Description: The program will develop a spectrometer with chip-scale footprint and performance rivaling high-end benchtop spectrum analyzers leveraging an innovative digital Fourier Transform (dFT) architecture, which uniquely enables exponential scaling of performance. Specifically, the Phase II project will build on the accomplishments from Phase I and fabricate the photonic circuits via AIM Photonics’ Si photonics foundry service. The chips will then be packaged in a commercial packaging house to establish a robust optical, thermal, and mechanical interface with other components in the spectrometer module. We will also develop the second generation electronics using custom-designed components such that the module can be co-integrated in a single matchbox-sized package. We will also mature the data acquisition and processing algorithm and develop a user application with easy-to-use graphic user interface. The project will thus lead to a market-ready, “plug-and-play” spectrometer module product.

Benefits: Surface and atmospheric analysis on CubeSats and planetary landers Monitoring of volatile organic compound (VOC) contaminants in spacecraft cabin atmospheres Point-of-care diagnostics for astronauts

Food and water sensing Chemical, petrochemical, agrochemical and pharmaceutical process control Environmental contaminant detection Telecom and datacom channel monitoring