CFD RESEARCH CORPORATION — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF212-0015

Description

There is a growing need to develop inexpensive, lightweight mid/long-wave infrared (M/LWIR) devices for applications including gas sensing, point-to-point free-space communication, and bio sensing. Most of these applications require well-collimated, spectrally narrow beams which are currently achieved using MWIR laser sources. However, these lasers are expensive and bulky, which limits their use in size, weight, and power-constrained (SWAP) devices. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) offer a solution for lightweight, low-cost, and low-power MWIR sources. However, the traditional LED optical packaging, which is developed for visible wavelengths, is opaque in the M/LWIR. In this work, we will develop metasurface-based optics (meta-optics) for beamforming and filtering single and multiple MWIR LED emission bands. Meta-optics use subwavelength elements to impart local phase shifts and can achieve functionalities beyond that of refractive optics. We will use inverse design methods to develop the meta-optic architecture and will employ CMOS-compatible fabrication processes so the devices can be readily manufactured. We will work closely with a leading vendor of optical devices to ensure our meta-optic window will fit their commercial LED packaging solutions. Success in this effort will expand military mission capability by enabling a new generation of wearable, UAV, and space-based devices.