Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
Iodine Stabilized Seed Laser for Space Applications
Project Description
This SBIR Phase I effort proposes to establish the feasibility of leveraging advances in compact laser technology with integration of space qualified techniques into AdvR's Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) and iodine reference cell technology for the design of a space qualifiable, frequency stabilized seed laser system in support of NASA Langley's High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) program. The Phase II effort will focus on space qualifiable systems integration, packaging, and testing of the locked seed laser system under applicable environmental conditions. Successful development of this technology, due to its compact, efficient, and reliable design, will enable further uses of the HSRL-based remote sensing system both in current flight-based systems and in future space-based systems.
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Anticipated Benefits
The primary customer is NASA Langley's High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) program for aerosol and cloud characterization. This system is being considered for the ACE lidar by NASA's ACE Science Working Group because of the higher information content it provides over backscatter lidar on key aerosol optical and microphysical properties. The proposed technology will find multiple uses in other NASA's lidar remote sensing programs, such as in altimetry, DIAL lidar, and 3D WINDS where compact, low cost, stabilized single frequency laser sources are required, and also has potential application in spectroscopic measurement techniques.
In addition to NASA's use in various lidar systems, the combination of a compact, low cost, semiconductor-based source with AdvR's PLC technology will find use in fiber and free-space communications where rapid, moderate power phase modulation is required. This technology can also be applied for systems used for environmental and pollution monitoring and in stabilizing laser sources used for precision metrology. Medical applications include phase-modulation fluorimetry in bioprocess and clinical monitoring may benefit from this technology. A number of commercial lidar or lidar-like systems will benefit from the insertion of this technology including floodplain measurement, land use assessment, bathymetry, robotics and machine vision applications. More »
In addition to NASA's use in various lidar systems, the combination of a compact, low cost, semiconductor-based source with AdvR's PLC technology will find use in fiber and free-space communications where rapid, moderate power phase modulation is required. This technology can also be applied for systems used for environmental and pollution monitoring and in stabilizing laser sources used for precision metrology. Medical applications include phase-modulation fluorimetry in bioprocess and clinical monitoring may benefit from this technology. A number of commercial lidar or lidar-like systems will benefit from the insertion of this technology including floodplain measurement, land use assessment, bathymetry, robotics and machine vision applications. More »
Project Library
Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADVR, Inc. | Lead Organization | Industry | Bozeman, Montana |
Langley Research Center
(LaRC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Hampton, Virginia |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Montana
-
Virginia
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