Mixed-Signal ASICs for X- and $\gamma$-Ray Spectroscopy in Space Applications

The studies of X- and γ-ray emissions coming from the deep space is a powerful tool to understand different phenomena in the Universe. Since the Earth atmosphere absorbs X- and γ-rays, satellites are needed and are used since the 60's. The payload of a satellite is normally composed of multiple detectors coupled to Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) as read-out electronics. In this paper we review three ASICs for different space missions. The VEGA ASIC has been developed for the LOFT (Large Observatory for X-ray Timing) mission whose purpose is to study the behavior of matter near black holes and neutron stars. The RIGEL ASIC, for the PixDD (Pixel Drift Detector) project, is designed specifically for a novel SDD-based pixel detector for spectral-timing studies of low-flux compact cosmic sources. Finally, the LYRA ASIC chipset has been developed for the HERMES (High Energy Rapid Modular Ensemble of Satellites) project, which is focused on the detection and localization of Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) through a constellation of more than one hundred nano-satellites.