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Completed TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 4)
We propose PRIME, an adaptive optical component to enable efficient coupling from a single-mode PIC to a large-area fisheye metalens for diffraction-limited beams and further exploit this technology to realize a chip-scale engine for LiDAR with unpresented ultrawide (180o) FOV, low loss, and high frame rate. PRIME overcomes the limitations of conventional LiDAR, which uses mechanical rotating light sources and detectors limiting the speed, resolution, raggedness, and ultimately cost effectiveness. Upon success of this project, PRIME will significantly facilitate the implementation of adaptive optics in space missions, where coupling of it with a large-area free-space beam is the norm, and minimum SWaP factors are critical. Strong NASA applications include science missions (flash LiDAR, remote sensing), space exploration systems (unmanned lander guidance and control, NDL), and aeronautics (real-time detection of atmospheric hazards). We foresee the coincident alignment of the metalens and PIC as a risk for the project but anticipate that this risk is minimal and can be mitigated. Unlike manually aligned lenses with PICs, the PRIME architecture allows the metalens to be bonded to the PIC at the wafer scale with lithographic precision (i.e., optical alignment), followed by dicing and die singulation. This process facilitates assembly of large numbers of modules at the wafer level in a parallel manner, sidestepping the laborious and costly optical alignment and packaging step for each single device.
By the end of FY24, we will complete the PIC design, metalens performance evaluation, PIC-metalens integration protocol development, and intend to deliver a prototype LiDAR engine design (including matrices of > 150° FOV and >1mm aperture size). Although this is a new project, the innovation associated with the proposal is high because of a good understanding of the state-of-the-art, application problems, and technical approaches. Moreover, 940nm wavelength fisheye metalens arrays have already been demonstrated and manufactured on 200mm wafers by 2Pi Inc. through the AIM Photonics Foundry. A FY24 NIAC proposal (tentative title: AARAMS/ Autonomous Army of Rovers Assessing Moon’s Surface, Dr. Aram Gragossian/ PI) is one of proposals to explore infusion of PRIME technology directly. AARAMS flash LiDAR and / or NDL based concept for high-resolution 3-D maps of Moon surface and inside the craters with no moving parts with reduced SWaP compared to current instruments. Only the proposed PRIME architecture can provide >150o FOV with nonmechanical beam steering metamaterials on a large-scale.
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