← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Completed TRL 3 (started at 3, targeting 3)
High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) infrared detectors were studied for years but never matured sufficiently for infusion into instruments. Several recent developments support a renewal of effort: (1) Microresonator technology represents a new approach to array readout that can enable large-scale HTS bolometer arrays for Earth-observing and planetary missions. (2) Space-borne passive cooling and single-stage refrigerators are now commonplace, enabling cost effective cooling to 40-80 K.
This work is aimed at the well-established need for more sensitive detectors in the 10 - 200 um wavelength range with high detectivity, D*>1010 cm-Hz1/2/W for Earth and planetary science. Single pixel HTS detectors have been shown to be competitive with, or more sensitive than, comparably cooled HgCdTe detectors, even for 10 - 30 um wavelengths. Most importantly, these devices represent a potential breakthrough, filling the niche for highly sensitive detector arrays for 30 - 200 um wavelengths.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.