Project description
High performance Alexandrite Crystals for space missions
Space-based earth observation missions feature a series of artificial satellite mission and scientific instruments thrusted into the Earth’s orbit and designed for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, atmosphere and oceans. They are essential in gaining key insight and data to understand our planet. The EU-funded GALACTIC project aims to create a complete supply chain solely by the European industry, intended to introduce high performance, high quality, high power, coated Alexandrite laser crystals. For this goal, two industrial partners and a research institute are teaming up to combine their complementing expertise and reach this ambitious goal.
Objective
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.
Fields of science
- 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
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
30419 Hannover
Germany