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At least 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Potential for integrated optical circuits in advanced aircraft with fiber optic control and monitoring systems

Fiber optic technology is expected to be used in future advanced weapons platforms as well as commercial aerospace applications. Fiber optic waveguides will be used to transmit noise free, high speed data between a multitude of computers as well as audio and video information to the flight crew. Passive optical sensors connected to control computers with optical fiber interconnects will serve both control and monitoring functions. Implementation of fiber optic technology has already begun. Both the military and NASA have several programs in place. A cooperative program, called FOCSI (Fiber Optic Control System Integration), between NASA Lewis and the NAVY to build, environmentally test and flight demonstrate sensor systems for propulsion and flight control systems is currently underway. Integrated Optical Circuits (IOC's) are also being given serious consideration for use in advanced aircraft systems. IOC's will result in miniaturization and localization of components to generate, detect optical signals and process them for use by the control computers. In some complex systems IOC's may be required to perform calculations optically if the technology is ready, replacing some of the electronic systems used today. IOC's are attractive because they will result in rugged components capable of withstanding severe environments in advanced aerospace vehicles. Manufacturing technology developed for microelectronic integrated circuits applied to IOC's will result in cost effective manufacturing. This paper reviews the current FOCSI program and describes the potential role of IOC's in FOCSI applications.

Robert Baumbick↗
NASA NTRS2004

A MEMS Micro-Translation Stage with Long Linear Translation

A MEMS Micro-Translation Stage (MTS) actuator concept has been developed that is capable of traveling long distances, while maintaining low power, low voltage, and accuracy as required by many applications, including optical coupling. The Micro-Translation Stage (MTS) uses capacitive electrostatic forces in a linear motor application, with stationary stators arranged linearly on both sides of a channel, and matching rotors on a moveable shuttle. This creates a force that allows the shuttle to be pulled along the channel. It is designed to carry 100 micron-sized elements on the top surface, and can travel back and forth in the channel, either in a stepping fashion allowing many interim stops, or it can maintain constant adjustable speeds for a controlled scanning motion. The MTS travel range is limited only by the size of the fabrication wafer. Analytical modeling and simulations were performed based on the fabrication process, to assure the stresses, friction and electrostatic forces were acceptable to allow successful operation of this device. The translation forces were analyzed to be near 0.5 micron N, with a 300 micron N stop-to-stop time of 11.8 ms.

Ferguson, Cynthia K.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Evaluation of Underwater Adhesives and Friction Coatings for In Situ Attachment of Fiber Optic Sensor System for Subsea Applications

Integrity and performance monitoring of subsea pipelines and structures provides critical information for managing offshore oil and gas production operation and preventing environmentally damaging and costly catastrophic failure. Currently pipeline monitoring devices require ground assembly and installation prior to the underwater deployment of the pipeline. A monitoring device that could be installed in situ on the operating underwater structures could enhance the productivity and improve the safety of current offshore operation. Through a Space Act Agreement (SAA) between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Astro Technology, Inc. (ATI), JSC provides technical expertise and testing facilities to support the development of fiber optic sensor technologies by ATI. This paper details the first collaboration effort between NASA JSC and ATI in evaluating underwater applicable adhesives and friction coatings for attaching fiber optic sensor system to subsea pipeline. A market survey was conducted to examine different commercial ]off ]the ]shelf (COTS) underwater adhesive systems and to select adhesive candidates for testing and evaluation. Four COTS epoxy based underwater adhesives were selected and evaluated. The adhesives were applied and cured in simulated seawater conditions and then evaluated for application characteristics and adhesive strength. The adhesive that demonstrated the best underwater application characteristics and highest adhesive strength were identified for further evaluation in developing an attachment system that could be deployed in the harsh subsea environment. Various friction coatings were also tested in this study to measure their shear strengths for a mechanical clamping design concept for attaching fiber optic sensor system. A COTS carbide alloy coating was found to increase the shear strength of metal to metal clamping interface by up to 46 percent. This study provides valuable data for assessing the feasibility of developing the next generation fiber optic senor system that could be retrofitted onto existing subsea pipeline structures.

Tang, Henry H.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Characteristics of the optical radiation from Kaufman thrusters

The optical radiation from plasma discharges of electron-bombardment mercury-ion thrusters was investigated. Spectrographic measurements indicated that the discharge was composed primarily of mercury atoms and singly charged ions. Excitation spectra of doubly charged mercury ions was measured to obtain the fraction of such ions in the discharge. Accomplishments of spectroscopic measurements of a hollow cathode thruster included the identification of two diagnostic lines in the mercury spectrum and the interpretation of the spectral amplitudes in terms of a superposition of primary and Maxwellian electron distributions. Potential application of optical techniques to thruster control applications was also suggested by the measurements.

Milder, N. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A simple fiber-optic microprobe for high resolution light measurements: application in marine sediment

A fiber-optic microphobe is described which is inexpensive and simple to build and use. It consists of an 80-micrometers optical fiber which at the end is tapered down to a rounded sensing tip of 20-30-micrometers diameter. The detector is a hybrid photodiode/amplifier. The probe has a sensitivity of 0.01 microEinst m-2 s-1 and a spectral range of 300-1,100 nm. Spectral light gradients were measured in fine-grained San Francisco Bay sediment that had an undisturbed diatom coating on the surface. The photic zone of the mud was only 0.4 mm deep. Measured in situ spectra showed extinction maxima at 430-520, 620-630, 670, and 825-850 nm due to absorption by chlorophyll a, carotenoids, phycocyanin, and bacterio-chlorophyll a. Maximum light penetration in the visible range was found in both the violet and the red < or = 400 and > or = 700 nm.

NASA Center ARC↗
NASA NTRS2003

Micro-optical Distributed Sensors for Aero Propulsion Applications

The objective of this research is to develop micro-opto-mechanical system (MOMS)-based sensors for time- and space-resolved measurements of flow properties in aerodynamics applications. The measurement technique we propose uses optical resonances in dielectric micro-spheres that can be excited by radiation tunneling from optical fibers. It exploits the tunneling-induced and morphology-dependent shifts in the resonant frequencies. The shift in the resonant frequency is dependent on the size, shape, and index of refraction of the micro-sphere. A physical change in the environment surrounding a micro-bead can change one or more of these properties of the sphere thereby causing a shift in frequency of resonance. The change of the resonance frequency can be detected with high resolution by scanning a frequency-tunable laser that is coupled into the fiber and observing the transmission spectrum at the output of the fiber. It is expected that, in the future, the measurement concept will lead to a system of distributed micro-sensors providing spatial data resolved in time and space. The present project focuses on the development and demonstration of temperature sensors using the morphology-dependent optical resonances although in the latter part of the work, we will also develop a pressure sensor. During the period covered in this report, the optical and electronic equipment necessary for the experimental work was assembled and the experimental setup was designed for the single sensor temperature measurements. Software was developed for real-time tracking of the optical resonance shifts. Some preliminary experiments were also carried out to detect temperature using a single bead in a water bath.

Arnold, S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Hybrid Fiber-Optic/CCD Chip

Low noise and linearity of charge-coupled devices (CCD's) combined with optical waveguide components in hybrid, integrated chip package. Concept used to measure laser flux in fiber-gyro application using sensing fibers that range from several to several tens of kilometers in length. Potential applications include optical delay measurement and linear detector of light flux emanating from fiber-optic waveguides.

Goss, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Structural and optical properties for typical solid mirror shapes

A method is developed to determine the weight, center of gravity, areal properties, and mass inertial properties for typical mirrors. A number of support conditions were considered to examine optical surface deflections, surface quality, and fundamental natural frequency for single- and double-arch mirror shapes. Structural performance estimates were made with the NASTRAN program, and optical performances were evaluated with the FRINGE program, using an SXA 40-in mirror. To show the behavior of element types from the NASTRAN program, finite element validity and sensitivity studies were performed in optical model applications. Material parameters, contoured back shapes, and support locations are shown to have significant effects on structural and optical performances. Optimal support locations and support points are given. Fundamental natural frequencies for some shapes are found with the closed-form solution. The plate models results may not be acceptable for determining real mirror optical performances.

Cho, Myung K.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Characterization of a Multilayered Dielectric Transmissive Phase Modulator

We describe a multilayered dielectric stack configuration designed specifically for use as a transmissive phase modulator for broadband optical signals. Applications for this device range from full aperture wavefront correction to nonmechanical beam steering arrays for free space optical communication links. Our implementation employs alternating GaAs and AlAs layers of varying thickness on a GaAs substrate to create a bandpass region of high average transmission centered about the one micrometer wavelength. Within this transmission bandpass, the phase component of the complex transmission coefficient varies in a near-linear fashion with respect to wavelength. The transmission bandpass is designed to have a bandwidth of 21.0 nm (or 6.3THz frequency bandwidth) and to have an edge-to-edge phase change of greater than 47T radians. Modification of the stack materials' optical properties causes the transmission profile to shift spectrally, resulting in a phase modulation for bands of transmitted frequencies. Our broadband phase modulator imparts up to a full-cycle of phase modulation with low loss and low group velocity dispersion. We identify several methods for implementing the requisite modulation, including refractive index modulation through free carrier injection and optical path length modulation through variation in angle of incidence. At least one sample comprising 91 alternating layers has been fabricated to exhibit the bandpass properties required for optical signal phase modulation. We experimentally characterize the sample using an interferometer and spectrometer to measure the transmitted signal spectrum and relative phase modulation. We compare the experimental data to computational predictions and discuss the results.

Keys, Andrew S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Laser system with an antiresonant optical ring

Various applications of an antiresonant ring, consisting of a beam splitter and a number of optical reflectors, are described. With a beam splitter having a transmission coefficient and a reflection coefficient, an optical beam incident on the beam splitter along a first axis is split into two components which circulate around the ring in opposite directions. They are recombined to reflect back the beam along the first axis, with none of the beam power being directed along a second axis. The ring can be part of the cavity of two otherwise independent lasers, with two separate laser mediums external to the ring, or with a multi-wavelength laser medium in the ring. The ring together with a second-harmonic generation crystal and a dispersive phase shifter in the ring can generate the second harmonic of an optical beam.

Siegman, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Reflective and refractive optical materials for earth and space applications; Proceedings of the Meeting, Orlando, FL, Apr. 4, 5, 1991

The present conference discusses beryllium mirror design and fabrication, production of aspheric beryllium optical surfaces by HIP consolidation, the control of thermally induced porosity for the fabrication of beryllium optics, fine-grained beryllium optical coatings, light-absorbing beryllium baffle materials, and advanced broadband baffle materials. Also discussed are radiation-resistant optical glasses, a catalog of IR and cryooptical properties of selected materials, durable metal-dielectric mirror coatings, the optical stability of diffuse reflectance materials, and optical filters for space applications.

Riedl, Max J.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Micro-Laser-Based Devices Allowing Optical Wavelength-Packing Densities

We examine theoretically and experimentally the space-time domain properties of high-speed electro-optically switched microlaser devices susceptible of construction at optical wavelength-packing densities. We address adjustable phase and group delays with wide dynamic range, coherent logic, temporal storage and reconfiguration of pulse arrays and applications to optical phased arrays.

Keys, Andrew S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Microwave performance of an optically controlled AlGaAs/GaAs high electron mobility transistor and GaAs MESFET

Direct current and also the microwave characteristics of optically illuminated AlGaAs/GaAs HEMT are experimentally measured for the first time and compared with that of GaAs MESFET. The results showed that the average increase in the gain is 2.89 dB under 1.7 nW/sq cm optical intensity at 0.83 microns. Further, the effect of illumination on S-parameters is more pronounced when the devices are biased close to pinch off. Novel applications of optically illuminated HEMT as a variable gain amplifier, high speed high frequency photo detector, and mixer are demonstrated.

Simons, Rainee N.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Microwave performance of an optically controlled AlGaAs/GaAs high electron mobility transistor and GaAs MESFET

Direct current and also the microwave characteristics of optically illuminated AlGaAs/GaAs HEMT are experimentally measured for the first time and compared with that of GaAs MESFET. The results showed that the average increase in the gain is 2.89 dB under 1.7 mW optical intensity at 0.83 microns. Further, the effect of illumination on S-parameters is more pronounced when the devices are biased close to pinch off. Novel applications of optically illuminated HEMT as a variable gain amplifier, high speed high frequency photodetector, and mixer are demonstrated.

Simons, Rainee N.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Computational Modeling of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers

Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) have become increasingly important for many applications, such as optical interconnects and optical data storages. In many applications, critical requirements are very often high beam quality and/or high output powers. To help the design and optimization of VCSELs for such applications, it is essential to have a simulation model that includes the time evolution of the transverse space dependence of the hewn. Such models allow arbitrary transverse profiles of laser intensity or carrier density to develop in time without any a priori assumption about the number and types of transverse modes. In addition, extensive research in the past has shown that many-body effects are important in influencing the optical gain and the refractive index of semiconductor quantum wells. It is thus important to include the key many-body effects in simulation models for semiconductor lasers. A computational model, called the Maxwell-Effective Bloch Equations (MEBE) was developed recently that simulates the above features and effects. This model combines the space-time resolution with microscopic many-body effects in a way that is both accurate enough and computationally manageable. This model has been used to simulate edge-emitting high power lasers recently. A new finite-difference algorithm has been developed for solving these equations and will be shown in the presentation. That algorithm will be used to calculate the detailed time evolution of the transverse mode profiles of VCSELs. The VCSELs are based on InGaAs/GaAs quantum well structures. Effects of pumping current and refractive index profiles will be investigated in detail. The simulation results will be compared with other results the use the rate-equation model.

Goorjian, Peter M.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Computational Nonlinear of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers

Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) have become increasingly important for many applications, such as optical interconnects and optical data storages. In many applications, critical requirements are very often high beam quality and/or high output powers. To help the design and optimization of VCSELs for such applications, it is essential to have a simulation model that includes the time evolution of the transverse space dependence of the beam. Such models allow arbitrary transverse profiles of laser intensity or carrier density to develop in time without any a priori assumption about the number and types of transverse modes. In addition, extensive research in the past has shown that many-body effects are important in influencing the optical gain and the refractive index of semiconductor quantum wells. It is thus important to include the key many-body effects in simulation models for semiconductor lasers. A computational model, called the Maxwell-Effective Bloch Equations (MEBE) was developed recently that simulates the above features and effects. This model combines the space-time resolution with microscopic many-body effects in a way that is both accurate enough and computationally manageable. This model has been used to simulate edge-emitting high power lasers recently. A new finite-difference algorithm has been developed for solving these equations and will be shown in the presentation. That algorithm will be used to calculate the detailed time evolution of the transverse mode profiles of VCSELs. The VCSELs are based on InGaAs/GaAs quantum well structures. Effects of pumping current and refractive index profiles will be investigated in detail. The simulation results will be compared with other results the use the rate-equation model.

Goorjian, Peter M.↗