Author :
Sporea, D. ; Sporea, Adelina ; Mihai, Laura ; StaÌŒncaÌŒlie, Andrei
Author_Institution :
Nat. Inst. for Laser, Plasma & Radiat. Phys., Magurele, Romania
Abstract :
Three years ago, the Agreement for the Romanian association to the European Space Agency was signed, and the Romanian Space Agency launched the Program “Space Technology and Advanced Research” to support original research of interest for space applications. Considering the possibility to use quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) in space-borne applications (i.e. free space optical communication and spectroscopic instrumentation) we promoted the project “Evaluation of Components for Space Applications - ECSA”, dealing with the assessment of mid-IR components under charge particles and photon irradiation, for possible use in space missions. Our paper presents the ESCA project philosophy, the setups for the assessment of operating characteristics in the case of QCLs, mid-IR detectors (both photovoltaic and photoconductive) and optical materials (transmission and reflection measurements), and the planned irradiation activities.
Keywords :
infrared detectors; laser beam applications; optical materials; photoconductive cells; photodetectors; quantum cascade lasers; space research; ECSA project; European Space Agency; Evaluation of Components for Space Applications; QCL; charge particles; midIR detectors; optical materials; photoconductive detectors; photon irradiation; photovoltaic detectors; quantum cascade lasers; reflection measurements; transmission measurements; Aerospace electronics; Detectors; Instruments; Optical materials; Quantum cascade lasers; Radiation effects; Space missions; irradiation effects; mid-IR optical materials; photoconductive detector; photovoltaic detector; quantum cascade laser; space applications;
Conference_Titel :
Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON), 2014 16th International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Graz
DOI :
10.1109/ICTON.2014.6876656
