MOBILITY ENGINEERING Produced by SAE Media Group
MOBILITY ENGINEERING

Graphene-Based Photonics Devices for Remote Sensing

Growing large-area graphene on optical substrates enables use in photonics devices.

Currently, the dominant method to generate ultrafast laser pulses passively is to use semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs). This type of passive mode locker produces exceptional results but is difficult to fabricate, expensive, and limited in bandwidth. In contrast, a graphene-based saturable absorber is easier to produce and has the advantages of much wider bandwidth, lower saturation intensity, tunable modulation depth, ultrafast recovery time, and much higher optical damage threshold, thus producing higher energies.

A process for transferring graphene to suitable optical substrates, as well as tips of optical fiber, was developed by growing large-area graphene using a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) technique. In addition, a second process was developed for depositing multiple graphene layers on the same substrate. Using these new processes, engineers developed a process to make a saturable absorber with single-layer as well as multilayer graphene.

High energy (10s nJ) and femtosecond pulses with repetition rate on the order of hundreds of MHz have been demonstrated using graphene as a saturable absorber in developing a graphene-based mode-lock device for a laser transmitter. This work has also led to the development of other novel photonics devices. Aside from the applications as a laser transmitter, the saturable absorber can be used as a scalable graphene-based bolometer.

NASA is actively seeking licensees to commercialize this technology. Please contact NASA’s Licensing Concierge at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at 202-358-7432 to initiate licensing discussions. Follow this link here  for more information.

Topics:
Aerospace Data acquisition and handling Data exchange Electronic Components Electronics Electronics & Computers Energy Fabrication Fiber optics Lasers Lasers & Laser Systems Manufacturing processes Materials Meters Handheld Instruments Mirrors Optics Photonics Power Management Remote sensing Semiconductors Semiconductors & ICs Thermal Management Thermal/IR Testers Transmitters/Receivers

More From SAE Media Group

Tech Briefs
Photonic Integrated Chip for Improved Light Control
Aerospace & Defense Tech Briefs
High-Power Broadband Multispectral Source on a Hybrid Silicon Chip
Tech Briefs
Using Sound and Light for Ultrafast Data Transfer
Photonics & Imaging Technology
Optical Signal Amplifying Technique
    Magazine cover
    Tech Briefs Magazine

    This article first appeared in the October, 2021 issue of Tech Briefs Magazine.

    Read more articles from this issue here.

    Read more articles from the archives here.

    Top Stories

    INSIDERAerospace

    Feature Image Air Force Completes First Magnetic Navigation Flight on C-17 - Mobility...

    INSIDERMaterials

    Feature Image University of Rochester Lab Creates New 'Reddmatter' Superconductivity Material...

    INSIDERResearch Lab

    Feature Image Air Force Performs First Test of Microwave Counter Drone Weapon THOR - Mobility...

    INSIDERElectronics & Computers

    Feature Image MIT Report Finds US Lead in Advanced Computing is Almost Gone - Mobility...

    INSIDERDefense

    Feature Image Navy Selects Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to Develop Hypersonic Missile -...

    INSIDERSoftware

    Feature Image Boeing to Develop Two New E-7 Variants for US Air Force - Mobility Engineering...

    Webcasts