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Photonic Antennas
Navy SBIR 2011.2 - Topic N112-109 NAVAIR - Ms. Donna Moore - [email protected] Opens: May 26, 2011 - Closes: June 29, 2011 N112-109 TITLE: Photonic Antennas TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Materials/Processes, Sensors ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-264, Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected. OBJECTIVE: Develop a novel photo detection device that utilizes unique material techniques and performs as an "optical" antenna. DESCRIPTION: Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems utilize photo detectors to receive the return light signal. Current state of the art detectors are based on various photon to electron conversion principles that, at best, have quantum efficiencies (QE) of 40 percent in the blue spectrum that we are interested in for oceanographic LIDAR applications. Since the conversion process is substantially less then unity, additional laser power is required from the transmitter to make up for the loss of signal on the detector. If a photo detector with near unity QE in the blue spectrum could be used, the LIDAR system performance would dramatically increase with no additional laser power. The spectrum of interest is 450 nanometers to 490 nanometers. The photo detector must also have an active area large enough to be usable in a practical LIDAR system. Active areas are typically on the order of 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Also, the bandwidth must be greater than 100 MHz and the noise factor must be less than 1.1. The effort should also address how the electrons will be transferred out of the device for use by the system. Removal of the generated electrons for use by the system must be addressed. Generated electrons are currently either removed from the device via an electronic amplifier or a vacuum amplification scheme. PHASE I: Develop and prove feasibility of a conceptual design for a novel photo detector. PHASE II: Produce and lab test prototype hardware based on Phase I work. All of the parameters listed in Phase I must be tested and met or exceeded by the prototype. PHASE III: Transition the developed technology to appropriate platforms and systems. PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Application of this technology to civilian cameras will greatly improve their low light level performance. A larger, broader application of this technology would be the efficient coupling of light into high index-materials, such as solar cells. Currently, commercial solar cells are less than 20 percent efficient. REFERENCES: 2. Mühlschlegel, P., Faharani, J., Eisler, H., Hecht, B. & Pohl, D. Optical Antennas. National Center of Competence in Research `Nanoscale Science�Institute of Physics, University of Basel. KEYWORDS: meta-material; optical antenna; photo detector; quantum efficiency; LIDAR; noise factor
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