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DeflectorShield: magnetic shielding for laser communications

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Air Force 		Award ID:
73119 		Program Year/Program:
2005 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
F051-200-3351 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
ElectroDynamic Applications, Inc.
P.O. Box 131460 Ann Arbor, MI 48113-
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: Yes
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2005
Title: DeflectorShield: magnetic shielding for laser communications
Agency / Branch: DOD / USAF
Contract: FA9300-05-M-3002
Award Amount: $98,611.00
 

Abstract:

In order to simultaneously characterize and mitigate spacecraft laser communication (lasercom) system performance degradation by electric propulsion (EP) plumes, we propose to develop a magnetic deflector to protect the reflective telescopes typical of lasercom systems from erosion by charge-exchange (CEX) ions. Since beam intensity losses due to absorption and Rayleigh scattering are negligible for the typical EP plume densities, sputtering is the dominant degradation mechanism for on-orbit lasercom. The DeflectorShield uses permanent magnets to set up a magnetic field perpendicular to the optical axis, deflecting CEX ions into the telescope tube before they strike the primary mirror. We will use the magnetostatic code MagNet 6.0? to design a proof-of-concept magnetic deflector, sized to fit a commercially-available reflective telescope. Phase-I will also be used to develop a build, test and evaluation plan for Phase-II. Experiments in Phase-II will compare the optical performance degradation of two telescopes (one protected, one unprotected) at opposite locations in the wings of a Hall thruster plume, permitting the separation of erosion and re-deposition effects. These experiments will permit iterative validation and improvement of the baseline design.

Principal Investigator:

Tim Smith
Senior Engineer
7347861434
timsmith@umich.edu

Business Contact:

David Morris
Senior Engineer
7347861434
morris@edapplications.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

ELECTRODYNAMIC APPLICATIONS, INC.
P.O. Box 131460 Ann Arbor, MI 48113

EIN/Tax ID: 383479349
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No