an informal and conducive atmosphere to the exchange of information and establishing long-lasting relationships and collaborations.
For information, sponsorship and expression of interest, email: Tony.Travouillon@anu.edu.au
Organisers
Science Organising Committee
| Tony Travouillon (ANU) | James Beletic (Teledyne) | Vyshi Suntharalingam (MIT) |
| Gustavo Rahmer (GMT) | Anna Moore (ANU) | Ralf Kohley (ESA) |
| Liz George (ESO) | Naidu Bezawada (ESO) | Satoshi Miyazaki (NAOJ) |
| Daehee Lee (KASI) | Kentaro Motohara (University of Tokyo) | Martin Roth (AIP) |
| Fernando Pedichini (INAF) |
Local Organising Committee
| Tony Travouillon (ANU) | James Beletic (Teledyne) | Paola Amico (ESO) |
| Brian Taylor (ANU) | Annino Vaccarella (ANU) | Roger Haynes (ANU) |
| Rob Sharp (ANU) | Cristy Roberts (ANU) |
Code of Conduct
We are commited to making this meeting productive and enjoyable for everyone regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, nationality or religion. Harassment in any form will not be tolerated. In all interactions, either virtual or in person, participants are expected to adhere to the Australian Astronomical Society and ASTRO 3D Codes of Conduct, which can be found here.
IAC
This workshop is an official adjacent event of the International Astronautical Congress taking place the week before in Sydney. We strongly encourage particiapnt to attend both highly synergistic meetings.
Proceedings (PASA)
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Invited Speakers
Mark Clampin (NASA)
Brian Schmidt (ANU)
Satoshi Miyazaki (NAOJ)
Roger Smith (Caltech)
Matthew Soman (ESA)Program
Sunday 5 October 2025 | |
| 18:00-21:00 | Registration and Welcome Reception at Questacon
|
Monday 6 October 2025 | |
| 08:15-08:45 | Registration and Welcome to country. Tea and coffee on arrival. |
| 08:45-09:00 | Morning announcements: Australian Word(s) of the Day |
| 09:00-09:30 | Invited Talk: Aaron Roodman (VRO) - The Vera Rubin Observatory Camera |
| 09:30-09:50 | Naidu Bezawada - "Operational aspects and performance overview of the ELT MICADO H4RG detectors" |
| 09:50-10:10 | James Beletic - "An Overview of the Types of Photon Counting Detectors" |
| 10:10-10:30 | Markus Loose - "Operational Techniques for Improving Performance of HxRG-Type Detectors" |
| 10:30-11:00 | Morning Tea |
| 11:00-11:20 | Andrew Bradford - "State of the art of SW APDs" |
| 11:20-11:40 | Robyn Sharman - "Evaluating Linear Mode Avalanche Photodiode Arrays for Photon Counting Applications" |
| 11:40-12:00 | Shotaro Tada - "development of an InGaAs infrared detector for the JASMINE mission" |
| 12:00-13:15 | Lunch Break |
| 13:15-13:30 | Australian flora/fauna snippet |
| 13:30-14:00 | Invited Talk: Mark Clampin (NASA) - NASA Space Missions update |
| 14:00-14:40 | Poster session Brock Parker - “Developing Skipper CCDs with enhanced UV QE” |
| 14:40-15:00 | Gregory Bredthauer - "Custom CCD controllers by STA |
| 15:00-15:30 | Afternoon Tea |
| 15:30-15:50 | Annino Vaccarella - "The Rosella controller system" |
| 15:50-16:10 | Rosario Cosentino - "SPAD camera prototype development" |
| 16:10-16:30 | Mathias Richerzhagen - "ESO's next generation detector controller" |
| 16:30-16:50 | Kensho Tanaka - "NINJA, the LTAO-optimised IR spectrograph for SUBARU" |
| 16:50-17:10 | Jason Griesbach - "Innovations for the amateur astronomer market" |
| 17:10 | End of Day |
Tuesday 7 October 2025 | |
| 08:15-08:45 | Tea and coffee on arrival |
| 08:45-09:00 | Morning announcements: Australian Word(s) of the Day |
| 09:00-09:30 | Invited Talk: Denis Marchais (Airbus) - Optical Instruments and Detector developments at Airbus Defence and Space |
| 09:30-09:50 | Matthew Hicks - "Leonardo Space and Astronomy Portfolio" |
| 09:50-10:10 | Muthu Jeganathan - “Teledyn Geosnap detector array characterization” |
| 10:10-10:30 | Martin Roth - “DZA German Center for Astrophysics: CMOS development plans” |
| 10:30-11:00 | Morning Tea |
| 11:00-11:20 | Michael Bottom - "Overview of the University of Hawaii’s program to develop a large-format APD" |
| 11:20-11:40 | Gert Finger - "APD for Extreme adaptive optics" |
| 11:40-12:00 | Takehiko Wada - "Development of IR-SOIPIX, a monolithic Si-BIB mid-infrared imaging sensor" |
| 12:00-13:15 | Lunch Break |
| 13:15-13:30 | Australian flora/fauna snippet |
| 13:30-14:00 | Invited Talk: Rob Green (JPL) - Three decades of image spectroscopy of the Solar System |
| 14:00-14:20 | Peter Orel - "Development and characterization of single photon wide-field imagers for future telescopes from X-rays to optical" |
| 14:20-14:40 | Dileep Reddy - "Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPD)" |
| 14:40-16:30 | Tour of ANU facilities and Industry Showcase (including coffee break) |
| 16:30-17:00 | Bus to Mt Stromlo Observatory |
| 17:00-17:30 | Tour of AITC facilities |
| 17:30-18:00 | Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt Plenary Lecture |
| 18:00-20:00 | Dinner and StargazingMount Stromlo Observatory |
| 20:00-20:30 | Bus to Acton Campus |
Wednesday 8 October 2025 | |
| 08:15-08:45 | Tea and coffee on arrival |
| 08:45-09:00 | Morning announcements: Australian Word(s) of the Day |
| 09:00-09:30 | Invited Talk: Kentaro Motohara (NAOJ) - The TAO project |
| 09:30-09:50 | Julian Cuevas-Sepeda - "Machine learning-based technique for automated sensor calibration" |
| 09:50-10:10 | Nicolas Baier - "PSF sampling with the EBIC probe" |
| 10:10-10:30 | Marco Bonati - "MAS skipper CCD performance on the CTIO0.9m telescope" |
| 10:30-11:00 | Morning Tea |
| 11:00-11:20 | Fernando Pedichini - "DATT: The Detector Advanced Test Track" |
| 11:20-11:40 | Kenneth Lin - "Optimisation the MAS CCD readout" |
| 11:40-12:00 | Brenda Cervantes-Vergara - "p-channel skipper-CCDs" |
| 12:00-13:15 | Lunch |
| 13:15-13:30 | Australian flora/fauna snippet |
| 13:30-14:00 | Invited Talk: Luc Boucher (ESA) - Glow on Infrared Detectors |
| 14:00-14:20 | Erika Hamden - "UV optimization on Skipper CCDs" |
| 14:20-14:40 | Guillermo Moroni - "MAS-CCD development at Fermi Lab" |
| 14:40-15:00 | Agustin Lapi - "MAS-CCD readout optimisation" |
| 15:00-15:30 | Afternoon Tea |
| 15:30-15:50 | Brandon Roach - "Development of p-channel skipper CCDs for astronomy" |
| 15:50-16:10 | Theodore Grosson - "SPAD array to observe the visible PSF of the REVOLT AO testbench" |
| 16:10-16:30 | Christopher Montalban - "First on sky application of MAS Skipper CCDs for astronomical imaging" |
| 16:30-16:50 | Blas Irigoyen-Gimenez - "Enhancing SNR of Skipper CCDs for astronomical applications" |
| 16:50-17:10 | Clausio Chavez - Results of the Skipper-CMOS sensor developped by Fermilab and Tower Jazz" |
| 17:10-17:30 | Martin Roth - “Lab test and commissioning results for qCMOS camera at Calar Alto” |
| 18:00-21:00 | Cocktail ReceptionAustralian National Museum
|
Thursday 9 October 2025 | |
| 08:15-08:45 | Tea and coffee on arrival |
| 08:45-09:00 | Morning announcements: Australian Word(s) of the Day |
| 09:00-09:30 | Invited Talk: Roger Smith (Caltech) - Development of Quantum Charged-Coupled Device (qCCD) at Caltech |
| 09:30-10:30 | Panel Discussion |
| 10:30-11:00 | Morning tea |
| 11:00-11:20 | Manoj Sri-Vatchavai - “The GaiaNIR mission” |
| 11:20-11:40 | Sukwon Youn - “Space radiation detectors for lunar surface radiation environment” |
| 11:40-12:00 | Clara Bataillon - “Infrared spectroscopic instrument for the Ariel mission” |
| 12:00-13:15 | Lunch |
| 13:15-13:30 | Australian flora/fauna snippet |
| 13:30-14:00 | Invited Talk: Soman (ESA) - Detector Developments Supported by the European Space Agency |
| 14:00-14:20 | Ralf Kohley - "Pixels with purpose: science and wonder in Euclid’s Colourful Universe" |
| 14:20-14:40 | Herve Geoffray - "CNES recent developments for infrared space missions: Status and prospects" |
| 14:40-15:00 | Eloy Hernandez - "Development of the IBEX detector at ESA" |
| 15:00-15:30 | Afternoon Tea |
| 15:30-15:50 | Nathan Saffold - "Demonstrating skipper-CCD operation in space with DarkNESS" |
| 15:50-16:10 | Oswald Siegmund - "Microchannel plate detector schemes for UV photon counting imaging detectors for NASA and ESA" |
| 16:10-16:30 | Eduardo Medinaceli - “Euclid's detector Array” |
| 16:30-16:50 | Yassine Faris - “LSST camera commissionning” |
| 16:50-17:10 | Kosuke Kushibiki - “ULTIMATE-Subaru next-generation near-infrared instrumentation project” |
| 18:00-18:15 | Bus to National Arboretum |
| 18:15-22:00 | Gala DinnerNational Arboretum |
| 22:00-22:15 | Bus returns to Acton Campus |
Friday 10 October 2025 | |
| 08:15-08:45 | Tea and coffee on arrival |
| 08:45-09:00 | Morning announcements: Australian Word(s) of the Day |
| 09:00-09:30 | Invited Talk: Shouleh Nikzad (JPL) - Science-Focused Technology Development: Detectors for Astronomy, Earth Science, and Planetary Science |
| 09:30-09:50 | Gustavo Rahmer - "Status of the first-generation science instruments for the Giant Magellan Telescope" |
| 09:50-10:10 | Javier Valenzuela - "Mitigating anomalies in astronomical images at Paranal" |
| 10:10-10:30 | Jian Wang - "WFST Primary mosaic CCD camera and its first light" |
| 10:30-11:00 | Morning tea |
| 11:00-11:20 | Tony Travouillon - "The Wide-Field Spectroscopic Telescope" |
| 11:20-11:40 | Branden Allen - "Large Detector Planes for Next Generation Observatories" |
| 11:40-12:00 | Naidu Bezawada - "Status of the current and future detectors and detector system needs at ESO " |
| 12:00-13:15 | Lunch |
| 13:15-13:30 | Australian flora/fauna snippet |
| 13:30-15:00 | Discussions and concluding remarks |
| 15:00 | Meeting end |
Participants
Participant | Organisation | |
| Tania Ahmed | Macquarie University | |
| Branden Allen | University of Hawaii | |
| Paola Amico | European Southern Observatory | |
| Nicolas Baier | CEA-Leti | |
| Clara Bataillon | CEA-IRFU | |
| James Beletic | Teledyne | |
| Nagaraja Bezawada | European Southern Observatory | |
| Marc Bonati | NOIRLab | |
| Michael Bottom | University of Hawaii | |
| Luc Boucher | European Space Agency | |
| Andrew Bradford | Leonardo | |
| Julia Brady | Ohio State University | |
| Gregory Bredthauer | Semiconductor Technology Associate Inc | |
| Brenda Aurea Cervantes Vergara | Fermilab | |
| Bernard "Mic" Chaudoir | Teledyne | |
| Claudio Chavez | Fermilab | |
| Rosario Cosentino | Italian National Institute for Astrophysics | |
| Julian Cuevas-Zepeda | University of Chicago | |
| Richard Dekany | California Institute of Technology | |
| Reinhold Dorn | European Southern Observatory | |
| Meghan Dorn | Teledyne | |
| Mark Downing | Australian National University | |
| Michael Ellis | Dynjab Technologies | |
| Juan Estrada | Fermilab | |
| Yassine Faris | IN2P3 | |
| Andre Fehlmann | University of Hawaii | |
| Guillermo Fernandez Moroni | Fermilab | |
| Gert Finger | Max Planck Institute for extraterrestrial Physics | |
| Miqueas Gamero | Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca | |
| Herve Geoffray | Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales | |
| Robert Green | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory | |
| Jason Griesbach | San Francisco Amateur Astronomers | |
| Alexey Grigoriev | Australian National University | |
| Theodore Grosson | University of Victoria | |
| Dani Guzman | Macquarie University | |
| Erika Hamden | Arizona Space Institute | |
| Tim Hardy | National Research Council Canada | |
| Roger Haynes | Australian National University | |
| Eloy Hernandez | European Space Agency | |
| Geoffray Herve | Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales | |
| Matthew Hicks | Leonardo | |
| Guillaume Huber | University of Hawaii | |
| Blas J. Irigoyen Gimenez | Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca | |
| Shane Jacobson | NOIRLab | |
| Muthu Jeganathan | Teledyne | |
| Gobinath Jegannathan | Sony | |
| Ji-an Jiang | University of Science and Technology of China | |
| Jorge Jimenez | Institute for High Energy Physics | |
| Gregory Jolley | Australian National University | |
| Jill Juneau | MIT | |
| Karim Kaismoune | Carnegie Science | |
| Steven Kan | Pulse Instruments | |
| Marc Kassis | W. M. Keck Observatory | |
| Hyun-Jeong Kim | Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute | |
| Ralf Kohley | European Space Agency | |
| Mike Kretlow | Deutsches Zentrum für Astrophysik | |
| Kosuke Kushibiki | National Astronomical Observatory of Japan | |
| Agustin Lapi | Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca | |
| Jean Le Graët | CEA | |
| Kenneth Lin | University of California, Berkeley | |
| Markus Loose | Markury Scientific | |
| Denis MARCHAIS | Airbus | |
| Joice Matthew | Australian National University | |
| Edoardo Medinaceli | Istituto Nazionale Di Astrofisica | |
| Christopher Montalban | Universidad de La Serena | |
| Álvaro Montoro | The Institute of Space Sciences | |
| Anna Moore | ANU InSpace | |
| Kentaro Motohara | National Astronomical Observatory of Japan | |
| Peter Orel | Stanford University | |
| Cristobal Padilla | Institute for High Energy Physics | |
| Brock Parker | University of Arizona | |
| Fernando Pedichini | National Institute for Astrophysics | |
| Rick Peralta | RTX | |
| Gustav Pettersson | MIT | |
| Craig Pierce | RTX | |
| Gustavo Rahmer | Giant Magellan Telescope Organisation | |
| Dileep Reddy | University of Colorado Boulder | |
| Javier Reyes | European Southern Observatory | |
| Mathias Richerzhagen | European Southern Observatory | |
| Brandon Roach | University of Chicago | |
| Aaron Roodman | SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory | |
| Martin Roth | Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam | |
| Nathan Saffold | Fermilab | |
| Robyn Sharman | STFC | |
| Robert Sharp | Australian National University | |
| Bo Shojaei | Teledyne | |
| Oswald Siegmund | University of California, Berkeley | |
| Roger Smith | California Institute of Technology | |
| Matthew Soman | European Space Agency | |
| Manoj Varma Sri Vatchavai | Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam | |
| Jonathan St-Antoine | Université de Montréa | |
| Shotaro Tada | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency | |
| Kensho Tanaka | University of Tokyo | |
| Brian Taylor | Australian National University | |
| John Tonry | University of Hawaii | |
| Tony Travouillon | Australian National University | |
| Joseph Tufts | Semiconductor Technology Associate Inc | |
| Annino Vaccarella | Australian National University | |
| Javier Valenzuela | European Southern Observatory | |
| Todd Veach | UTSA-SwRI | |
| Takehiko Wada | National Astronomical Observatory of Japan | |
| Jian Wang | University of Science and Technology of China | |
| Daniel Weatherill | California Institute of Technology | |
| Fei Xing | Tsinghua University | |
| Sukwon Youn | Seoul National University | |
| Peng Zou | Teledyne |
Venue & Travel
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) Required for Entry to Australia
To enter Australia, most attendees to SDW2025 will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) on file with the Australian government. It is very easy to obtain an ETA. Go to your app store and download the “Australian ETA” app. Fill out the information and pay $20 Australian (with credit card or PayPal). You should receive ETA approval within 20 minutes, but we recommend you doing it sooner rather than later in case something doesn’t go right. The ETA is valid for one year.
Getting to Canberra
Fly to the capital
- Canberra is less than two hours flying from eastern Australian cities.
- Direct domestic services are available from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, along with Gold Coast, Newcastle, Hobart, Perth and Adelaide.
- Accessing Australia’s capital from overseas. You can fly from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver or Dallas Fort Worth to Canberra with Fiji Airways.
Drive to Canberra
Australia’s capital is a three hour drive from Sydney and eight hours from Melbourne. There are plenty of scenic route alternatives if you like to get off the beaten track and visit one of the many country towns along the way.
Travel by Train
The train from Sydney to Canberra is an enjoyable 4 and a half hour journey that gives you a good sense of the southeastern Australian countryside, via the Southern Highlands, Goulburn and Bungendore (and you should be able to spot kangaroos along the ride!). If you take the train, make sure to ride it to the end of the line, which terminates in Canberra at Kingston Station. Some visitors to Canberra, in the fog of jet lag, have made the mistake of exiting the train too early. There is not taxi service at earlier stops and if you exit the train too early, it will be a challenge finding transport to your hotel in Canberra. Check timetables and book online through Transport NSW.
While there is no direct Canberra to Melbourne rail service, it’s possible to catch the train to Albury and then be transferred by coach. You can find timetables and booking information from Public Transport Victoria for Canberra to Melbourne (via Albury) route. Alternately, catch the Melbourne to Sydney train and transfer to the Canberra train from the Goulburn railway station.
Catch a bus, coach or hire a chauffeured car
Bus and coach services operate to and from Canberra from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and beyond. See Murrays Coaches, Buses & Limousines, Greyhound Australia or Road Jet for routes, prices and timetables.
Canberra Taxis
- ACTCABS : Call (02) 6280 0077 or book online https://www.actcabs.com.au/bookonline.html
- 13Cabs: Call 13 2227
- EZYCABS: Call (02) 6222 8000
Venues and Addresses
Conference Venue address
Research School of Physics
Physics Auditorium
160 Mills Road, Acton, Canberra
Acton, 2601
Welcome Reception and Registration
Questacon National Science and Technology Centre
King Edward Terrace, Parkes, Canberra
Cocktail Dinner
National Museum of Australia
Lawson Crescent, Acton, Canberra
Mt Stromlo Tour and Dinner
Mt Stromlo Observatory
Cotter Road, Weston Creek, Canberra
Conference Gala Dinner
Australian National Arboretum
Forest Drive, Canberra.
Accommodation
There are a range of hotel options available in downtown Canberra.
Registration
Registration still open, presentations no longer accepted.
Registration includes all meals and activities (see program). Early registration (AU$850+GST) will conclude on the 30th of June. Regular registration (AU$900+GST) will be possible until the 30th of August. To express interest in ECR support, fill out the registration leaving the number of registration to zero.