SBIR/STTR
Robust Frequency Combs and Lasers for Optical Clocks and Sensing, Phase II
Project Introduction
Vescent Photonics proposes to bring an environmentally robust, compact, high fidelity frequency comb to the commercial market. This will be comb based on a NIST design, augmented with a high bandwidth graphene modulator. Vescent will partner with MRADS, a CU spin-off commercializing high bandwidth graphene modulators for mode-locked lasers. These modulators will both improve performance of the NIST comb and also give Vescent the freedom to operate in the commercial market. These devices will be incorporated into the packages developed during this Phase I and will be a central component of the final deliverable: a pair of high fidelity frequency combs.
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Anticipated Benefits
Frequency combs could be infused to future NASA CAL missions. In addition, combs from this Phase II could support JPL's Massively Parallel, Cavity-Enhanced, Laser Spectroscopy for Planetary and Lunar Exploration (MCELS) program. Finally, frequency combs could be modified to provide calibration for ground telescopes searching for exo-planets (Astro-combs).
A robust, commercially available frequency comb will have significant collateral benefit to civilian and defense applications. Frequency combs have found their way into the search for exoplanets, introduced powerful techniques for parallel spectroscopy of explosives and biochemical weapons, and provided coherent LIDAR as an alternative to laser ranging. More »
A robust, commercially available frequency comb will have significant collateral benefit to civilian and defense applications. Frequency combs have found their way into the search for exoplanets, introduced powerful techniques for parallel spectroscopy of explosives and biochemical weapons, and provided coherent LIDAR as an alternative to laser ranging. More »
Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(JPL)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Pasadena, CA |
| Vescent Photonics, Inc. | Supporting Organization | Industry | Denver, CO |
| Vescent Photonics, Inc. | Supporting Organization | Industry | Golden, CO |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Colorado
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Organizational Responsibility
Responsible Mission Directorate:
- Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
Lead Center / Facility:
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Responsible Program:
- SBIR/STTR
Project Management
Program Director:
Program Manager:
Principal Investigator:
- Juan M Pino
Project Duration
Start: May 2016
End: May 2018
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 3 |
| Current: | 3 |
| Estimated End: | 4 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TA 8 Science Instruments, Observatories, and Sensor Systems
- TA 8.1 Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors
- TA 8.1.5 Lasers