Ruggedized MEMS-VCSEL with High Speed Data Acquisition for Fiber Optic Sensing System

Our phase I effort validated the abilityof a properly designed micro-electromechanical systems vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (MEMS-VCSEL) to sense fiber bragg gratings at a distance of several meters, using reasonable Analog to Digital (A-D) converter rates of a few hundred MHz. In addition, we demonstrated that our electrically pumped MEMS-eVCSELs can be packaged with an amplifier in asingle 14-pin butterfly package, which remains robust through vibration testing at peak accelerations exceeding 10g, using a standard MIL-SPEC vibration spectrum. These results form the foundation for our phase II effort, in which we will re-design the laser cavity to further reduce noise and enablefiber bragg grating sensing at 10meters. This work will progress through 5 objectives. In objective 1, we will develop a low-noise optically pumped device designed for 10meter sensing. Our subcontractor Sensuron will validate this device and develop detection electronics in objective 2. Objective 3 will duplicate objective 1 performance in a ruggedized electrically pumped version, which our subcontractor will integrateinto a ruggedized sensing system under objective 4. In objective 5 we will develop an ultra-low noise MEMS-VCSEL source capable of sensing tens of meters.       Fiber optic sensing (FOS) using optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) is a powerful emerging technology that can provide high resolution spatially continuous monitoring of physical parameters such as shape, deflection, strain, and temperature on a wide variety of structures and vehicles for land, air, water, and space. The proliferation of this technology, however, is currently limited by the complexity, cost, size, weight, power, ruggedizability, and limited volume scalability of discretely assembled external cavity tunable lasers currently used in this application.  Micro-electromechanical systems tunable vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (MEMS-VCSELs) offer a promising wafer-scale manufacturable solution that overcomes these limitations. Recent phase I results using lower noise MEMS-VCSELs show good fringe quality at meter scale distances, and robustness under vibration testing. Further optimization of the MEMS-VCSEL cavity has the potential to achieve >10 meter sensing distances in a low-weight and power ruggedized package capable of in-flight monitoring.  Our phase II effort will develop and validate 3 increasingly high performance generations of MEMS-VCSEL swept source modules capable of sensing at >10 meter distances. Deliverables to NASA will be performance data and reports on these modules.   Objective 1(Praevium): Develop an optically pumped 40nm tuning range MEMS-VCSEL laser module capable of >10meter sensing distance.  Praevium will increase the sensing distance relative to phase I by reducing velocity noise by a factor of 4 through re-design of the laser cavity and MEMS actuator. We will use an optically pumped device to speed laser fabrication. This 4X reduced noise will enable >10meter sensing distance. Objective 2: Sensuron integrate Objective 1 module and develop detection electronics. Subcontractor Sensuron will develop data acquisition electronics and validate the Objective 1 laser in fiber bragg grating (FBG)sensing. Objective 3: Deliver a ruggedized electrically pumped 40nm tuning range MEMS-VCSEL laser module to Sensuron with the same sensing distance as the Objective 1 device. Objective 4: Sensuron integrate Objective 3 device and validate data acqusition Sensuron will integrate the Objective 3 device and validate in FBG sending. Objective 5: Develop MEMS-eVCSEL to maximize sensing distance. Praevium will develop an ultra-low noise laser design for tens of meter sensing, and test fringe quality and ruggedization. 

This work will develop a new cost-effective ruggedized laser technology that will accelerate proliferation of optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) fiber optic sensing of physical parameters such as shape, deflection, temperature, and strain. This will impact the structural engineering and testing of cutting-edge structures and vehicles for land, air, water, and space. This laser technology can also be embedded into vehicles for continuous in-flight structural and health monitoring. This work will create a new rugged 1550nm widely tunable laser source which provides continuous single mode tuning with low size, weight, and power dissipation in an economical package. This source has non-NASA applications in structural monitoring of military and commercial aircraft, of wind turbines, and in metrology, spectroscopy, and medical shape sensing. 

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