Space-Based Light Weight Radiation-hardened Integrated Monolithic Tunable Laser

We are pleased to propose a program to design and to build a high performance space qualifiable tunable laser diode to meet the stringent requirements for transformational communication systems. Saraswati has multiple contracts in the area of transformational communication sub-systems. Additionally, we have multiple government contracts and are also teaming with a system prime for photonic true time delay beamformers for RF phased array antennas. One of the enabling components in most of the innovative architectures of these subsystems is a high performance tunable laser diode based on technology from our partner which can produce 10 simultaneous independently tuned wavelengths with independent tuning speeds of greater that 100 nm per 10µs. We will give a brief discussion in the Application Section on the enabling aspects of multiple independently simultaneously tuned wavelengths for Air Force communication programs. Saraswati has been working with to develop the SPECTRA 10 laser to meet the demanding requirements for the transformational communication and RF antenna applications. The SPECTRA 10 is based on our partners commercial widely tunable laser. Saraswati currently has funding to enhancement the speed of the tuning electronics to allow microsecond scale tuning for advanced EHF transformational communication applications. The result is a laser that can attain significant performance advantages.