Researchers have developed a self-healing CMOS imager capable of recovering from ionizing radiation damage, a critical challenge for spacecraft operating near Jupiter. The technique works by detecting damaged pixels during dark readouts, then passing high current through them to thermally anneal the damage. Digital logic errors trigger high-voltage pulses for similar repair. Testing showed that after exposure equivalent to 30 days in Jupiter orbit — which rendered the sensor nearly unusable — four rounds of annealing restored image quality close to original levels. This approach is intended as a supplementary defense alongside radiation shielding and radiation-resistant semiconductor materials.
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