Description du projet
Des cristaux d’Alexandrite à haute performance pour les missions spatiales
Les missions spatiales d’observation de la Terre comprennent une série de missions de satellites artificiels et d’instruments scientifiques lancés sur l’orbite terrestre et conçus pour des observations globales à long terme de la surface terrestre, de la biosphère, de l’atmosphère et des océans. Ces missions sont primordiales pour recueillir des informations et des données essentielles à la compréhension de notre planète. Le projet GALACTIC, financé par l’UE, vise à créer une chaîne d’approvisionnement complète entièrement assurée par l’industrie européenne, destinée à introduire des cristaux laser à revêtement d’Alexandrite, de haute performance, de haute qualité et de haute puissance. Pour atteindre cet objectif, deux partenaires industriels et un institut de recherche se sont associés pour mettre en commun leurs compétences respectives et atteindre cet objectif ambitieux.
Objectif
Space-based earth observation missions are an essential building block gaining the data to understand our planet. In particular, space missions which are enhanced by laser-based instruments enable new ways of monitoring the atmosphere or the planet’s surface.
The availability of space-qualified TRL 6 high performance coated Alexandrite laser crystals within Europe is a major enabling technology for future earth observation space missions. For this reason, the GALACTIC project aims for the creation of the complete supply chain solely by European industry for high performance, high quality, high power, coated Alexandrite laser crystals. For this goal, two industrial partners and a research institute team up to combine their complementing expertise and reach this ambitious goal. Optomaterials S.r.l. (Italy) as expert in single crystal growth will advance Alexandrite crystal growth and machining techniques to produce high-quality Alexandrite laser crystals. Altechna Coatings (Lithuania) will contribute its expertise on high performance optical coatings and characterization methods to develop space-compliant, highly durable optical coatings specifically tailored for Alexandrite pulsed laser operation. Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (Germany) as a research institute with strong experience in the development of laser sources for space applications will develop demonstrator laser systems based on the newly developed Alexandrite crystals proving their superior lasing performance.
The combined forces of these outstanding partners will enable a detailed TRL 6 qualification of the coated Alexandrite crystals within the GALACTIC project making these crystals a new purely European product to be utilized in future space missions by the space industry.
The development will by accompanied by strategic dissemination activities promoting the activities of GALACTIC to a broad audience.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcrystals
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringsubtractive manufacturing
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanets
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicspulsed lasers
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinateur
30419 Hannover
Allemagne