This knowledge will fit together with other ongoing programs at SMI. Related programs such as this will build on and expand the silicon nano-fabrication photonic technology. In addition to LIDAR applications at 1µm, all of these combined efforts contribute to our long term research and development aims -- to include all of the active and passive optical functions needed to fabricate and commercialize a low power, high bandwidth, high speed, and ultra-small multi-channel wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transponder on a single optoelectronic silicon chip as well as other optical communication components. It also may lead to other photonic IC applications including reconfigurable photonic ICs for high speed signal processing.
These devices will be highly useful for many NASA LIDAR programs including Lidar for Surface Topography (LIST), ASCENDS, and direct-detection LIDAR in general. Also for the use of multiple LIDAR tools on the same laser source to reduce instrument mass for satellite and planetary missions.
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