← Back to NASA Technology Projects

Quantum-cascade metasurfaces for THz semiconductor lasers and amplifiers

Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)

Description

Characterize THz quantum-cascade (QC) MBE (molecular beam epitaxy) material from Sandia National Labs for future use in making milliwatt level QC-lasers and free-space amplifiers in the 2-5 THz frequency range.

Benefits

Enable large, hundred-pixel heterodyne arrays in the 1.5-5 THz with near quantum-limited sensitivity, which are critical to future instruments studying the Interstellar Medium.

Details

Technology areaSensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors
ProgramCenter Innovation Fund: JPL CIF (JPL CIF)
Lead organizationJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Start date2023-10-01
End date2024-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

How to get involved

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.