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Completed TRL 7 (started at 6, targeting 7)
This FY14 CIF focused on extending previous efforts with carbon nanotubes by developing a process for growing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on a complex three-dimensional baffle. A catalyst is applied first to help initiate the growth process. This technology can be easily used to suppress stray light in a compact solar coronagraph that can be deployed on a variety of platforms to help predict space weather throughout the heliosphere. Several approaches were explored, including atomic layer deposition (ALD) and other techniques, to create a uniformly thick, growth-promoting catalyst coating. Under this research effort, the team tested the ALD-treated occulter to compare its stray-light performance against a conventionally treated unit.
The development of a conformal nanotube process is enabling to many applications in solar physics and astrophysics (e.g., direct detection and imaging of exoplanets). Coronagraphs are key heliophysics instruments because they image coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are the most energetic phenomena on the sun. CMEs have wide-ranging impact on the heliosphere, from interplanetary spacecraft to Earth-orbiting satellites, communications, and astronaut safety \xd1 in short, they are major drivers of space weather. As a result, this technology now is being considered for several new missions. It also has shown its efficacy in improving calibrators, radiators, detector absorbers and radiometers over the current state of the art.
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