August 2007

Press Release:

Micron Optics Si425-500 optical interrogator used as Space Programs Education

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is invaluable for space applications. SHM can serve as our eyes and ears on orbit, providing valuable information to ground-based operators, helping them determine the cause of anomalous behavior on orbit. Additionally, several anticipated missions will feature satellites with extremely large apertures. These satellites will require exacting knowledge of the shape of the aperture in order to perform their mission. This research will investigate the use of fiber optics with integrated fiber-Bragg's gratings for the purpose of structural state awareness (shape, dynamics, and health). Fiber-optics, with embedded Fiber-Bragg gratings are small, lightweight, capable of high sampling rates, and extremely sensitive to strain. Students will use Micron Optics Si425-500 optical interrogator and Sm040-416 16 channel expander to test the utility of fiber-optics with fiber-Braggs grating for the purposes of attaining structural status knowledge on protoytpe space hardware. Design of testframes, sensor layouts, and experiments will be anticipated. Familiarity with LabView is a plus.

For the original article, please visit:
www.vs.afrl.af.mil/SpaceScholars/Topic.aspx?TopicId=1103

About Micron Optics, Inc.

Micron Optics, a leading provider of tunable optical technologies, offers a comprehensive portfolio of components and instruments for Optical Sensing, Biotech and Telecom markets. Built upon its solid technology foundation, Micron Optics' products span from simple tunable components to fast swept laser modules to fast and accurate optical instrumentation. Since 1990, Micron Optics has been a privately held company based in Atlanta.