VESCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. — Department of Defense STTR Phase I: AF21A-TCSO1
VESCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. — STTR Phase I award from Department of Defense.
Phase I STTR feasibility signal
- Phase I awards fund proof-of-concept work. For capture teams, they mark early interest from Department of Defense 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 $49,975. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Topic code AF21A-TCSO1 links this award to a solicitation family — search the same topic stem for incumbents and recompete timing.
- Amount
- $49,975
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Air Force
- Program / Phase
- STTR · Phase I
- Topic
- AF21A-TCSO1
- Solicitation
- X21.A
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- CO
- Period
- 2021-04-16 → 2021-07-19
Description
Vescent Photonics LLC (Vescent), in collaboration with Prof. Michael Chini at the University of Central Florida (UCF) Physics Department, propose to develop a low- size, weight, and power (SWaP), field-deployable visible fiber frequency comb adapted from robust Erbium fiber (Er:fiber) and telecommunications technology. Optical frequency combs spanning the entire visible spectrum (380-750 nm) are an essential tool to enable the widespread field deployment of critical quantum technologies for next-generation positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). These technologies require the accurate referencing of quantum transitions on disparate ends of the visible spectrum and current state-of-the-art systems rely on bulky optical set-ups (~75 L) that prohibit widespread field deployment of these technologies. Optical frequency combs provide a convenient method to accurately reference numerous quantum transitions at a greatly reduced SWaP (<10 L) and complexity. However, portable frequency comb systems rely on Er:fiber technology in the near infrared telecommunications band that require nonlinear conversion into the visible spectrum. Vescent, in partnership with UCF, proposes to develop a low-SWaP (<20 L, <50 W), few-cycle, nonlinear photonics system to up-convert the near-infrared frequency comb with continuous spectral coverage spanning and surpassing the visible spectrum (350-900 nm). Such technology will permit the widespread field deployment of assured, quantum PNT technology in GPS-denied environments.