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PICULS: Photonic Integrated Circuits for Ultra-Low Size, Weight and Power

Completed TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 4)

Description

Integrated photonics can greatly reduce the size, weight and power of transceivers for space optical communications while improving performance and reliability. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) combine photonic functions on a single chip. By employing CMOS-compatible PIC technology to realize high data rate space optical communication transceivers, we can leverage the manufacturing technology developed for the microelectronics industry and co-integrate electronics and photonics.

Benefits

Integrated photonics can greatly reduce the size, weight and power of transceivers for space optical communications while improving performance and reliability.

Details

Technology areaCommunications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems > Revolutionary Communications Technologies > Quantum Communications
ProgramSpace Technology Research Grants (STRG)
Lead organizationUniversity of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Start date2016-01-28
End date2019-01-27

Project contacts

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How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.

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