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Terahertz Phase Shifters for Electronic Steering of Radars and Radiometers, Year 1
Completed
TRL 3 (started at 1, targeting 3)
Description
Design a low-loss (<1dB ) phase shifter compatible with a phased-array architecture at 560GHz.\nFabricate phase shifter using silicon deep reactive ion etchin.g\nDemonstrate single phase -shifter with low-loss (<1dB) and 180degrees of phase-shift.
Benefits
Need: Increase the science return of an instrument by reducing or eliminating spacecraft pointing. Faster pointing of the instrument to enable mapping. Lower power consumption compared to mechanical scanning. Potential applications include Mars wind measurements, Microwave-limb sounder follow-on, Comet radar and Mapping radiometer/spectrometer for Icy bodies.
Details
| Technology area | Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Microwave, Millimeter Waves, and Submillimeter Waves |
| Program | Center Innovation Fund: JPL CIF (JPL CIF) |
| Lead organization | Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA |
| Start date | 2017-10-01 |
| End date | 2018-09-30 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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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