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Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)
This CIF seeks to develop Near-Zero Power Photoswitches (NZPP) for Free Space Optical (FSO) communication and LIDAR in NASA applications. Applications include, but not limited to, free space laser communications, altimetry, trace gas sensing, and in-situ spectroscopic instruments. The new technology NZPP switches that remain dormant with near zero-power until activated by incoming optical signals (infra-red, laser , etc.). Their near zero power consumption feature will significantly benefit NASA missions by reducing the need and mass of large-scale batteries. This is especially important for Cubesats/Smallsats. Their partner, the research team at the Northeastern University led by Prof. Rinaldi has advanced micromechanical AlN NZPPs that can detect a \u22124 dBm 800 MHz carrier modulated at 80.13 kHz, as the actuation gap and the contact gap of the switch are scaled down. With the NZPP devices the detectors remain dormant until woken up by received photons. This provides the power savings, and also minimizes background noise and simplifies receiver design. The team plans to work with NEU to investigate the thresholds to wake up detectors as function of wavelengths, and to identify materials and modification design in NZPP devices to meet rad-hard and launch requirements. At the end of FY19, they will have a preliminary design for space application. If successful, this would be a good opportunity for NEU to further develop this prototype system for NASA SmallSats or CubeSats missions in program such as the SBIR/STTR.
Many future NASA missions will likely be dominated by SmallSats or CubeSats. As such the available resources will be limited. New technologies are needed to further lower the size, weight and power (SWaP) for instruments and communication subsystems.The photoswitches are Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMS) switches that remain dormant with zero-power until woken up to action by incoming optical signals like infra-red, laser and others. The feature of near zero power consumption will tremendously benefit our missions in space where large-scale batteries are needed. and is also a way to minimize background noise and simplify the receiver design. The applications will be but not limited to NASA future flight opportunities from free space laser communications, altimetry, trace gas sensing to in-situ spectroscopic instruments.
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