Single Crystal Piezoelectric Deformable Mirrors with High Actuator Density and Large Stroke, Phase II

Single crystal piezoelectric deformable mirrors with high actuator density, fine pitch, large stroke and no floating wires will be developed for future NASA science and communications applications. Single crystal piezoelectric DMs share the fine pitch with co-fired electrostrictive or ceramic piezoelectric DMs and MEMS DMs, but with large stroke at relatively low voltages (< 150 V) and with a broader operation temperature range (< 20 K - > 300K). Specifically, a 32x32 actuator array with stroke > 2 um, pitch of < 1mm and a 8x8 actuator array with stroke > 12 um, pitch of < 2mm will be developed for fine and coarse DMs. Actuator driving electronics will be scaled up to a multi-channel actuator driver and optimization of the design, facesheet mounting process and characterizations for deformable mirrors will be investigated.

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.