Photonic integrated circuit compatible, miniature optical wavelength references for lidar remote sensing

Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)

Description

•Develop miniature optical wavelength references that can be easily interfaced to PICs, to reduce the SWaP and cost.

•Demonstrate our patented design of a miniature gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF) cell .

•Validate innovative measurement and analysis methods to allow miniature optical resonators to be used to stabilize the laser frequency, to replace on-board gas cells.

Benefits

•Earth missions/UAV to measure CH4, CO2, O2, CO, water vapor;

•Mission to probe sodium layer for temperature and wind speed;

•Coherent optical Satellite-Satellite Tracking missions.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Lasers
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2019-10-01
End date	2020-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Julia W Breed — julia.w.breed@nasa.gov
Matt Mcgill — Matthew.J.McGill@nasa.gov
Jeffrey R Chen — jeffrey.r.chen@nasa.gov
Kenji Numata — kenji.numata-1@nasa.gov
Stephan R Kawa — kawa@maia.gsfc.nasa.gov
Stewart T Wu — stewart.t.wu@nasa.gov

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.

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.