Modular Optical Aperture Building Blocks (MOABB)

Abstract

The Modular Optical Aperture Building Blocks (MOABB) program aims to greatly improve the cost, size, weight, and performance of free-space optical systems. These systems enable applications such as light detection and ranging (LIDAR), laser communications, laser illumination, navigation, and 3D imaging. Specifically, MOABB aims to construct millimeter-scale optical building blocks that can be coherently arrayed to form larger, higher power devices. These building blocks would replace the traditional large and expensive precision lenses and mirrors, which require slow mechanical steering, that form conventional optical systems. MOABB will develop scalable optical phased arrays that can steer light waves without the use of mechanical components. These advances would allow for a 100-fold reduction in size and weight and a 1,000-fold increase in the steering rate of optical systems.

Document Details

Document Type
Accomplishment
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2018
Source ID
69b70a8b9a9721c544fcaf48d4546250

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery.
  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Space

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