Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC)-Enabled Chip-Scale Atomic Devices (CSAD) for Precision Navigation and Timing (PNT) Applications

Sensors based on chip-scale atomic devices (CSADs) offer portability, manufacturability, and high performance for precision navigation and timing (PNT) missions. Key systems for PNT including atom interferometric gyroscopes (AIG) and atomic clocks. Ongoing advances and innovations in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are directly relevant to CSADs. Different material bases have been used in PICs. IFOS’ solution focuses on a silicon nitride (SiN) platform because of its unique advantages including high transparency in a wide spectral band (405-2350 nm), compatibility with mature mainstream CMOS integrated circuit fabrication processes, and small footprints. Low-cost hybrid and monolithic integrations of optical sources, photodetectors, and optical splitters can be produced using such foundry production platforms. IFOS will explore the design tradeoffs to guide optimum design for specific PNT applications. IFOS will demonstrate that its PIC-enabled CSAD design concepts – based on commercial deployments – can meet Air Force mission requirements to achieve the size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) benefits of CSAD for PNT missions. Close interaction with PNT users will ensure alignment with technology roadmaps and commercial viability. Prototype integrated System-in-Package (SiP) modules will be fabricated in Phase II to enable field trials with a selected stakeholder.