1 Micron Fiber Optic Receiver for Mil-Aero Environment

In this program, Freedom Photonics will develop and demonstrate high-power InGaAs/InP UTC photodiodes with state-of-the-art performance for military-grade, ruggedized systems requiring low size, weight, and power (SWaP). Traditionally, the DOD has been using photonic devices operating in the 1550-nm wavelength range in order to leverage the commercial fiber-optic component technology available. However, deployment in harsh military environments requires components that can meet extended temperature range requirements (-40 to +100 degrees Celsius), which commercial telecom components cannot do without temperature stabilization and cooling. Photonic devices built to operate at wavelengths around 1 micrometer, and using InGaAsP fabrication platforms, can operate over an extended temperature range without the need for thermoelectric cooling. These devices also have high power efficiency, making the entire 1-µm links improved compared to links at 1.55 µm.