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Active TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 3)
Research Significance: The revolution of research in silicon photonics has enabled innovative commercial applications for light- based signaling technologies including data communications, sensors, medical diagnostics, and photonic quantum computers. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) enable strong performance benefits, especially due to the ability to transmit wavelength-divided multiplexed signals at light-speed. For PICs to be included in space missions and NASA technologies, several key factors must be addressed. (1) Size, weight, and power (SWaP) considerations must be improved. (2) Advanced design techniques for high performance must be developed to address growing data and sensing throughput demands. (3) PIC reliability in the harsh radiation and temperature-variable space environment must be established. This proposal aims to develop advanced integrated photonic component design and qualification techniques aimed at novel space applications (e.g. satellite communications, in-situ spectroscopy, quantum communications), leveraging mine and my group’s work generating intense light-matter interactions in dielectric media with deep subwavelength-featured photonic crystals (PhCs) and the study of radiation degradation mechanisms on commercial PIC components. NASA TA 5.1.7, 8.3.3, and 10.4.1 are addressed by developing high-performance integrated photonics with reduced power consumption and footprint in communications and sensor platforms, which will greatly improve spectroscopic analysis and data transmission in space. Central Objectives: This work seeks to develop high-performance PIC components integrated with subwavelength-featured PhCs, such as modulators, sensors, and nano-optical traps that can achieve never-before realized performance and great reductions in SWaP. With a focus toward studying PICs with state-of-the-art performance for space applications, I will study degradation mechanisms in the harsh radiation environment in space. Potential failure modes may include ionizing effects of trapped charges near active components, accumulated phase mismatches between RF and optical high-speed lines, perturbation effects due to single event transients in areas of intense optical energy concentration, and operation instability due to thermo-optic perturbations. I will address the fundamental objectives of (1) developing advanced component-level design techniques for realizing high-performance integrated photonics and (2) identifying key strategies and considerations for ensuring robust and tolerant operation in space. Using novel qualification standards for cutting-edge photonic elements in harsh environments, I will establish methodologies for engineering optical modes at the nanoscale and designing robust high-performance PIC components. Proposed Techniques (*listed methods are accessible at Vanderbilt University): Device fabrication will be performed via existing collaboration with GlobalFoundries through the 45 nm photonics team and the university multi-project wafer program. Predictive simulations of optical modes (finite-difference time-domain, eigenmode) and charge carrier profiles (charge transport) will be performed to inform device design and fabrication layout as well as to predict potential performance and failure mechanisms due to radiation and temperature. Experimental characterization will be conducted using existing transmission spectroscopy and network analyzer setups. To experimentally monitor the effects of transients, displaced atoms, and rogue charges in oxides and /or active regions, experimental radiation sources to study response due to incoherent X-rays, heavy ions, and pulsed laser excitation will be leveraged. Hermetically sealed packaging and liquid cooling will be considered for testing space-relevant temperatures. Step-wise and in-situ monitoring will be performed to uncover time-resolved and active operation degradation mechanisms.
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