Descrizione del progetto
Cristalli di alessandrite ad alte prestazioni per le missioni spaziali
Le missioni di osservazione della Terra con base sullo Spazio prevedono una serie di missioni di satelliti artificiali e strumenti scientifici lanciati nell’orbita terrestre e progettati per osservazioni globali di lungo termine della superficie terrestre, della biosfera, dell’atmosfera e degli oceani. Sono essenziali per raccogliere indizi e dati fondamentali per comprendere il nostro pianeta. Il progetto GALACTIC, finanziato dall’UE, intende creare una filiera completa esclusivamente composta dall’industria europea, volta a introdurre cristalli laser rivestiti di alessandrite ad alte prestazioni, elevata qualità ed elevata energia. A tal fine, due partner industriali e un istituto di ricerca stanno collaborando per unire la loro esperienza complementare e realizzare questo ambizioso obiettivo.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
- 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
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
30419 Hannover
Germania