Meta-lens Filtering and Beam Forming for Mid-Wave and Long-Wave Infrared LEDs and Photodiodes

TECH FOCUS AREAS: General Warfighting Requirements (GWR) TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors OBJECTIVE: The objective of the topic is to develop meta-lens filtering and beam-forming for LED and PD packaging using novel materials such as chalcogenide as windows materials for patterning into meta-lenses. DESCRIPTION: Compared to commercial visible optical packaging technology for LEDs and PDs, the mid-IR technology base is decades behind. This is because the transmissive and diffractive lenses and encapsulation materials for visible wavelengths are too absorptive or even opaque at mid-IR wavelengths. The objective of the topic is to develop meta-lens filtering and beam-forming for LED and PD packaging using novel materials such as chalcogenide as windows materials for patterning into meta-lenses. These will require designing and developing layers and structures for converting the Lambertian emission profile of LEDs into suitable narrow beams, estimating the tradeoff between light collection efficiency and beam divergence. Numerous applications are envisioned such as chip-scale on and off communications, bio-sensors, and gas detection of such species as methane and CO2 by band limiting the emission and reducing the opto-mechanical system requirements for optical gas sensing. One could imagine health and safety gas detection for Air Force systems such as wearable sensors for jet fuel vapor detection and other hazards. The beam-forming capabilities should be especially useful for point-to-point free-space communication links in the MWIR. The low-SWAP properties of such LED-PD paired devices for gas sensing lend themselves to needs in unmanned aerial vehicles. The higher-performance emitter configurations would also be useful for high-stability, on-platform calibration references for satellite-borne and other sensors. PHASE I: A Phase I effort would determine the feasibility of optimizing the novel films and meta-lens geometries and characterize the transmission. PHASE II: A Phase II project would adapt these meta-lenses to TO and surface mounted packages for LEDs and PD product prototypes, with the goal to design for additional wavelengths. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The fundamental nature of AFOSR programs reflect the broad opportunity to commercialize science to both commercial and defense markets. Awardees will have the opportunity to integrate with prospective follow-on transition partners. The contractor will transition the solution to provide expanded mission capability to a broad range of potential Government and civilian users and alternate mission applications. REFERENCES: 1. 2018 National Defense Strategy of the United States Summary. Retrieved from: https://www.Defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf