Versatile spaceborne photonics with chalcogenide phase-change materials

Abstract

Recent growth in space systems has seen increasing capabilities packed into smaller and lighter Earth observation and deep space mission spacecraft. Phase-change materials (PCMs) are nonvolatile, reconfigurable, fast-switching, and have recently shown a high degree of space radiation tolerance, thereby making them an attractive materials platform for spaceborne photonics applications. They promise robust, lightweight, and energy-efficient reconfigurable optical systems whose functions can be dynamically defined on-demand and on-orbit to deliver enhanced science or mission support in harsh environments on lean power budgets. This comment aims to discuss the recent advances in rapidly growing PCM research and its potential to transition from conventional terrestrial optoelectronics materials platforms to versatile spaceborne photonic materials platforms for current and next-generation space and science missions. Materials International Space Station Experiment-14 (MISSE-14) mission-flown PCMs outside of the International Space Station (ISS) and key results and NASA examples are highlighted to provide strong evidence of the applicability of spaceborne photonics.

Phase-Controlled Synthesis and Phase-Change Properties of Colloidal Cu–Ge–Te Nanoparticles

“…For optical applications, a laser pulse is used to read and write data, whereas in electronic applications, an electrical pulse is applied to induce strong Joule heating, enabling a phase change in the material. Recent developments in PCM devices and materials engineering have widened the application range to neuromorphic hardware, , electro-optical modulators, − and even space applications …”

“…Recent developments in PCM devices and materials engineering have widened the application range to neuromorphic hardware, 6 , 7 electro-optical modulators, 8 − 11 and even space applications. 12 …”