NASA SBIR 2009 Solicitation

SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
ArkLight
3210 N. Bay Hill Drive
Center Valley, PA 18034 - 8452
(484) 547-5375

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Yuliya B. Zotova
yzotova@hotmail.com
3210 N. Bay Hill Drive
Center Valley, PA 18034 - 8452
(484) 547-5375

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at beginning and end of contract:
Begin: 3
End: 6

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words)
PI at ArkLight proposes to implement photon counting detectors at near-IR (1-1.8 microns) and mid-IR (3-4 microns) with single photon sensitivity based on frequency up-conversion during Phase 2, representing an innovative Lidar technology for ASCENDS mission. By working with Prof. Ding at Lehigh University, PI will explore fundamental limits to quantum efficiencies for up-conversion detection at 1.57 microns. She will implement, characterize, and optimize single up-conversion device capable of detecting 1.57 microns and 1.27 microns. She plans to achieve detections of CO2 and O2 using implemented up-conversion device. She will investigate fundamental limits to noises for up-conversion detections. She will compare among PPLN, PPKTP, and PPLT as up-conversion media. She will expand detection wavelengths to cover ranges of 1-1.8 microns and 3-4 microns. She plans to introduce novel techniques for improving performances of up-conversion devices. She will investigate versatility of up-conversion devices under harsh environments. To achieve all these objectives, she has laid out a detailed work plan describing all the specific tasks necessary. Through optimizations, she will achieve the quantum efficiency of 50%, dark count rate of 50 Hz, bandwidth of GHz, electrical consumption of < 1 W, weight of < 1 lb, and dimension of 7x4x4 (all in inches).

POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
The photon counting detectors implemented by PI during Phase 2 will meet the requirement of NASA as being defined by the NASA SBIR solicitation of TOPIC: S1 Sensors, Detectors, and Instruments. Specifically, these detectors will be used to achieve single photon sensitivity in the wavelength ranges of near-IR (1-1.8 microns) and mid-IR (3-4 microns). In comparison, InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes are incapable of reaching single photon sensitivity within the two spectral ranges. 3-D imaging systems by combining the photon counting detectors and a laser can be used to realize coherent imaging LIDAR for the ASCENDS, DESDynI, LISA, Doppler Wind Lidar, and LIST mission programs. Such 3-D imaging can be achieved by both a staring single-element photon counting detector and an array of these detectors. The energy sources of nine infrared luminous galaxies can be diagnosed by a ground-based 3-4 µm spectrometer to be developed by PI based on the photon-counting detectors.

POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
The photon counting detectors can be used in Missile countermeasure with significantly improved sensitivity and reliability. A spectrometer based on these detectors can be used for making spectroscopic studies of molecules in the range of 1-11 microns. It can be also used to detect trace amounts of the molecular species for the applications in chemical sensing and detections of biological and chemical agents. It can be used as a tool for biomedical diagnostics for important applications such as glucose detection. The new LIDAR system to be developed by PI by combining the photon counting detectors and a laser has important applications in archaeology, meteorology and atmospheric environment, wind power, geology, physics and astronomy, biology and conservation, military and law enforcement, vehicles, imaging, and 3-D mapping. Since it can reach single photon sensitivity around 1550 nm, it is not only eye-safe but also important for military applications in night vision goggles.

TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING (NASA's technology taxonomy has been developed by the SBIR-STTR program to disseminate awareness of proposed and awarded R/R&D in the agency. It is a listing of over 100 technologies, sorted into broad categories, of interest to NASA.)

Airport Infrastructure and Safety Attitude Determination and Control Biochemical Biomolecular Sensors Large Antennas and Telescopes Laser Optical Optical & Photonic Materials Photonics Spaceport Infrastructure and Safety Telemetry, Tracking and Control