Award Data

Instead of making incremental improvements to the inherent weakness of the laser facet, Aerius Photonics proposes to fabricate space-qualifiable laser pump arrays that eliminate the weakness of the facet altogether by using kilowatt-capable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), which use a distributed mirror, effectively decoupling the feedback mirror from the output window. When compa ...

Aerius Photonics proposes to build, test, and deliver a 2-D Optical-Preamplifier Pixel Array (OPPA) to provide near photon-counting imaging Flash Ladar receiver sensitivity with linear-mode operation, full pulse shape discrimination, superior countermeasure immunity, and distinct advantages that improve target discrimination. The approach leverages the Phase I successful demonstration of 32x32 arr ...

Aerius Photonics proposes a wavelength tunable, optically preamplified receiver called the MEMS Tunable Vertical Cavity Amplified Detector (MT-VCAD). The MT-VCAD is a compact hybrid semiconductor chip device that utilizes an integrated MEMS mirror in conjunction with an amplifying semiconductor resonant cavity and a hybrid PIN detector to selectively amplify and detect different wavelengths of lig ...

The objective of this program is to develop adaptive optic laser mirrors which exhibit minimum distortion when irradiated with high power laser flux. Two approaches will be tried utilizing two sets of previously selected candidate materials. Results will indicate how to significantly improve the performance of the Air Force ACDM and BCDM laser mirrors as well as to improve the performance of laser ...

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) requires a superior testing and simulation environment to validate complex Ballistic Missile Defense Systems that incorporate a broad range of geographically distributed systems, including: command and control, missile warning, intelligence assets, sensors (in several passbands), signal processing, target discrimination, Hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) facilities, bat ...

Solar panels need reliability improvements while reaching for higher performance. This SBIR develops a Modular Solar Panel that uses an integral transparent cover/shield and stress control substrate, together with process-controlled production lamination techniques, to achieve an integrated engineering and manufacturing approach to solar panels. The MSP panels comprise Modules chosen from a set ...

Eutecus proposes to develop scalable focal-plane sensor-processor array chips, 3D integrated with various sensors (e.g. InGaAs) sensitive in different IR spectral domains (e.g. NIR-SWIR). As opposed to the integrating type approaches, the sensor interface (read-out integrated circuit, ROIC) of the proposed design will contain precise resistive trans-impedance amplifiers (RTIAs) and fast analog-to- ...

The objective of the proposed research and development effort is to demonstrate the feasibility of an innovative approach to high performance and highly controllable solid rocket motor propulsion for miniature advanced Divert and Attitude Control Systems (DACS). The proposed propulsion approach is throttleable and capable of a large number of cycles of extinguishment and restart. The research te ...

Freedom Photonics is developing an extremely compact and stable integrated coherent receiver module capable of surviving high radiation environments. This product is based on Freedom's proprietary photonic integration technology, and offers high bit rates (40Gbps+) and high receiver sensitivites.

The Phase I SBIR will deliver Analog Rocket Motors that simulate the configuration of large MDA rocket motors (e.g., the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) and Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI)) for IM testing of propellants and mitigation technology. The M&S computational methodology developed during Phase I provides an engineering solution to designing technology to allow propellant combustio ...