Integrated Spatial Filter Array

To address the NASA Earth Science Division need for spatial filter arrays for amplitude and wavefront control, Luminit proposes to develop a novel polarization-preserving Integrated Spatial Filter Array (iSFA) comprising 36 x 36 waveguides and two microlens arrays in a hexagonal configuration. Each waveguide acts as a polarization maintaining single-mode fiber and is precisely mapped to a pair of input/output lenslets. The 36 x 36 waveguides have identical fast and slow polarization axes and can be mass-fabricated to reduce cost and enhance placement accuracy, uniformity, throughput and reliability. The iSFA will be hermetically packaged in a 1 cubic inch box to withstand high radiation and temperature extremes in space. In Phase I, we will demonstrate the feasibility of iSFA, which will reduce the development risk of a Phase II 36 x 36 prototype iSFA. The demonstrated results will offer NASA enhanced nulling coronagraph imaging for detection of planets beyond our solar system with the Terrestrial Planet Finder.