Ultraviolet Solar Blind Sensors for Microsatellites and Small Satellites

Navy SBIR 23.1 - Topic N231-070
ONR - Office of Naval Research
Pre-release 1/11/23   Opens to accept proposals 2/08/23   Closes 3/08/23 12:00pm ET   [ View Q&A ]

N231-070 TITLE: Ultraviolet Solar Blind Sensors for Microsatellites and Small Satellites

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space

OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative manufacturing methods to produce high quality ultraviolet (UV) and Vacuum UV (VUV) photodetectors for use in space on microsatellites (microsats) and small satellites (SmallSats) with strong visible wavelengths rejection.

DESCRIPTION: Improvements in the manufacturing of UV and VUV sensors are needed by the Navy to meet sensitivity and stray light rejection demands of compact optical systems designed for operation in space on the next generation of microsats being designed to study the ionosphere,1,2,3 and thermosphere4, and for use in other Navy applications. Availability of high-quality photodetectors will allow for future mission growth. The Navy is seeking to foster the development of affordable optical components and systems with broad application to space-based remote sensing systems. Current detector technology involves either fragile glass phototubes or photodiodes, both of which have unwanted visible light sensitivity. Typical CubeSat UV sensors used in SmallSats have been commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or custom photomultipliers with fragile components and require high voltages for operation. Innovative detectors are sought with the ruggedness, mass, and material properties necessary to produce high-quality spaceflight optical elements. Innovative techniques are sought to develop solar blind detectors needed for the new class of remote sensing instruments.

UV and VUV detectors used for remote sensing of the ionosphere, including PMTs and solid-state sensors, typically feature an unwanted sensitivity to visible light. These sensitivities are normally attributed to impurities in the sensor materials. Goals are a ratio of 10^5 improvement in the UV/visible sensitivity. Solidstate devices are preferred since they do not require high voltages and require less power. High purity, wide bandgap materials can be considered as well as innovative light filtering schemes. Devices should be composed of compatible spacecraft materials, be low outgassing, survive at temperatures of -50�C to +60�C, and have the ability to survive a NASA GEVS5 vibration specification and thermal test environment, all typical of the requirements imposed for flight on small spacecraft.

Technologies proposed should not contain hazardous or high outgassing materials and should be capable of being integrated into typical optical systems. It is desired that their containers be moderately electrically and thermally conductive to avoid developing static charge and thermal gradients in space. They should be durable and able to withstand normal optical component handling procedures. They should be delivered in an optically clean state and be robust enough to withstand precision cleaning and vacuum baking as part of normal spacecraft processing.

PHASE I: Develop and demonstrate concept feasibility for an innovative UV and VUV sensor technology meeting Navy needs for microsat optical systems. Demonstrate performance advantages over current technology by producing sample devices that can be tested to Navy requirements. GSE circuits will be provided that allow the Navy to test the devices in Navy facilities. While exact sensor responsivities are not specified for Phase I, the awardee will establish that the device can be used in the UVC range with windows and that it is capable of operating windowless or with MfF2 windows for the VUV region. Focus research on visible light rejection and materials. The path to using this technology to produce VUV detectors should be defined.

Proposed sensor concepts should meet the following thresholds:

Deliverable Design Characteristics:

Maximum sensor mass = 35g

Sensor area: = 1mm^2

UVC sensitivity: 100 mA/W

UVC/Vis: > 10^5

Dark current < 10 nA

Survival Temp range: -50 - +60�C

Full sensitivity (windowless): for UV and VUV

Vibration, Shock, and Thermal: NASA GEVS5

 

PHASE II: Develop a Phase II prototype sensor of the > 1mm^2 size class for evaluation in the VUV. The prototype will be evaluated to determine its capability in meeting the performance goals defined in Phase II Statement of Work (SoW) and the Navy need for solar blind UV and VUV sensors. The prototype design should provide collecting areas no less than 1mm^2 (objective), and should show applicability to be utilized with various electronics and spacecraft architectures. Deliver a minimum of five of these prototypes to the Navy for evaluation. Perform detailed analysis to ensure materials are rugged and appropriate for Navy application. Environmental, shock, and vibration analysis will be performed. Optical checks will include UV & VUV sensitivity, dark current, signal to noise (S/N), and UV/Vis rejection ratio. Prototype windowless VUV sensors will be produced and tested.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Apply the knowledge gained in Phase II to build an advanced sensor, suitably configured for a smallsat application, including flight spares and interface electronics, and characterize its performance in the UV & VUV as defined by Navy requirements. Working with the Navy and applicable Industry partners, demonstrate application to a DoD Space Test Program (STP) flight test. Support the Navy for test and validation to certify and qualify the system for Navy use. Explore the potential to transfer the UV/VUV sensor system to other military and commercial systems (NASA, University, Optics Industry). Market research and analysis shall identify the most promising technology areas and the company shall develop manufacturing plans to facilitate a smooth transition to the Navy.

REFERENCES:

1.       Budzien, Scott et al. "Comparison of second and third generation 135.6 nm ionospheric photometers using on-orbit and laboratory results." SPIE Proceedings, Volume 11131, CubeSats and SmallSats for Remote Sensing III; 1113102 (2019)

2.       Attrill, G.D.R.; Nicholas, A.C., Routledge, Graham et al., "Coordinated Ionospheric Reconstruction CubeSat Experiment (CIRCE), In situ and Remote Ionospheric Sensing (IRIS) suite," Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate, (2020) in press.

3.       Nicholas, Andrew C., et al. "Triple magnesium ionospheric photometer (Tri-MIP) instrument overview." CubeSats and SmallSats for Remote Sensing V. Vol. 11832. SPIE, 2021.

4.       Fritz, Bruce. Tiny Remote-sensing Instrument for Thermospheric Oxygen and Nitrogen: A Concept Study. NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC, 2022.

5.       NASA General Environmental Verification Standards (GEVS), Rev. A, GSFC-STD-7000 (2013).

 

KEYWORDS: Ultraviolet; UV; UV sensors; vacuum ultraviolet; VUV sensors, detector technology, detector fabrication, spaceflight optics, spaceflight structures


** TOPIC NOTICE **

The Navy Topic above is an "unofficial" copy from the Navy Topics in the DoD 23.1 SBIR BAA. Please see the official DoD Topic website at www.defensesbirsttr.mil/SBIR-STTR/Opportunities/#announcements for any updates.

The DoD issued its Navy 23.1 SBIR Topics pre-release on January 11, 2023 which opens to receive proposals on February 8, 2023, and closes March 8, 2023 (12:00pm ET).

Direct Contact with Topic Authors: During the pre-release period (January 11, 2023 thru February 7, 2023) proposing firms have an opportunity to directly contact the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the specific BAA topic. Once DoD begins accepting proposals on February 8, 2023 no further direct contact between proposers and topic authors is allowed unless the Topic Author is responding to a question submitted during the Pre-release period.

SITIS Q&A System: After the pre-release period, and until February 22, 2023, (at 12:00 PM ET), proposers may submit written questions through SITIS (SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System) at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/, login and follow instructions. In SITIS, the questioner and respondent remain anonymous but all questions and answers are posted for general viewing.

Topics Search Engine: Visit the DoD Topic Search Tool at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/ to find topics by keyword across all DoD Components participating in this BAA.

Help: If you have general questions about the DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk via email at [email protected]

Topic Q & A

2/3/23  Q. Can clarification be provided on the statement �GSE circuits will be provided that allow the Navy to test the devices in Navy facilities?�
   A. A packaged device solution for operating a device would be preferred, but not required for phase 1, however a clear path to produce packaged devices should be provided. Any essential Ground Support Equipment (GSE) will be provided by the vendor to enable testing in Navy facilities. This will include any vacuum equipment, necessary harnessing needed to test in the relevant vacuum environment and/or power sources to drive test equipment. Specific circuitry needed to operate the detector shall be provided along with the samples for testing and should interface with common laboratory connectors (e.g. DB-15).
1/20/23  Q. Would my specific spectral isolation approach be acceptable?
   A. Solar blind PMT photocathodes have been problematic in the past because of a “red leak” due to trace impurities in the photocathode material. If this problem can be addressed within the typical resources of CubeSats and other SmallSats, this approach might be acceptable.
1/20/23  Q. Is this call for single element detectors or a focal plane array?
   A. Either format may be acceptable. A single element detector would be sufficient for space-based photometers.
1/20/23  Q. Are common GaN or SiC semiconductors adequate?
   A. Reliable data on the sub-bandgap response of these devices is hard to find. Some wide band-gap materials show potential, but are in need of more development. VUV space photometers would need detectors with high contrast between a VUV spectral feature and the whole solar spectrum above 200nm. Improved performance of wide band-gap devices may be acceptable.
1/20/23  Q. Are there specific wavelengths of interest?
   A. Relevant wavelengths might include 122nm, 130nm, 135nm, 216nm, 247nm, 280nm, and similar emissions.


[ Return ]