SBIR Phase I: Photonic Crystal Coherent Thermal Emission for Sensors

这一小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目建议对用于远场相干发射的二维光子晶体进行建模、制造和测试。最近发表的研究表明，一维光子晶体(PC)的热发射具有近场相干分量。光子和表面结构之间的干涉有效地将PC变成了在窄带发射辐射的红外天线。离子光学公司将基于覆盖着非常薄的图案化金属薄膜的图案化硅(介质-空气PC)来制造加热的PC发射器。计算机模型将首先研究潜在的结构。然后将制造最优结构并进行测试。发射将作为角度和波长的函数进行测量，我们将观察衍射效应来测试相干性。该项目将导致生产廉价、高效、窄线宽、低色散的红外MOEMS光源，非常适合光谱应用。第一阶段的结果将被用来模拟光谱蒸汽检测，以确定提高灵敏度的潜力。在现有MEMS组件上的重大进展将显示第二阶段的可行性。这种光源将能够在非常低的浓度(十亿分之几或万亿分之一)下检测蒸汽物种，用于大气研究、环境研究、化学战剂、爆炸物等的检测。潜在销售额可能超过每年2000万美元。

This Small Business Innovative Research Phase I project proposes to model, fabricate and test 2-D photon crystals for far-field coherent emission. Very recently published research showed that thermal emissions from 1-D photon crystals (PC) had near-field coherent components. Interference between photons and surface structure effective turned the PC into an infrared antenna emitting radiation in narrow bands. Ion Optics will fabricate thermally heated PC emitters based upon patterned silicon (dielectric-air PC) covered with very thin patterned metal films. Computer models will first study potential structures. Optimal structures will then be fabricated and tested. Emission will be measured as a function of angle and wavelength, and we will look at diffraction effects to test coherence. The project will lead to production of inexpensive, highly efficient, narrow line-width, low dispersion infrared MOEMS sources well suited to spectroscopic applications. Phase I results will be used to model spectroscopic vapor detection to determine potential for improved sensitivity. Significant advances over available MEMS components would show feasibility for Phase II.Such light sources would enable detection of vapor species at very low concentrations (parts per billion or parts per trillion) for applications to atmospheric research, environmental research, detection of chemical warfare agents, explosives, etc.Potential sales could exceed $20 million per year.