Ultraviolet Communication for Medical Applications

Abstract

In this Phase I SBIR effort, Imaging Systems Technology (IST) demonstrated novel UVC-emitting Plasmashells in a breadboard system for ultraviolet (UV) non-line-of-sight (NLOS) communication for medical battlefield casualty care. UVC Plasma-shells were fabricated and tested as optical emitter components in the solar blind 200-280 nm UVC region, and were compared with a 273 nm UV LED. A survey of state-ofthe-art UVC optical components identified new devices that will make vehicle-mounted and man-portable UV NLOS systems practical by allowing power/area tradeoffs in transceiver design. A breadboard system was built to test a large-area 22 x 22 Plasma-shell transmitter panel that produced 17.6 mW optical power, with a PMT photon-counting receiver. Limited results were available from the breadboard system, however measurements of individual Plasma-shells showed emission of 12 and 24 μW at 253 and 273 nm respectively with potential for much higher output power. Ambient operating temperature was tested up to 100 °C and maximum is predicted to be 137 °C, and lifetime testing to 1050 hours shows no reduction in light output. 15. SUBJECT TERMS 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON a. REPORT