SBIR-STTR Award

In this effort OEwaves, Inc. proposes to design and build broadband tunable turn-key heterogeneously integrated MWIR comb generators (hereafter referred to as Kerr combs) obtained by pumping an optical microresonator with a continuous-wave (CW) laser source. This includes addressing the important case of combs generated by a room temperature QCL operating at 4.5m-wavelength. At the end of Phase II of this SBIR program, the comb oscillators will have TRL 6 and will be suitable for field use verification. The development will be based on the earlier results of fundamental studies performed by OEwaves team. OEwaves is the first team to demonstrate the feasibility of QCL-based Kerr combs with a low noise microcavity self-injection locked QCLs. Mid-IR Kerr combs offer at least two fundamental advantages over traditional spectroscopic technologies. First, they provide a uniquely broadband coverage of the mid-IR spectrum, broader than individual QCLs and stretching to longer wavelengths than established nonlinear-conversion optical sources. Second, the potential integration of QCLs and microresonators can attain a unique degree of instrument miniaturization, simplification, and ruggedization, which is crucial for rapid insertion in field deployable and/or mass-manufactured devices.

On the basis of the results of Phase I of the program, OEwaves, Inc. proposes to develop a novel voltage-controlled opto-electronic RF oscillator with an unprecedented combination of high performance (low phase noise), wide tunability from 40-110 GHz, exceptionally small size, weight, and power (SWaP), and extreme ruggedness necessary for airborne/space deployments. The oscillator will enable multiple future C4ISR applications which would otherwise not be technically feasible and will advance the goals of the DARPA Blackjack program. The device will also drive new performance standards across the full spectrum of future C4ISR system capabilities and is particularly well suited to support small platforms such as UAVs. For example, the oscillator will improve onboard SIGINT sensor data collection, processing and dissemination, RADAR clutter cancellation and sub-clutter visibility, and cognitive radio systems (SATCOM) in support of varied defense missions.