  Future strategic X-ray astronomy missions will require unprecedentedly
sensitive wide-field imagers providing high frame rates, low readout noise and
excellent soft energy response. To meet these needs, our team is employing a
multi-pronged approach to advance several key areas of technology. Our first
focus is on advanced readout electronics, specifically integrated electronics,
where we are collaborating on the VERITAS readout chip for the Athena Wide
Field Imager, and have developed the Multi-Channel Readout Chip (MCRC), which
enables fast readout and high frame rates for MIT-LL JFET (junction field
effect transistor) CCDs. Second, we are contributing to novel detector
development, specifically the SiSeRO (Single electron Sensitive Read Out)
devices fabricated at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and their advanced readout, to
achieve sub-electron noise performance. Hardware components set the stage for
performance, but their efficient utilization relies on software and algorithms
for signal and event processing. Our group is developing digital waveform
filtering and AI methods to augment detector performance, including enhanced
particle background screening and improved event characterization. All of these
efforts make use of an efficient, new X-ray beamline facility at Stanford,
where components and concepts can be tested and characterized.
