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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2005

Photonic variable delay devices based on optical birefringence

Optical variable delay devices for providing variable true time delay to multiple optical beams simultaneously. A ladder-structured variable delay device comprises multiple basic building blocks stacked on top of each other resembling a ladder. Each basic building block has two polarization beamsplitters and a polarization rotator array arranged to form a trihedron; Controlling an array element of the polarization rotator array causes a beam passing through the array element either going up to a basic building block above it or reflect back towards a block below it. The beams going higher on the ladder experience longer optical path delay. An index-switched optical variable delay device comprises of many birefringent crystal segments connected with one another, with a polarization rotator array sandwiched between any two adjacent crystal segments. An array element in the polarization rotator array controls the polarization state of a beam passing through the element, causing the beam experience different refractive indices or path delays in the following crystal segment. By independently control each element in each polarization rotator array, variable optical path delays of each beam can be achieved. Finally, an index-switched variable delay device and a ladder-structured variable device are cascaded to form a new device which combines the advantages of the two individual devices. This programmable optic device has the properties of high packing density, low loss, easy fabrication, and virtually infinite bandwidth. The device is inherently two dimensional and has a packing density exceeding 25 lines/cm2. The delay resolution of the device is on the order of a femtosecond (one micron in space) and the total delay exceeds 10 nanosecond. In addition, the delay is reversible so that the same delay device can be used for both antenna transmitting and receiving.

Yao, X. Steve↗
NASA NTRS2016

Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Device Structures: Background, Fabrication Ecosystem, Relevance to Space Systems Applications, and Discussion of Related Radiation Effects

Electronic integrated circuits are considered one of the most significant technological advances of the 20th century, with demonstrated impact in their ability to incorporate successively higher numbers transistors and construct electronic devices onto a single CMOS chip. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) exist as the optical analog to integrated circuits; however, in place of transistors, PICs consist of numerous scaled optical components, including such "building-block" structures as waveguides, MMIs, lasers, and optical ring resonators. The ability to construct electronic and photonic components on a single microsystems platform offers transformative potential for the development of technologies in fields including communications, biomedical device development, autonomous navigation, and chemical and atmospheric sensing. Developing on-chip systems that provide new avenues for integration and replacement of bulk optical and electro-optic components also reduces size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) limitations, which are important in the selection of instrumentation for specific flight projects. The number of applications currently emerging for complex photonics systems-particularly in data communications-warrants additional investigations when considering reliability for space systems development. This Body of Knowledge document seeks to provide an overview of existing integrated photonics architectures; the current state of design, development, and fabrication ecosystems in the United States and Europe; and potential space applications, with emphasis given to associated radiation effects and reliability.

Body of Knowledge (BOK)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Performance of an optical TPC Geant4 simulation with opticks GPU-accelerated photon propagation

We investigate the performance of Opticks, a NVIDIA OptiX API 7.5 GPU-accelerated photon propagation tool compared with a single-threaded Geant4 simulation. We compare the simulations using an improved model of the NEXT-CRAB-0 gaseous time projection chamber. Performance results suggest that Opticks improves simulation speeds by between 58.47 ± 0.02 and 181.39 ± 0.28 times relative to a CPU-only Geant4 simulation and these results vary between different types of GPU and CPU. A detailed comparison shows that the number of detected photons, along with their times and wavelengths, are in good agreement between Opticks and Geant4.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1975

Infrared upconversion as a means of seeing in the dark

A new approach to seeing in the dark is described which is based on the principles of nonlinear optics employing a crystal such as lithium iodate. A nonlinear optical device capable of producing photons at higher frequencies from lower-frequency incident light is shown to upconvert infrared light directly into visible light. The major advantages of the infrared upconversion process is that it permits the infrared signal to be detected by photon-counting devices presently available for the visible spectral region, and that it can provide sensitivity to infrared radiation without the need for cryogenic cooling of the detector used. Early works on infrared upconversion are reviewed. The development of applications is discussed as to astronomical spectroscopy and infrared image upconversion involving either angular or positional resolution elements. The demonstration of infrared upconversion in rectangular waveguides of single-crystal GaAs by Anderson et al. (1971) indicates future possibilities in upconversion by the use of integrated optics devices.

Gurski, T. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Two-dimensional photon detector

Device incorporates set of cascaded microchannel-array plates in proximity focus with two sets of mutually-orthogonal linear anodes. Technique allows data from N x M picture elements to be recorded with only N + M amplifiers.

Timothy, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Multiple-Quantum-Well Intersubband Infrared Detector

Proposed multiple-quantum-well intersubband semiconductor device detects photons over broader range of wavelengths. Device is stack of substacks, each of which contains quantum-well layers sensitive to different narrow band of wavelengths. Bandwidth and detectivity increased.

Borenstain, Shmuel I.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Macroporous Photonic Crystal Membrane, Methods of Making, and Methods of Use

In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to macroporous photonic crystal membranes, structures including macroporous photonic crystal membranes, devices including macroporous photonic crystal membranes, methods of using macroporous photonic crystal membranes, methods of making macroporous photonic crystal membranes, and the like.

Jiang, Peng↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Multi-Gbps Fiber-Optic Wavefront Sensing Coherent Optical Receiver

We report recent progress on technology developments at the NASA Glenn Research Center using photonic lanterns for coherent optical communications applications. In particular, the development of a spatial mode-diversity optical receiver using a photonic lantern combined with a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). The PIC is designed for compatibility with the NASA Laser Communication Relay Demonstration’s (LCRD) differential phase-shift keying signaling format. We report on the PIC design and future characterization and packaging efforts. Additionally, we report on the development of a 19-channel photonic lantern and provide updates on efforts to use the photonic lantern as a wavefront sensing device. The photonic lantern insertion loss, and spatial-mode transfer characteristics are detailed, as well as the development of a predictive framework in which the intensities in the 19 single-mode output channels are used to reconstruct the wavefront of the light entering the multi-moded input side of the lantern. Finally, we discuss concepts for potential future systems using photonic lanterns and PICs that combine both wavefront sensing and coherent communications onto a single integrated platform.

Optical Communications↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Perspective on the Impact of Group Delay Dispersion in Future Terahertz Wireless Systems

This article discusses the challenges and opportunities of managing group delay dispersion (GDD), and its relation to the performance standards of future sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication systems utilizing terahertz frequency waves. The unique susceptibilities of 6G systems to GDD are described, along with a quantitative description of the sources of GDD, including multipath, rough surface scattering, intelligent reflecting surfaces, and propagation through the atmosphere. An experimental case-study is presented that confirms previous models quantifying the impact of atmospheric GDD. Several GDD manipulation strategies are presented, illustrating their hindered effectiveness in the 6G context. Conversely, some benefits of leveraging GDD to enhance 6G systems, such as improved security and simplified hardware, are also discussed. Finally, a perspective on using photonic GDD control devices is provided, revealing quantitative benefits that may unburden existing equalization schemes. Here, the article argues that GDD will uniquely and significantly impact some 6G systems, but that its careful consideration along with new mitigation strategies, including photonic devices, will help optimize system performance. The conclusion provides a perspective to guide future research in this area.

Strecker, Karl↗
DOE OSTI2025

Magnetically dependent photovoltages in permalloy films and gratings

Significant photoinduced voltages observed in permalloy structures consist of two contributions with different origins, which depend on illumination conditions, structure geometry and magnetic field in distinct ways. The first component is the plasmon drag effect voltage closely associated with plasmon propagation. The second contribution is magnetically dependent and can be related to photoinduced gradients in the sample temperature and spin polarization. Possible mechanisms of the effect are discussed

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

On-PIC Light Source Integration & Micro-dispensing of Solder Paste for Flip Chip Application

To reach the next level benefits of photonic integrated circuits (PICs), the Integrated Photonic Systems Roadmap-International describes the necessity of either heterogeneous or hybrid integration of light sources [1]. A new approach for hybrid integration is Photonic Wire Bonding where 3D nanolithography is used to pattern a polymer waveguide that connects light sources to PIC waveguides. The waveguides resemble electrical wire bonds and essentially do the same as their electrical counterpart for packaging photonic chips together. In order to reap the full benefits of a photonic wire bonds, the light source must be carefully packaged. In this work I seek to expand RIT’s photonic packaging capability by establishing a packaging process to integrate light sources, specifically an Indium Phosphide distributed feedback lasers and a reflective semiconductor optical amplifiers, directly onto a photonic integrated circuits. Another necessary requirement for PIC packaging is densely integrated electrical connectivity. In this thesis I developed a fine pitch flip chip interconnect technique demonstrated using gold stud bumps in conjunction with micro-dispensed solder paste. This work opens the door to high density photonic flip chip applications. The micro-dispensed solder paste dots having diameters 50-125 µm are currently being tested at a pitch of 150 µm . The gold stud bumps are formed with 1mil gold wire creating bumps with a diameter of 40-60 µm depending on specific parameter values. These capabilities will allow RIT to assemble and test novel photonic integrated devices, cutting down on the time and cost associated with third party assembly and tests facilities. Thereby keeping RIT at the forefront of photonic research.

Wongk, Nicole↗
NASA NTRS1997

Growth of Bulk Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Crystals and Their Potential Applications

Developments in bulk crystal growth research for electro-optical devices in the Center for Photonic Materials and Devices since its establishment have been reviewed. Purification processes and single crystal growth systems employing physical vapor transport and Bridgman methods were assembled and used to produce high purity and superior quality wide bandgap materials such as heavy metal halides and II-VI compound semiconductors. Comprehensive material characterization techniques have been employed to reveal the optical, electrical and thermodynamic properties of crystals, and the results were used to establish improved material processing procedures. Postgrowth treatments such as passivation, oxidation, chemical etching and metal contacting during the X-ray and gamma-ray device fabrication process have also been investigated and low noise threshold with improved energy resolution has been achieved.

Chen, Kuo-Tong↗
DOE OSTI2025

Photon counting with intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) – II. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) spectral measurement

This study explores the application of photon counting (PC) to enhance the resolution of spectra acquired by an intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) detector, with a focus on analytical atomic emission spectrometry using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a use-case example. It demonstrates that, for spectra obtained with the same spectrometer–ICCD system, PC provides higher spectral resolution compared to conventional analog detector readout. This enhancement is particularly evident in the line wings of spectral peaks, facilitating better discrimination of isotopic peaks in the measured spectra. Although PC does not improve the resolution of an optical spectrometer directly, it rectifies the resolution lost caused by signal spreading in conventional ICCD analog measurement. However, similar to other counting techniques, excessive photons compromise detector linearity due to signal pileup. A correction model is proposed to mitigate the pileup effect, resulting in improved linearity and dynamic range in PC measurements. Additionally, the study reveals unexpected periodic structures in the flatfield image of the ICCD, which cause non-uniform detector gain in conventional analog as well as PC measurement modes and must be addressed for high-precision measurements.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1995

A Novel Photonic Clock and Carrier Recovery Device

In high-speed fiber-optic communications systems, the ability to recover the clock from the incoming random data is essential. The recovered clock must be in precise synchronism with the incoming data and is used in further signal processing systems, such as regenerative repeaters, time division switching systems, and demultiplexers. A high-speed photonic clock regenerator is described.

photonic↗
NASA NTRS1988

Image plane detector spectrophotometer - Application to O2 atmospheric band nightglow

A new variety of low resolution spectrometer is described. This device, an image plane detector spectrophotometer, has high sensitivity and modest resolution sufficient to determine the rotational temperature and brightness of molecular band emissions. It uses an interference filter as a dispersive element and a multichannel image plane detector as the photon collecting device. The data analysis technqiue used to recover the temperature of the emitter and the emission brightness is presented. The atmospheric band of molecular oxygen is used to illustrate the use of the device.

Luo, Mingzhao↗
NASA NTRS1996

Two-Photon Ghost Image and Interference-Diffraction

One of the most surprising consequences of quantum mechanics is entanglement of two or more distance particles. The two-particle entangled state was mathematically formulated by Schrodinger. Based on this unusual quantum behavior, EPR defined their 'physical reality' and then asked the question: 'Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?' One may not appreciate EPR's criterion of physical reality and insist that 'no elementary quantum phenomenon is a phenomenon until it is a recorded phenomenon'. Optical spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) is the most effective mechanism to generate an EPR type entangled two-photon state. In SPDC, an optical beam, called the pump, is incident on a birefringent crystal. The pump is intense enough so that nonlinear effects lead to the conversion of pump photons into pairs of photons, historically called signal and idler. Technically, the SPDC is said to be type-1 or type-2, depending on whether the signal and idler beams have parallel or orthogonal polarization. The SPDC conversion efficiency is typically on the order of 10(exp -9) to 10(exp -11), depending on the SPDC nonlinear material. The signal and idler intensities are extremely low, only single photon detection devices can register them. The quantum entanglement nature of SPDC has been demonstrated in EPR-Bohm experiments and Bell's inequality measurements. The following two experiments were recently performed in our laboratory, which are more closely related to the original 1935 EPR gedankenezperiment. The first experiment is a two-photon optical imaging type experiment, which has been named 'ghost image' by the physics community. The signal and idler beams of SPDC are sent in different directions, so that the detection of the signal and idler photons can be performed by two distant photon counting detectors. An aperture object (mask) is placed in front of the signal photon detector and illuminated by the signal beam through a convex lens. Surprisingly, an image of this aperture is observed in the idler beam, by scanning the idler photon detector in the transverse plane of the idler beam, if we are sure that the idler photon detector 'catches' the 'twin brother' of the signal, which can be easily performed by a coincidence measurement. This effect is even more striking when we found that the object-lens-image relationship satisfies the Gaussian thin lens equation. The second experiment demonstrates two-photon 'ghost' interference-diffraction. The experimental set up is similar to the image experiment, except that rather than a lens and an aperture it is a Young's double-slit (or a single-slit) inserted into the path of the signal beam. We could not find any interference (or diffraction) pattern behind the slit. Surprisingly, an interference (or diffraction) pattern is observed when scanning the detector in the idler beam, if we are sure that the idler photon detector 'catches' the 'twin brother' of the signal.

Shih, Y. H.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Hybrid AlGaN-SiC Avalanche Photodiode for Deep-UV Photon Detection

The proposed device is capable of counting ultraviolet (UV) photons, is compatible for inclusion into space instruments, and has applications as deep- UV detectors for calibration systems, curing systems, and crack detection. The device is based on a Separate Absorption and Charge Multiplication (SACM) structure. It is based on aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) absorber on a silicon carbide APD (avalanche photodiode). The AlGaN layer absorbs incident UV photons and injects photogenerated carriers into an underlying SiC APD that is operated in Geiger mode and provides current multiplication via avalanche breakdown. The solid-state detector is capable of sensing 100-to-365-nanometer wavelength radiation at a flux level as low as 6 photons/pixel/s. Advantages include, visible-light blindness, operation in harsh environments (e.g., high temperatures), deep-UV detection response, high gain, and Geiger mode operation at low voltage. Furthermore, the device can also be designed in array formats, e.g., linear arrays or 2D arrays (micropixels inside a superpixel).

Aslam, Shahid↗