document title / titre du document TRP W ORK PLAN ... - emits - ESA

TRP Work Plan 2005-2007
Description of Activities
TEC-SB/7935/dc
12/Feb/09
TRP Reference:
Title:
T609-23MM
Programmable micro-diffraction gratings
Programmable micro-diffraction gratings (PMDG) are on-chip-manufactured optical devices using micro-electro-mechanical
system (MEMS) technology. Optical MEMS (MOEMS) devices are based on movable micrometric optical components and
therefore provide large benefits in terms of mass, speed, low power consumption, size and ruggedness. In addition they have
the potential to be available at low cost, since complete systems can be produced using essentially standard technologies of
the semiconductor industry.
Basically, a PMDG device consists of a one-dimensional array of very thin and flat optical mirrors (100’s of micromirrors)
whose vertical position can be electrically controlled (e.g. by electrostatic actuation). By adjusting all the relative mirror
positions a grating can be generated for diffracting the incident light into a selected angle with any desired spectral response.
For example, they can be adjusted to form a blazed grating or to match the absorption or emission spectrum of a molecule. A
new type of extremely compact correlation spectrometers, very promising for Earth Observation and Science Exploration
missions, can be built. Only one single photo detector is needed to build the spectrometer, which is a great advantage
compared to fixed grating spectrometers requiring a detector - array. Since the mirrors can be moved in less than 0.1 ms,
many different spectral responses can be generated in a short time period. Moreover, a PMDG device is reconfigurable (i.e.
the optical transfer function is programmable), allowing the target species to be changed by remote control, which makes this
device concept ideal for planetary exploration.
PMDG can provide elegant solutions to a huge variety of spectroscopy applications (e.g. detection/identification of chemical
species), hence enabling new Earth Observation and Science Exploration missions, e.g. for spectroscopy instruments
on-board microsatellites, nanosatellites, micro-aerobots and micro-probes, envisaged for some of the Science & Planetary
Exploration reference missions (TRM) like JEM (Jupiter Explorer Mission), IHP (Interstellar Heliopause Probe) and VEP
(Venus Entry Probe). The development of this “enabling technology” will ensure a strategic leadership in competitiveness and
independence to Europe.
The objective of this activity is to design, develop and manufacture in Europe programmable micro-diffraction grating (PMDG)
devices for spectroscopy applications and to deliver a proof-of-concept demonstrator of such a device, which shall be
subjected to a functional performance verification test campaign for the on ground validation of the selected concept, with the
goal of demonstrating the functional requirements (e.g. spectral resolution) and the expected improvements in terms of mass,
size and power consumption. The Contractor shall also investigate environmental, reliability and packaging issues to support
future space qualification stages.
PMDG devices are presently commercially available in the USA as well as in Japan. The TRP activity “Instrument concepts
using dynamic diffraction gratings, T609-05MM”, assesses experimentally the performance and capabilities of PMDG devices
procured in USA and investigate novel instrument concepts based on PMDG device technology. The outcomes of this activity
will be used for the proposed PMDG development activity.
Deliverables:
Technology data package; Executive summary report; Modelization tools (mathematical/numerical computer models);
Samples and Proof-of-concept demonstrator of PMDG's for spettroscopy applications.
Current TRL: TRL1-2 Target TRL: TRL3 Application Need/Date: TRL5 by 2011
Application/Mission: Small EO missions, planetray research Contract Duration: 24 months
SW Clause : - Dossier0 Ref.: T-7861
Consistency with Harmonisation
Roadmap and Conclusions:
Not directly linked to harmonised technology.
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