High Efficiency Laser Power Beaming Receivers for Lunar and Extraterrestrial Exploration

In the last few years, laser power beaming (LPB) has emerged as a possible alternative power source in locations where traditional power stations and wires are impractical, such as perpetually shaded polar lunar craters whose exploration is critical to upcoming lunar missions and eventually the establishment of a base on the moon. The main issue with current LPB technology is that the realized total system efficiency for current systems is 23%, and most perform at less than 15%, which is not yet viable. One of the central obstacles to all power beaming technology is that light diffracts as it propagates through space, losing energy over distance. While increasing transmitter size could reduce receiver size, this goes against SWaP goals and causes practical obstacles like uneven and inconsistent targeting. This project attempts to improve the efficiency of the laser power converter (LPC) to contribute to full-system improvement. We take advantage of existing high-power density, low divergence ytterbium fiber lasers at this 1064 nm by designing the LPC with maximum absorption at this wavelength. The first goal of this project will be to grow single-junction metamorphic and lattice-matched LPCs to investigate the difference in efficiency and quality between the two material systems. The 1.1 eV bandgap alloy In0.2Ga0.8As will be grown metamorphically on a GaAs substrate, which is the cheaper option and a widely-used material. Then, In0.86Ga0.14As0.29P0.71 will be grown lattice-matched to InP with a bandgap near 1 eV as well. Despite the higher crystal quality of the InP-based system, the literature suggests that the efficiency will be approximately equal or less than the cheaper and more mainstream GaAs. However, the InP system does have a feature that GaAs does not: it can be monolithically with InP optical communications devices such as modulators, detectors, and even lasers, enabling multipurpose devices. We will test these cells over a battery of transport tests to quantify their performance and identify and compare obstacles impeding their development. In both designing and testing the LPCs, simulations will be critical. Synopsys’ Sentaurus Device TCAD program will be used to optimize the bandgap, pinpoint exact alloy concentrations to produce that bandgap, and determine the doping and layer thicknesses needed, predict the efficiency, and account for thermal effects. In testing, simulations will act as a diagnostic tool as we compare simulated results of each LPC with experimental results. This will give insight into the carrier transport mechanisms of the device and allow us to refine the design. As the next objective, power beaming will be combined with an optical data modulator as shown in Figure 2 to further impact SWaP. In this project, we plan to make a multi-layer device that can simultaneously collect beamed power and transmit data, for example, images and mass spectrometry results from the surrounding area, enabling more efficient resource identification. The composite device wild use standard C-band (1550 nm) light for data transmission. Since monolithic integration is not possible for the Ga As-based device, we will need to bond the modulator to the LPC manually. Micro transfer printing can be used to precisely place the modulator on the LPC. Finally, the third objective will be to create a prototype LPB receiver containing the LPC. This part of the project will engineer innovative solutions to operating our device in the extreme lunar environment, addressing the challenges of lunar dust and extreme temperatures. Electrostatic methods will be used for dust repulsion. I will attach an electrostatic dust collector to the receiver and test it with simulated lunar dust. Collaboration with NASA Glenn and/or the Naval Research Laboratory will be leveraged to do low-temperature performance measurements to simulate extreme lunar conditions.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.