SBIR-STTR Award

TransWave Photonics proposes to develop long-wave infrared transceiver components for free-space optical communications with high-data rate and low-bit error rate under adverse weather conditions. In Phase I, we will design, develop, and demonstrate longwave-infrared quantum-cascade lasers and quantum cascade detectors needed for 10 Gbps transmission under adverse weather conditions. The quantum cascade laser transmitter will be designed to produce 1W continuous wave power near 10-micron wavelength and direct modulation bandwidth better than 5 GHz. The quantum cascade detector receiver will utilize heterodyne detection for demonstration of room temperature 10 Gbps communication link.

Benefit:
The proposed approach will open a new pathway for monolithic mid-infrared photonic systems where light sources, detectors, and other functional blocks are integrated for unprecedented compactness, efficiency, and functionality. Successful demonstration of the proposed photonic integrated circuits will be immediately beneficial for military applications including infrared countermeasures, chemical detection, and light detection and ranging, and commercial applications including health care and sensing. Considering health-care and sensing applications that are one of the biggest markets for mid-infrared quantum cascade laser and detector applications, whose global market is projected to reach from $1.0 billion to $1.3 billion, growing with CAGR of 4.1% for the period 2020-2025. The demand for quantum cascade laser photonic integrated circuits for gas sensing applications is expected to be particularly high from oil and gas industries. Given the fact that quantum cascade lasers are already widely used in gas sensing systems, TransWave Photonics expects multiple commercial opportunities for the development of on-chip quantum-cascade-laser-based gas sensors using our proposed photonic integrated circuit technology.

Keywords:
photonic integrated circuit, photonic integrated circuit, high-speed modulation, long-wave infrared, Free space optical communications, Quantum Cascade Laser