Icing mitigation through quantum sensing

Abstract

NASA is developing quantum metrology capabilities for potential space-based quantum components in future navigation and communications systems. Innate knowledge of component operation is key for the space qualification of these components. The primary focus of aircraft icing research has been on ice accretion on wings for its serious adverse consequences. When icing occurs on a wing, the change in airfoil shape results in a decrease in lift and an increase in drag, leading to potentially fatal accidents. Although the issue was recognized in the 1920s, the icing problem is still an area of ongoing research due to the complexity of the icing phenomena. A much-improved understanding of how certain weather conditions produce different icing characteristics will lead to new mitigation methods and better quantification of current methods. This can be done by a better understanding of the molecular binding energy produced by ice polytype combinations when interacting with different surface materials in various environments. This work is currently developing models that more accurately describe the quantum signatures of H2O states (i.e. supercooled, ice, liquid, glass phase...) and chip-based detectors to evaluate these signatures. These sensors utilize ion defects in Silicon Carbide (SiC) as extremely sensitive atomic magnetic detectors. This effort leverages both the decades-long SiC development expertise and infrastructure at NASA Glenn and its growing capabilities in quantum metrology.