Projects
![A prototype reflectarray faces a feed horn in an anechoic chamber.](/sites/default/files/styles/list/public/project/image/2024-10/529881-003_rs_0.jpg?h=c3635fa2&itok=UfYROYoW)
Mitigating cellular network congestion through adaptive beamforming with reflectarrays
A low-cost, reconfigurable radio receiver architecture provides an alternative approach to filter out unwanted transmissions in millimeter-wave (MMW) signals.
Tags
![A schematic showing optical ground terminals and satellites transmitting data via lasercom links across the Earth and to the Moon.](/sites/default/files/styles/list/public/project/image/2024-05/Hollow-core%20fiber_1.jpg?itok=OTTfzbBV)
Guiding Light in Air-Filled Fibers for Long-Distance Lasercom
A new type of fiber could transmit the high-power light needed for future deep-space science and exploration missions.
Tags
![An illustration of data being sent across a laser from a small satellite to a ground station on Earth.](/sites/default/files/styles/list/public/news/image/2022-11/tbird_conops_public_notext.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=FFp50AcU)
TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD)
The laser communications payload has delivered terabytes of data from a satellite to Earth at record-breaking rates that will transform future science missions.
Tags
![a photo of a small satellite in a studio](/sites/default/files/styles/list/public/project/image/2023-08/TROPICS.png?h=5463d0de&itok=1Rk-6x3n)
TROPICS
A constellation of small satellites is collecting rapidly refreshed weather data to advance studies of hurricane structure and intensity and improve forecasts.
Tags
![a researcher looks through a small window on a large metal multichambered molecular beam epitaxy tool.](/sites/default/files/styles/list/public/project/image/2022-12/522734-001D.jpg?h=41f55a5b&itok=PRwftYs3)
Materials by Design
A new approach to materials discovery aims to expedite the process of deploying new materials for specific mission needs.
Tags
![a small electronic chip is illuminated with red laser light.](/sites/default/files/styles/list/public/project/image/2022-06/Atomic-clock.png?itok=pL1cHcWv)
Compact Optical Trapped-Ion Array Clock
Optical atomic clocks are the most accurate in the world, but they are very large, sensitive instruments. We are transforming the complex components of these clocks into a compact, portable platform.
Tags
![The Laboratory-developed PHOENIX High CASTLE collected this imagery of the amusement park Kings Dominion in Virginia during an initial flight campaign to test and optimize the performance of this 3D airborne ladar.](/sites/default/files/styles/list/public/project/image/2022-06/KingsDominionPark.png?itok=N6JkG5nK)
PHOENIX High CASTLE
We developed a ladar that samples at the diffraction limit to collect high-resolution imagery for geospatial mapping missions.
Tags
![a wire in wound up in a spool. The wire appears to be cooper and has red LEDs lit up throughout it.](/sites/default/files/styles/list/public/project/image/2022-05/523546-001D.jpg?itok=o9_O-FTT)
Fiber Sensor Array Buoy
A small, low-cost system that leverages long-length fibers embedded with electronics could provide persistent monitoring of the undersea environment.
Tags
![an illustration of Earth from space with two lidar-housing satellites orbiting near eachother.](/sites/default/files/styles/list/public/project/image/2022-04/Aull-no%20labels.png?h=9d71c5a3&itok=94jDD5S9)
Atmospheric Aerosol Characterization
We are designing a satellite-based lidar system to categorize aerosols in the atmosphere.
Tags
![This image shows micro-chips for Super-DICE atop a penny for size reference.](/sites/default/files/styles/list/public/project/image/2021-05/chips-on-penny.jpg?itok=25PbwwXd)
Superconducting Discrete Integrated Circuit Electronics
A technology that allows system developers to combine modules produced by trusted foundries and commercial manufacturers may deliver yield enhancements and power and performance benefits to mission-critical systems.
Tags