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InAs Schottky Diode Based Mixers for Submillimeter-wave Heterodyne Instruments, Year 2
Completed
Description
Develop the next generation of terahertz mixer that requires one tenth of pump power. This can enable a multi-pixel terahertz instrument (for comet mapping, wind measurement on planetary atmospheres). Innovation is to use InGaAs rather than GaAs or InAs for the mixer.
Benefits
The features of InAs (1/4 smaller bandgap & 5x faster electron mobility compared to GaAs) enable us to build sensor array and 4.7THz instruments.
Details
| Technology area | Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Microwave, Millimeter Waves, and Submillimeter Waves |
| Program | Center Innovation Fund: JPL CIF (JPL CIF) |
| Lead organization | Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA |
| Start date | 2019-10-01 |
| End date | 2020-09-30 |
How to get involved
This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.
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.