Photonic Lantern Interferometric Receiver for Remote Sensing Applications

Objectives and Benefits: A key strategic challenge for Earth Science Measurements in the era of large-scale atmospheric high spectral resolution aerosol lidar (HSRL), trace gas, and wind lidar systems is the lack of robust low cost, small size, low maintenance optical spectral discrimination components. Both high resolution aerosol, wind lidar, and trace gas mapping will continue to be scientifically crucial for responding to the challenge of climate and environment change, and for a broad range of science disciplines, including understanding planetary boundary layer processes, radiation balance, and hazardous weather events to mention a few. As noted in the National Academies 2017-2027 decadal survey for Earth science and applications from space ("ESAS 2017"), wind and aerosol observations are identified in three of the "Targeted Observable" themes. However, traditional bulk-optic HSRL and direct detection wind lidar components are very sensitive to misalignment, and require additional arrangements to either actively maintain alignment or specially designed thermally stabilized passive structures in an attempt to preserve the quality of the interference signal. This is especially challenging for spaceborne lidar interferometer components that are subjected to extreme vibration and thermal conditions prior to operational space measurements and represents a major risk factor. In addition, both bulk-optic active and passive systems add weight and size that is also undesirable. The objective of this proposal is to exploit innovative photonic component technology to develop an all-fiber telescope to detector architecture for a high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) that can be extended to wind, trace gas lidar systems. This approach will significantly reduce optical alignment risk, size, and weight compared to traditional bulk-optics schemes. Our approach embraces the photonic lantern concept to transform the complex spatial and angular light pattern at the telescope field stop into multiple diffraction limited beams so fiber Bragg grating (FBG) spectral filters, and other single-mode components can be exploited in the detection process. The use of these notions in lidar receivers represents a transformational technology for lidar receiver architectures that traditionally cannot use single mode fiber components. Outline of Proposed Work and Methodology: Our inter-disciplinary team will leverage UCF's CREOL photonics component expertise with NASA Langley's heritage in aircraft and space borne lidar systems. The work proposed here will apply optical waveguide theory to photonic lantern design and fabrication and FBG development leading to prototype system testing. High efficiency photonic lanterns will be designed using finite-element and beam-propagation methods. CO2 laser glass processing equipment and custom low index glass capillaries will be used for photonic lantern manufacturing. FBG writing will be performed using adaptive optics UV interferometry. These efforts will be continually integrated with lidar group Co-Investigators providing refinement to our receiver approach and with simulations/theory guiding device development and experimental activities. The team will develop an atmospheric lidar performance model incorporating the expected optical characteristics of the novel photonic lantern/FBG lidar receiver to provide design considerations on various application scenarios. Tests of the photonic lantern receiver in a configuration to obtain atmospheric demonstration measurements will be conducted. Laboratory and any atmospheric data collected will be evaluated for HSRL aerosol Mie/Rayleigh scattering discrimination. Results will be used to advance applications for a variety of aircraft and satellite lidar systems. This work will be carried out over a 3-year duration, entering at TRL-2 starting with a technology concept and existing at TRL-4 with a component validation in a laboratory environment.

Accelerate mission development and reduce risk by developing critical components and subsystems for advanced instruments and observing systems

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