SBIR-STTR Award

Radiation-defect mitigation in InAs/GaSb strained-layer superlattice infrared detectors
Award last edited on: 1/12/2021

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : MDA
Total Award Amount
$1,123,622
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
MDA16-011
Principal Investigator
Chris Fredricksen

Company Information

Truventic LLC

1209 West Gore Street
Orlando, FL 32805
   (386) 631-7319
   N/A
   www.truventic.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 10
County: Orange

Phase I

Contract Number: HQ0147-17-C-7256
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase I year
2017
Phase I Amount
$149,174
We propose a means of mitigating the effects of radiation damage in long-wave infrared photo-detectors for interceptor systems in near-Earth orbit. Specifically, minority carrier transport in radiation-damaged InAs/GaSb strained-layer superlattice nBn photo detectors will be electrically manipulated to restore photo-detector quantum efficiency after gamma radiation. The method is real-time, remote, and autonomous, with low weight and power budget. Additionally, the proposed work will reveal the mechanism of degradation due to gamma irradiation for this class of photodetector. Approved for Public Release | 16-MDA-8917 (15 November 16)

Phase II

Contract Number: HQ0147-18-C-7310
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
2018
Phase II Amount
$974,448
This Phase II SBIR project will advance the technical readiness level (TRL) of our Phase-I-demonstrated strategy for mitigating radiation damage in GaSb/InAs Type II Strained-Layer-Superlattice (SLS) long-wave infrared (LWIR) detectors.Our mitigation strategy will be optimized for detectors to be deployed in interceptor seeker systems that will be exposed to radiation in the near-Earth orbital environment.Optimization will be achieved by experiments on relevant hardware, using realistic operating and irradiation conditions, combined with investigations into the underlying physical phenomena.The mitigation treatment is purely electrical and will be applied in-situ, remotely, automatically, and in real-time.Mitigation will not increase eyes off target time for interceptor seeker imagers.Minority carrier diffusion length will be measured directly using Electron Beam Induced Current (EBIC) technique.Our mitigation treatment dramatically restores both photoresponse and minority carrier diffusion length.The final TRL resulting from the proposed Phase II will be at least 4, namely breadboard validation in a laboratory environment for proton-irradiated single-element detectors with ROIC-equivalent electronics.Approved for Public Release | 18-MDA-9522 (23 Feb 18)