Fiber optic components and sub-systems for communication and sensing in harsh environments

Photonics has transformed into an enabling platform technology with application into industrial processing, communications, sensing and life sciences. Fiber-optics can offer reduced mass, volume, lower power consumption, immunity to EMI in communication and sensing systems. Specifically in the context of communications, laser-based data links are high-speed, inherently secure, immune to jamming and spoofing, and no license is required for accessing the spectrum. Photonics is expected to play a key role in terrestrial, aerospace and space markets, as fiber-optics penetrates into field-deployed systems, UAV, aircraft and satellite payloads for telecommunication or sensing. These systems require ruggedized photonic components and modules qualified against stringent requirements in terms of thermal, vibration and shock levels in order to guarantee performance over the product lifetime. The project will focus on the design, development and commercialization of miniaturized, cost-effective and high-performance components and sub-systems, suitable for realizing key functions such as generation amplification and reception of light signals within a terrestrial, satellite or aerial platforms, advancing the state of the art with respect to footprint, bit-rate, functionality and power efficiency.