LONGWAVE PHOTONICS LLC — Department of Defense STTR Phase I: A17A-T007
LONGWAVE PHOTONICS LLC — STTR Phase I award from Department of Defense.
- Amount
- $150,000
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Army
- Program / Phase
- STTR · Phase I
- Topic
- A17A-T007
- Solicitation
- 2017.0
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- CA
- Period
- 2017-07-10 → 2018-01-09
Description
LongWave Photonics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Virginia Diodes are proposing the use of the Terahertz Quantum-Cascade Lasers (QCL) combined with a Schottky diode detector for high dynamic range heterodyne imaging. Two single-mode, distributed feedback (DFB) QCLs with milliwatt power levels will be used as local oscillator and illumination for imaging. The QCLs will be downconverted to an IF band in a reference and a signal Schottky diode mixer. High dynamic ranges of > 90 dB are estimated for real-time image acquisition rates. Arrays of DFBs designed for different frequencies will allow tunability over the 2 to 5 THz frequency range. This system will enable non-destructive, non-contact testing of materials that are transparent in the terahertz band, potentially revealing information that is complementary to other imaging modalities.