Optical Management of Digital Sensor Data using Cryogenic Photonics

This Phase-I STTR effort develops an optimized cryogenic optical feedthrough that extracts data from Digital Sensor Dewars using a compact, rugged, and reliable technology that minimizes thermal load in the digital Dewar.  This advanced feedthrough technology replaces conventional wires and their issues including thermal conductivity and connector reliability with a dense, wireless, non-thermally conductive, alignment tolerant technology that is low cost and highly reliable.  This optical feedthrough is applicable for compact tactical digital sensor Dewars as well as for large, complex digital Dewars containing additional subsystems.  The Phase-I effort involves extensive modeling and optimization, bench level concept testing, and a plan for a Phase-II prototype demonstration of a commercial optical feedthrough product.