Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Device Structures: Background, Fabrication Ecosystem, Relevance to Space Systems Applications, and Discussion of Related Radiation Effects

Electronic integrated circuits are considered one of the most significant technological advances of the 20th century, with demonstrated impact in their ability to incorporate successively higher numbers transistors and construct electronic devices onto a single CMOS chip. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) exist as the optical analog to integrated circuits; however, in place of transistors, PICs consist of numerous scaled optical components, including such "building-block" structures as waveguides, MMIs, lasers, and optical ring resonators. The ability to construct electronic and photonic components on a single microsystems platform offers transformative potential for the development of technologies in fields including communications, biomedical device development, autonomous navigation, and chemical and atmospheric sensing. Developing on-chip systems that provide new avenues for integration and replacement of bulk optical and electro-optic components also reduces size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) limitations, which are important in the selection of instrumentation for specific flight projects. The number of applications currently emerging for complex photonics systems-particularly in data communications-warrants additional investigations when considering reliability for space systems development. This Body of Knowledge document seeks to provide an overview of existing integrated photonics architectures; the current state of design, development, and fabrication ecosystems in the United States and Europe; and potential space applications, with emphasis given to associated radiation effects and reliability

Optical communications for very high throughput satellites

In this paper, the potential of Photonic Integrated Circuits for very high throughput satellites is discussed. Summary of the undertaken approach, current development status and challenges related to the space environment are provided

Nonlinear Propagation in Periodic Microstructures

The main objectives of this research project related to the observation of ultrafast, all-optical switching within AlGaAs structures operated in the half-band gap spectral region. The switching configurations investigated were based on nonlinear periodic structures and included nonlinear waveguide arrays and Bragg gratings. Theoretical simulations of the switching characteristics of various nonlinear coupled arrays were carried out using both a fourth order Runge-Kutta algorithm and a split step Fast Fourier Transform code. The effects of linear absorption, dispersion and multi-photon absorption on the efficiency of the switch were taken into consideration. All-optical switching was demonstrated for the first time in uniformly and non-uniformly spaced three, four and eight core couplers. The experimental transmission characteristics compared well to the theoretical simulations. First and second order grating filters were fabricated using both a two step holographic process and a single-step electron beam writing process. Gratings with a 70% reflection efficiency and stopband width of 0.9 nm were fabricated. The linear losses of the filters were measured using a Fabry-Perot technique. The electron beam defined gratings were found to have no significant scattering losses associated with them. In contrast the holographically fabricated gratings were found to increase the losses of the waveguides considerably. Finally the nonlinear response of the grating filters were investigated

NASA SBIR abstracts of 1991 phase 1 projects

The objectives of 301 projects placed under contract by the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are described. These projects were selected competitively from among proposals submitted to NASA in response to the 1991 SBIR Program Solicitation. The basic document consists of edited, non-proprietary abstracts of the winning proposals submitted by small businesses. The abstracts are presented under the 15 technical topics within which Phase 1 proposals were solicited. Each project was assigned a sequential identifying number from 001 to 301, in order of its appearance in the body of the report. Appendixes to provide additional information about the SBIR program and permit cross-reference of the 1991 Phase 1 projects by company name, location by state, principal investigator, NASA Field Center responsible for management of each project, and NASA contract number are included

Conference on Binary Optics: An Opportunity for Technical Exchange

The papers herein were presented at the Conference on Binary Optics held in Huntsville, AL, February 23-25, 1993. The papers were presented according to subject as follows: modeling and design, fabrication, and applications. Invited papers and tutorial viewgraphs presented on these subjects are included

Cumulative index to NASA Tech Briefs, 1986-1990, volumes 10-14

Tech Briefs are short announcements of new technology derived from the R&D activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. These briefs emphasize information considered likely to be transferrable across industrial, regional, or disciplinary lines and are issued to encourage commercial application. This cumulative index of Tech Briefs contains abstracts and four indexes (subject, personal author, originating center, and Tech Brief number) and covers the period 1986 to 1990. The abstract section is organized by the following subject categories: electronic components and circuits, electronic systems, physical sciences, materials, computer programs, life sciences, mechanics, machinery, fabrication technology, and mathematics and information sciences

Acoustic Waves

The concept of acoustic wave is a pervasive one, which emerges in any type of medium, from solids to plasmas, at length and time scales ranging from sub-micrometric layers in microdevices to seismic waves in the Sun's interior. This book presents several aspects of the active research ongoing in this field. Theoretical efforts are leading to a deeper understanding of phenomena, also in complicated environments like the solar surface boundary. Acoustic waves are a flexible probe to investigate the properties of very different systems, from thin inorganic layers to ripening cheese to biological systems. Acoustic waves are also a tool to manipulate matter, from the delicate evaporation of biomolecules to be analysed, to the phase transitions induced by intense shock waves. And a whole class of widespread microdevices, including filters and sensors, is based on the behaviour of acoustic waves propagating in thin layers. The search for better performances is driving to new materials for these devices, and to more refined tools for their analysis

Energy: A continuing bibliography with indexes, issue 32

This bibliography lists 1316 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system from October 1, 1981 through December 31, 1981