CCD-world: Printed cct boards as CCD substrates?

[C.J.S.Damerell at rl.ac.uk]

The following was posted to CCD-world:

I'm from the particle physics community, where our use of CCDs for tracking
detectors has until now used beryllium substrates, with copper/kapton flex
ccts bonded to them.

For an R&D application, it would be more convenient for us to use standard
multi-layer printed cct boards, to which the CCD would be attached with a
silicone elastomer adhesive to avoid thermal stresses, and wire-bonded to
the top PCB layer. For what we are doing, we would need a 4-layer board. 

Are there problems associated with using PCBs on repeated cycling to reduced
temperature (down to say 100 K)? One could imagine delamination, breakage of
through-hole plated vias,  etc.

For all I know, the use of these boards in low temperature applications may
be standard practice in the astronomy community. Any feedback would be most
welcome.

Chris Damerell.
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