APPLIED OPTIMIZATION, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF222-0001

Description

The proposed work will demonstrate multifunctional Spatially Variant Photonic Crystals (SVPCs) operating with a wide Field of View (FOV) (~150°-170°) and broad spectral band in the near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectrum. These SVPCs will use careful spatial variation by arranging and orienting unit cells and their resultant Iso-Frequency Contours (IFCs) to achieve and maintain self-collimation to correct wide FOVs; this will lead to unique control of light for lensing and imaging applications. SVPCs are designed to be adiabatic in nature, making them innately broadband in operation. Low-index, low-loss materials will be used to operate in the NIR and MIR spectrum; these materials enable high efficiency and a wide FOV with low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) requirements. The simplified geometric design and photopolymer material selection will also allow them to be fabricated using modern additive manufacturing techniques for practical applications and operational platforms. We will use numerical analysis to demonstrate the potential imaging properties and beam control enabled by these SVPCs. Broadband, wide-FOV imaging using SVPCs will serve as a supplementary or alternative approach for navigation and guidance to assist troops or civilians where standard techniques such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) may fail.