Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) for Radio Frequency (RF) applications

Reconfigurable and adaptive hardware systems are essential parts of NASA applications due to the uncertainties and variations caused by extreme operational conditions, radiation effects, modifications of standard and requirements, varying user preferences and high development cost. While electronic version of such systems is widely being used in NASA applications, they incur significant size, weight, and power, and cost (SWaP-C). We propose a Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC), that will have significantly lower SWaP-C. The proposed programmable PIC will be fabricated using phase change materials (PCM) that enables non-volatile, compact, low-loss, and broadband switches that can be mass produced through well-established integrated circuit fabrication process. In spite of the reduction in feature size that can affect resolution and bandwidth, the photonic platform will enable loss-less controlled passage of light and allow the PIC-based applications to provide equal or higher efficiency compared to the state-of-the-art. Also, the compact integrated design will enable constructive augmentations that can improve efficiency without compromising on SWaP-C. In Phase I, we identified Sb2S3 and Sb2Se3 as promising PCM with low loss (1.0 dB), high extinction ratio (10 dB), high cyclability (1,000 switching events), and multi-bit operation. We also fabricated individual PIC components with electrical actuation that can improve scalability. Using a reduced order modeling (ROM) based simulation platform, we simulated a programmable PIC system with electrical actuation and optical communication. In Phase II, we will simulate simple RF filters in the programmable PIC, optimize the design to meet NASA requirements, build a prototype, and experimentally verify the performance of programmable PIC, including as a function of radiation effects and temperature variations. Promising designs will be delivered to NASA. Reconfigurable and adaptive hardware systems are essential to NASA applications due to uncertainties and variations. Electronic version of such systems incurs significant size, weight, and power, and cost (SWaP-C). We propose a Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC), that will have significantly lower SWaP-C. The proposed programmable PIC will be fabricated using phase change materials (PCM) that enables non-volatile, compact, low-loss, and broadband switches that can be mass produced through well-established integrated circuit fabrication process. In Phase I, we identified Sb2S3 as a promising PCM with low loss (<1.0 dB), high extinction ratio (>10 dB), high cyclability (>1,000 switching events), and multi-bit operation that enabled ultra-compact broadband units with zero static power consumption. We fabricated PIC components with electrical actuation that can improve scalability. In Phase II, we will simulate RF filters in the programmable PIC, optimize the design to meet NASA requirements, build a prototype, and experimentally verify the performance of programmable PIC. Technical Objectives: 1) Design, fabricate and deliver a compact low-cost high-performance programmable PIC using PCM integrated photonic components, that can be employed in RF applications used by NASA; 2) Perform NASA’s mission critical radiation exposure and thermal management studies on the proposed programmable PIC for comprehensive validation. Phase II Work Plan: 1) Simulation and validation of radio frequency (RF) components in the programmable PIC; 2) Simulation and analysis of radiation effects and thermal management on programmable PIC; 3) Fabrication of programmable PIC with electrically actuated Sb2S3 components; 4) Post fabrication testing and implementation of RF filters in the programmable PIC; 5) Total Ionizing Dose (TID) radiation and low external temperature testing on programmable PIC. Phase II Deliverables: (1) Programmable PIC prototype with RF filter implementation; (2) Experimental results on the efficiency of programmable PIC; (3) Experimental results on the exposure of programmable PIC to TID and low operational temperature; (4) Strategies to implement programmable PIC in environment relevant to NASA’s critical operations Phase III Work Plan: (1) Implementation of programmable PIC in NASA’s critical operations; (2) Commercialization of programmable PIC in non-NASA applications
Benefits: The programmable PIC is aligned with multiple NASA 2020 Technology Taxonomy areas like TX05: Communications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems, TX08: Sensors and Instruments, TX10: Autonomous Systems, and TX17: Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C). The ROM-based design and analysis software will be a Cross-Cutting capability that directly supports the efficient development, verification, and qualification of photonics-based instruments to meet a variety of NASA requirements across multiple missions. The programmable PIC can be applied in a variety of fields that need reconfigurable and adaptive hardware systems. Some examples include developers of micro/nano-satellites, avionics, automotive, telecommunication, consumer electronics and industrial data processing.