Optics and Photonics

Our data and instrumentation help designers understand the fundamental physics of new systems, validate aeronautics computational and life models, and improve optical space communications for human and robotic explorations.

Overview

Our data leads to improved designs, validation and verification of systems performance, increased communications, safety and security, and reduced design cycle times for many of the core technologies developed at NASA.

Optical Communications

Free Space Communications

- Optical Teletennas
- Photonic Lanterns
- High Efficiency Optical Communication Waveforms for Deep Space Applications
- Single Photon Detectors
- High Data Rate for Deep Space & Near Earth
- Photon Counting Ground Receiver
- Atmospheric Propagation Modeling and Emulation
- Relay: A Laser-Based Space Communications Game

Photonic lanterns fabricated at GRC. A lantern is shown unpackaged (right) and packaged (left).

Woman and Man sitting behind a machine that is making fiber, and observing the progress. — Dr. Sarah Tedder (left) and Mr. Bertram Floyd (right) using a fiber fabrication machine to make a photonic lantern.

Presentation on Space Communications Technology by Dr. Daniel Raible, PhD

Quantum Communications

Quantum Entanglement
Pulsed photon Pairs
Quantum Sensor Arrays
Quantum Key Distribution
Quantum Communications Project (Space Communications and Navigation)
Quantum Communication Research Gallery

Video about exciting work in quantum technologies and quantum’s impact in everyday life.

Optical Diagnostics

Flow/Noise Diagnostics

Particle imaging Velocimetry (PIV
Background Oriented Schlieren

Illuminated view of the PIV installation in the APPL lab. — Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) installation in the AeroAcoustics Propulsion Lab (AAPL) for a twinjet model investigation of the interaction of the two adjacent jet plumes for noise reduction. The laser light sheet is illuminated particles in the flow which are used to measure the jet flow velocity.

BOS Tomographic setup — Cameras and Lights used in tomographic BOS setup

Rayleigh Scattering
PIV Tomography
Combustion diagnostics
Raman Diagnostics

Surface Diagnostics

Temperature Sensitive Paint
Pressure Sensitive Paint
Stress Sensitive Film

Engine Icing

Light Extinction Tomography
Light Extinction Probes
Raman Spectroscopy
Impedance Sensor

Photonics and Health Monitoring

Microwave Blade Tip Clearance & Tip Timing
Phosphor Thermography

Luminescence-based Temperature Mapping Sensing Systems by Dr. Jeffrey Eldridge, PhD

Smart Coatings for Optical Health Monitoring

Erosion Depth-Indicating Smart Coating. Under UV light, color indicates depth of erosion into thermal barrier coating. Green indicates coating should be replaced.

Delamination-Indicating Smart Coating. Reddish luminescence reveals otherwise invisible delamination of thermal barrier coating.

Self diagnostic Accelerometer
Hyperspectral Imaging
GRC Hyperspectral Imaging of Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie

View from inside the NASA Twin Otter aircraft of the Hyperspectral imager installed. View of the hangar outside the aircraft door behind the imager. — Hyperspectral Imagers installed on the NASA Twin Otter aircraft.

overhead image of lake erie showing stripes of hyper-spectral data — Building a composite image of water in Lake Erie using the hyperspectral imager.

Video journal about using the hyperspectral imager to capture water quality data from the NASA Glenn twin otter test aircraft.

Contacts

Area	POC	Phone	Resource
Chief	Margaret (Meg) L Nazario, PhD	216-433-8665	Publications
Chief	Margaret (Meg) L Nazario, PhD	216-433-8665	Patents
Atmospheric Propagation Modeling and Emulation, Quantum Entanglement, Quantum Sensor Arrays	Yousef (Joey) Chahine, PhD	216-433-6649	Publications
High-Efficiency Optical Communication Waveforms for Deep Space Applications	Jennifer N Downey	216-433-6521	Publications
	Jennifer N Downey	216-433-6521	Patents
Phosphor Thermography, Smart Coatings for Optical Health Monitoring	Jeffrey I Eldridge, PhD	216-433-6074	Publications
	Jeffrey I Eldridge, PhD	216-433-6074	Patents
Rayleigh Scattering	Amy F. Fagan (Mielke), PhD	216-433-6757	Publications
Rayleigh Scattering	Amy F. Fagan (Mielke), PhD	216-433-6757	Patents
Rare Earth Spectroscopy, Quantum Optical Materials and Devices, Laser Physics, and Computational Solid-State Physics	Daniel Hart, PhD	216-433-2967	Publications
Single-Photon Detectors, Quantum Entanglement, Pulsed photon Pairs, Quantum Sensor Arrays	Evan J Katz, PhD	216-433-6557	Publications
Quantum Entanglement, Pulsed photon Pairs, Quantum Sensor Arrays, Self diagnostic Accelerometer, Hyperspectral Imaging	John Lekki, Ph.D.	216-433-5650	Publications
Quantum Optical Devices, Quantum Information Systems	Nathaniel C Wilson	216-433-3148
Background Oriented Schlieren, Temperature Sensitive Paint, Pressure Sensitive Paint, Light Extinction Tomography	Jonathon D Ponder	216-433-2816	Publications
High Data Rate for Deep Space & Near Earth	Daniel Raible, PhD	216-433-3367	Publications
Photonic Lanterns, Single-Photon Detectors, Atmospheric Propagation Modeling and Emulation	Sarah (Sadie) Tedder, PhD	216-433-6591	Publications
Self-diagnostic Accelerometer, Hyperspectral Imaging	Roger Tokars	216-433-8771	Publications
PIV Tomography, Background Oriented Schlieren, Particle imaging Velocimetry (PIV), Raman Diagnostics	Mark P. Wernet, PhD	216-433-3752	Publications
	Mark P. Wernet, PhD	216-433-3752	Patents
Space Weather Monitoring Instrumentation, Radiation Detection, Optical Trapping and Micromanipulation, Optical Whispering Gallery Modes, Fiber Bragg Gratings, Background Oriented Schlieren	Susan Wrbanek	216-433-2006	Publications
	Susan Wrbanek	216-433-2006	Patents
Optical Communications and Optical Modeling	Adam Wroblewski, PhD	216-433-3816	Publications
Optical Communications and Optical Modeling	Adam Wroblewski, PhD	216-433-3816	Patents