MICRO - A Magnetograph using Interfermetric and Computational Imaging for Remote Observations (MICRO)

One of the top questions for NASA Heliophysic’s is: “What causes the Sun to vary?”. The solar magnetic field plays a fundamental role in this variation and hence its measurement, made with magnetographs, is essential. Traditional magnetographs are large optical systems that require elaborate designs and exquisite engineering and, as a result, are heavy and expensive -- both of which place limits on their use in space. We propose to develop a novel magnetograph that leverages advances in Photonics Integrated Circuits (PICs) and low-noise lasers that are being developed by the evolving telecommunications industry. These compact and relatively inexpensive instruments can enable greater and more cost-effective coverage of the solar fields to support research in solar physics and to improve space weather forecasts. In our design, a single PIC replaces traditional optical components by exploiting the interferometric imaging techniques developed as part of the Lockheed Martin led SPIDER project. The PIC processes incoming near infrared signals via two, independent waveguide circuits for the two circular polarizations. Narrow band spectroscopy is achieved by heterodyning the signals with a common local oscillator provided by a tunable laser. The resulting signal is then processed using standard techniques from radio astronomy and solar magnetometry. The optics package for our prototype system observes the full disk of the sun, achieving 30 arc second resolution with a square, 2cm wafer. The technology is scalable to sub-arc second resolution using larger wafers, resulting in 100x reductions in volume and mass when compared to traditional designs. The cost of these wafers leads to a comparable reduction in the cost since they are printed on silicon wafers using lithographic methods developed for microelectronics rather than by precise manual assembly. Small, solid wafers also do not need expensive structures to maintain precise optical alignments during launch or on orbit, which further reduced size and cost. The penalty for this compactness is an increase in computational and data management requirements. The associated electronics required for our breadboard prototype are challenging but are manageable in the laboratory using open-source hardware and software. The objectives of this proposal are threefold: Produce a set of PICs to capture the infrared solar signal and transform it into the RF domain where it can be processed using standard radio astronomy and helioseismology methods. Assess the performance of the system and explore alternative processing strategies. Develop the next generation PIC design and RF processing concept based on our results in preparation for a future flight opportunity. Our team combines the expertise in optical interferometric imaging, advanced photonic circuit development, solar image processing, and magnetogram creation. By the end of this three-year project, we will have validated our laboratory system, raising the TRL from 3 to 4, and be positioned to develop a flight instrument. Our single wafer magnetographs can easily be deployed throughout the heliosphere to form cost effective small-sat constellations with resolutions comparable to existing space-borne instruments. Planar magnetographs with resolutions meeting or exceeding current ground-based observatories can also be deployed using arrays of these wafers. The technology developed and the lessons learned from our project can ultimately drive new concepts for imaging spectropolarimeters for other applications across NASA domains.

Support NASA's Heliophysics strategic science objectives to understand the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather. This will be achieved by developing/demonstrating instrumentation technology necessary to address the following science goals: Explore the physical processes in the space environment from the Sun to the Earth and throughout the solar system; Advance our understanding of the connections that link the Sun, the Earth, planetary space environments, and the outer reaches of our solar system; Develop the knowledge and capability to detect and predict extreme conditions in space to protect life and society and to safeguard human and robotic explorers beyond Earth.

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