NASA SBIR 2007 Solicitation
FORM B - PROPOSAL SUMMARY
PROPOSAL NUMBER: |
07-2 O1.08-8373 |
PHASE 1 CONTRACT NUMBER: |
NNX08CC94P |
SUBTOPIC TITLE: |
Long Range Optical Telecommunications |
PROPOSAL TITLE: |
Very Large Solar Rejection Filter for Laser Communication |
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Surface Optics Corporation
11555 Rancho Bernardo Road
San Diego, CA 92127 - 1441
(858) 675-7404
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
David Sheikh
dsheikh@surfaceoptics.com
11555 Rancho Bernardo Road
San Diego, CA 92127 - 1441
(858) 675-7404
Expected Technology Readiness Level (TRL) upon completion of contract:
4
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words)
Surface Optics Corporation (SOC) will develop a band pass filter comprised of a visible dielectric mirror and an induced transmission filter, applied to two sides of a cast polyimide membrane. The mirror/filter combination will block 95% of the incident solar radiation, while allowing a narrow pass-band for laser communication. The combination of a visible dielectric mirror constructed on one side of a membrane and a band-pass filter on the second surface, offers a means of creating a very efficient solar reflector with relatively few coatings layers. The exceptionally thin and flat optical substrate will minimize degradation of the laser signal. 2-meter membrane filters are sought by NASA to prevent over-heating of ground-based laser communication receivers operating during daylight hours.
In Phase II, the designs will be scaled to large membrane substrates approximately 2-m in diameter.
POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
This research will benefit future NASA programs requiring interplanetary laser communication.
POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
High quality membranes coated with precision optical coatings may be useful for large ground-based, segmented telescopes such as TMT and Hobby-Eberly. Although the concept is still in its infancy, a coating transferred to a glass segment via a polymer membrane would be analogous to tinting an automobile car window. Preliminary evaluations indicate a membrane with less than lambda/6 PTV error, may be useful for segmented mirror systems with active correction. A coating transfer process would eliminate the need for a segment assembly containing motors, controllers, and actuators, from being placed in a vacuum chamber for periodic recoating.
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.
TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING |
Composites
Laser
Optical & Photonic Materials
Thermal Insulating Materials
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Form Generated on 10-23-08 13:36
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