LONGWAVE PHOTONICS LLC — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: S1
LONGWAVE PHOTONICS LLC — SBIR Phase I award from National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Phase I SBIR feasibility signal
- Phase I awards fund proof-of-concept work. For capture teams, they mark early interest from National Aeronautics and Space Administration in a technical approach.
- Watch for Phase II follow-ons from the same firm/topic family — that conversion path is where budgets and transition pressure rise.
- Obligated amount $125,000. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Topic code S1 links this award to a solicitation family — search the same topic stem for incumbents and recompete timing.
- Amount
- $125,000
- Agency
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Topic
- S1
- Solicitation
- SBIR_21_P1
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- CA
- Period
- 2021-05-14 → 2021-11-19
Description
In NASArsquo;s 2019 Astrophysics Biennial Technology Report ldquo;tunable-bandwidth array receivers for operation at frequencies of 1 ndash; 5 THz,rdquo; is described as a tier 2 technology gap priority [1].nbsp; Specifically, there is a need ldquo;for LO [local oscillator], sources with output power levels ge; 10 micro;W at frequencies above 2 THz,rdquo; pumping ldquo;arrays of 10 to 100 pixels.rdquo;nbsp; THz Quantum Cascade Lasers are excellent candidate LOs in this frequency range because of their multi-milliwatt power levels, necessary to pump pixel arrays of superconducting hot electron bolometer mixers, as well as room temperature Schottky diode mixers.nbsp; Recently, demonstrations of QCLs emission spanning 1.6 to 4.5 THz suggests the possibility of a WIdeband LO (WITLO).nbsp; nbsp;In this work LongWave will develop mode matching structures to provide effective anti-reflection coatings for its QLCs.nbsp; This will enhance output power and wall plug efficiency of its lasers, and enable external cavity tuning.nbsp; LongWave will develop specifications and a design for integration of this QCL with amplitude stabilization as well as low SWaP cryocooling necessary for future NASA missions.