Development of a large format charge-coupled device (CCD) for applications in X-ray astronomy

We report on the development of a charge-coupled device (CCD) for astronomical X-ray detection. Characteristics, performance and use of various CCD chips are described. Sizes range from a front-illuminated 2.5cm×2.5cm square chip for the MAXI mission with a depletion layer thickness of 70μm to a back-illuminated 3cm×6cm rectangular p-channel CCD with 200μm depletion thickness which exhibits improved quantum efficiency at low energy (below 0.5 keV). Combining the CCD with a scintillator deposit (SD-CCD) expands the effective energy range up to 100 keV. We describe the use of the SD-CCD in a balloon experiment.