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High-Gain, Wavelength-Agile Compact Coherent and Direct-Detection Receiver for High-Bandwidth Laser Communications

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Missile Defense Agency
Contract: HQ0147-08-C-7902
Agency Tracking Number: B063-019-0430
Amount: $749,998.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: MDA06-019
Solicitation Number: 2006.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2008-06-02
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-05-31
Small Business Information
4160 Market St., Suite 6
Ventura, CA 93003
United States
DUNS: 145925520
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: Yes
Principal Investigator
 Timothy Strand
 Principal Research Scient
 (805) 642-4645
 tstrand@aeriusphotonics.com
Business Contact
 Jon Geske
Title: President
Phone: (805) 642-4645
Email: geske@aeriusphotonics.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Aerius Photonics proposes a wavelength tunable, optically preamplified receiver called the MEMS Tunable Vertical Cavity Amplified Detector (MT-VCAD). The MT-VCAD is a compact hybrid semiconductor chip device that utilizes an integrated MEMS mirror in conjunction with an amplifying semiconductor resonant cavity and a hybrid PIN detector to selectively amplify and detect different wavelengths of light. Unlike APDs, whose gain and noise figure suffer at higher data rates, the MT-VCAD maintains high gain (>100x) at high data rates (10 to 40 Gb/s), thus enabling satellites to communicate over longer distances and at 10’s of gigabits per second. The MT-VCAD is compatible with coherent and direct detection operation. The MT-VCAD receiver inherently accepts and amplifies only a narrow wavelength band (0.1 nm), reflecting other bands, and is able to change this wavelength in microseconds. Therefore the proposed tunable receiver, with a tunable transmitter, can rapidly change wavelength and eliminate any attempts to jam or damage the detectors either by wideband illumination or by narrowband lasers. Wavelength tunability also enables compact wavelength division multiplexed systems. In Phase I Aerius Photonics demonstrated device functionality with a breadboard prototype and in Phase II Aerius will deliver fully functional prototype receivers modules.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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