Q-PEAK, INCORPORATED — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: H9

Description

The most promising systems for implementing long range, high bandwidth, Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) links for deep space missions rely on fiber-based transmitter architectures.nbsp; While such systems offer benefits in power conversion efficiency, size, weight, and cost (SWaP-C), these systems generally lack modularity due to a lack of high power fiber connectors and switch gear.nbsp; Due to the specialized equipment and training needed splice fiber components, this lack of modularity confounds the installation of fiber systems through various mechanical interfaces, and makes field repair of an integrated fiber system nearly impossible.nbsp;To address these issues, Q-Peak proposes to develop an environmentally insensitive, low insertion loss, expanded beam fiber connector with high average and peak power handling (gt;100W, and gt;100kW respectively). nbsp;Q-Peak is well positioned to achieve such high levels of transmitted power by leveraging novel opto-mechanical technologies which were developed in a number of recent efforts to achieve similarly high power connectors for flight applications at both short and Mid-IR wavelengths.nbsp;Such a connector will widely benefit all sectors of the fiber laser industry.nbsp; By enabling modular construction of laser subsystems, it will be possible to qualify high power fiber components ex-situ, thus drastically improving first-pass yields.nbsp; For medical and industrial applications, a common laser source can be more easily paired with multiple tools.nbsp; Such flexible use of laser sources will help to make laser technology more economically viable to a wider variety of industries.