Photonics Devices

Miniature IR Spectrometer

The spectrometer is the result of integration of infrared fiber optics and waveguide with advanced infrared linear detector arrays.

The spectrometer is based on an infrared slab waveguide to monolithically integrate an optical fiber or laser-machined slit at the optical input. It includes a multistage TE-cooled detector array at the optical output.

The optical signal is guided within the slab waveguide onto a master blazed grating structure that also serves as a concave reflector.

The diffraction grating is formed in crystalline semiconductor material using multi-step processing involving photolithography, reactive ion etching and additional chemical processing.

US Patent Application No.: # 7,034,935 B1 (April 25, 2006)

This novel MPB fiber-optic sensing system employing a hybrid MEMS/FBG structure was developed under a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA).

This newly developed system enables various types of measurements (such as pressure, temperature, stress, valve status, and flow) by using a common fabrication FBG methodology. A significant advantage of the MPB concept is that different fiber-optic sensors can use the same fiber laser-based interrogation system and can be serially multiplexed on single strands of optical fiber.

An optical fiber sensing system demonstrator (FSD)for ESA’s small satellite PROBA-2 was designed and built. It incorporates three novel fiber-optic sensors and the optimal architecture for sensor multiplexing and interrogation:

1. Distributed temperature measurements along propellant lines (-20 to 60^oC),
   
2. Inline fiber-optic valve-status sensor (open/close),
3. Simultaneous measurement of temperature (-20 to 60^oC) and pressure (0- 3 MPa, or 0 to 30 MPa) for propellant and oxidizer tanks.

The FSD has been space qualified. The flight of ESA’s PROBA-2 with MPB’s FSD is scheduled for 2008.

Sensor Line

Interrogtion Unit

The objectives of this CSA funded project were

1. to review the technical status of optical micromachines (MOEMS),
2. to identify opportune applications of MOEMS for space,
3. to design and
4. fabricate a technology demonstrator that embraces the main concepts of optical micromachines for Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs).

A technology demonstrator was designed and fabricated on an SOI platform that showed the feasibility of simultaneously fabricating and integrating a number of key passive and active components for micro-PICS on a single substrate.

Significant achievements were demonstrated with respect to the basic components for an optical integrated photonic circuit that can offer high functional densities. This includes a practical implementation of photonic band-gap theory using new concepts in high-order structures to provide wavelength selective filters, tunable PBG devices and innovative MEMS optical switches employing PBG concepts.

Overall operation and I/O coupling of the basic devices to single-mode optical fiber was demonstrated.

The significant advantages of micro-PIC technologies for space include freedom from EMI and ESD concerns, high data processing rates that are scalable, lightweight optical signal harness with high signal integrity, and high functional density with minimal volume and mass that facilitates parallel chip redundancy for fault-tolerant operation.

Experimental testing of high-order Photonic Band Gap (PBG) filters demonstrated that MPB’s prototype performed according to that predicted through the theoretical simulations. Despite using very few grating elements, wavelength selectivity better than 0.5 nm was feasible for filter and WDM applications in a very compact waveguide structure.

This project was carried out in cooperation with a team at Montreal’s École Polytechnique.

Photonic Bandgap Filter with a few grating elements, 1 micron width each.

Photonics MEMS Optical Switch

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