Description: The focus of this proposed effort is to provide a path to add high-performance quantum dot (QD) gain to SiPh by leveraging Aeluma's large-diameter wafer technology and its relationships with SiPh foundry partners, with an emphasis on the performance requirements for space communications and sensing applications. Hybrid integration using flip-chip bonding or solder-based assembly of processed group III-V compound semiconductor lasers onto SiPh circuits has been commercialized but faces issues associated with scalability, robustness and SWaP reduction. Heterogeneous integration such as wafer- or die-to-wafer bonding, and emerging micro-transfer printing (MTP), have attracted interest more recently. These approaches address several critical challenges by bonding III-V gain chiplets into SiPh to form gain elements and lasers. III-V substrate costs and complex process integration, however, have limited the broad adoption of these technologies. The direct heteroepitaxy of III-V QD lasers on silicon, as proposed here, is considered the ultimate solution for scaling SiPh for broad market adoption, for SWaP reduction, and for increased performance, robustness, and reliability.

Benefits: Aeluma's breakthrough technology includes the ability to grow and manufacture high-performance compound semiconductor materials and devices, such as InP and GaAs-based optoelectronic devices, on large-diameter substrates including 12-inch silicon. Aeluma achieves this with production-scale MOCVD on large-diameter substrates, the subsequent frontend fabrication of devices and PICs at large-volume US-based foundries, and ultimately the wafer-scale integration with electronic integrated circuits (EICs). For the proposed QPICS work, Aeluma's technology can achieve scale and cost reduction without sacrificing performance. NASA has been interested in PIC technology for several years now beginning perhaps with the funding of Dr. Jonathan Klamkin's NASA Early Career Faculty award to explore PICs for space optical communications. Following this, STMD funded several early stage innovation (ESI) programs on this topic including on performed by Dr. Klamkin, and others performed by leading photonics and laser experts. As the technology matured, Dr. Klamkin built toward an ESTO-funded advanced component technology (ACT) program known as IMPRESS Lidar: Integrated MicroPhotonics for Remote Earth Science Sensing Lidar. This effort was aimed at atmospheric sensing of greenhouse gases and was quite successful in demonstrating CO2 sensing in a laboratory environment using the PICs built by Dr. Klamkin's research group. Subsequent work was awarded to NASA researchers and industry partners to increase the TRL level of that technology and perform some packaging and space qualification of the PIC technology. NASA is clearly committed to PICs and the value that this technology brings to space communication and sensing systems. Moving forward, the use of SiPh is paramount because this technology has matured significantly due to commercial interest, however, lasers are so critical to NASA applications. The QPICS proposal provides a path for Aeluma to work with SiPh foundry partners.Aeluma is a transformative semiconductor company specializing in scalable, cost-effective photonic components and integrated circuits for communications and sensing applications. Aeluma was founded in 2019 and its headquarters are in Goleta, California. Aeluma's breakthrough technology includes the ability to manufacture high-performance compound semiconductor devices (ex. lasers, photodetectors, etc.) on large-diameter substrates up to 12 inch. This has the potential to enable scaling and cost reduction, both of which are critical for mass market adoption. For NASA applications, this technology has the potential to enable more frequent science missions at low cost, fostered by significant SWaP reduction and deployment on small space platforms. Aeluma has been selling some products in small volumes, has been awarded several development contracts, and has been sampling with customers primarily in the automotive lidar, industrial, and defense & aerospace sectors. Aeluma focuses on direct business-to-business relationships and sales and on strategic partnerships with system integrators and manufacturing companies. In addition to NASA applications, the proposed QPIC platform in this work is applicable to other applications and markets including: • Quantum photonics and communications • AI including photonic processing and optical I/O • Datacom and telecom • Inertial sensing • Robotics • Autonomous systems • Space communications • Health monitoring