Abstract: Millimetron Space Observatory (MSO) is mission addressed to creation a space cryogenic telescope with aperture about 10-m [1]. Such telescope will allow scientific community to have an astronomical instrument with enormous sensitivity and angular resolution in the submillimeter and far-infrared wavelength ranges. We plan to install at the telescope several FIR and sub-millimeter scientific instruments, which will enable high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy observations with unprecedented sensitivity. At the same time, MSO will enable observations with an extremely high angular resolution (up to 0.1×10 -6 arcsec) as an element of a ground-space very long baseline interferometry system (S-VLBI). Thereby the observatory will contribute breakthrough capability into solution a number of cosmology and fundamental astrophysics questions about the origin and evolution of our Universe, galaxies, stars and other objects [2]. The MSO is divided into two parts: the payload module and the bus module. Due to the complexity of the payload module, most of the recent years of work are focused on it. This module includes an antenna of the telescope, scientific receivers, functional and service systems and a high-gain radio system for transmitting scientific data to Earth. The primary mirror of the telescope will be deployable and consist from of a 3-m aperture central part surrounded by 24 deployable petals. The concept of petals deployment is based on the successfully launched and currently working Radioastron project [3]. The surface accuracy of the deployable 10-m primary mirror of Radioastron achieves about 1 mm in space conditions. The telescope of MSO would have much better surface accuracy – less than 10 μm (rms). In order to achieve this we plan to use an active surface control system based on a wave front sensing. This system will be periodically employed to correct inaccuracies in the positions of the panels caused by different factors. A combination of a high modulus carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and a cyanate ester resin as a binder provides a lightweight structure with low moisture absorption, high thermal stability and high stiffness. This combination has been chosen for the material of the primary mirror of telescope and many parts of it. The panels are mounted on the back support structure (Fig. 1) made from CFRP via precision cryogenic actuators. To achieve the required sensitivity of the telescope in the submm/FIR we need to cool antenna down to the temperature less than 10K (goal). It may be possible to do this on-orbit only by a combination of effective radiation cooling and additional active mechanical cooling. A cold space antenna requires minimization and stability of external thermal radiation. This is one of the reasons why MSO will be placed into orbit around the second Earth-Sun Lagrange point (L2). The MSO antenna into L2 will be cooled passively to a temperature about 30 – 60K by a suite of the deployable multi-layer V-groove shields. The following steps to reduce the temperature of the antenna are based on active reducing the thermal loads applied to it. Active mechanical cooling is based on existing close cycling space mechanical coolers. In this work, we will focus on the progress in the development of payload module.

Abstract: The influence of terahertz (THz) radiation absorption on the efficiency of generation of coherent THz radiation in the system ‘nonlinear-optical crystal partially filling the cross section of a rectangular metal waveguide’ has been investigated. The efficiency of the nonlinear frequency conversion of optical laser radiation to the THz range depends on the loss in the system and the fulfillment of the phase-matching (FM) condition in a nonlinear crystal. The method of partially filling of a metal waveguide with a nonlinear optical crystal is used to ensure phase matching. The phase matching is achieved by numerical determination of the thickness of the nonlinear crystal, that is the degree of partial filling of the waveguide. The attenuation of THz radiation caused by losses both in the metal walls of the waveguide and in the crystal was studied, taking into account the dimension of the cross section of the waveguide, the degree of partial filling, and the dielectric constant of the crystal. It is shown that the partial filling of the waveguide with a nonlinear crystal results in an increase in the efficiency of generation of THz radiation by an order of magnitude, owing to the decrease in absorption.

Abstract: The fast switching time of Ge-Sb-Te thin films between amorphous and crystalline states initiated by laser beam as well as significant change of their optical properties and the preservation of metastable states for tens of years open wide perspectives for the application of these materials to fully optical devices [1], including high-speed optical memory [2]. Here we study optical properties of the Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST225) thin films integrated with on-chip silicon nitride O-ring resonator. The rib waveguide of the resonator was formed the first stage of e-beam lithography and subsequent reactive-ion etching. We used the second stage of e-beam lithography combining with lift-off method for the formation of GST225 active region on the resonator ring surface. The amorphous GST225 thin films were prepared by magnetron sputtering, and were capped by thin silicon oxide on their tops. The length of the GST225 active region varied from 0.1 to 20 μ m. Crystallization of amorphous thin films was carried out at the temperature of 400 °C for 30 minutes. Auger electron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used for studying composition and structure of investigated GST225thin films, respectively. It was observed that crystallization of amorphous GST225 film lead to a decrease of the optical power, transmitted through the waveguide. Comparison of the optical transmittance of O-ring resonators before and after the GST225 deposition allowed to identify the change in the Q-factor and the wavelength peak shift. This can be explained by the differences of the complex refractive indexes of GST225 thin films in the amorphous and crystalline states. From the measurement data, the GST225 effective refractive index was extracted depending on the ring waveguide width of the resonator for a telecommunication wavelength of 1550 nm.

Abstract: The use of improved fabrication technology, highly disordered NbN thin films, and intertwined section topology makes it possible to create high-performance photon-number-resolving superconducting single-photon detectors (PNR SSPDs) that are comparable to conventional single-element SSPDs at the telecom range. The developed four-section PNR SSPD has simultaneously an 86±3% system detection efficiency, 35 cps dark count rate, ∼2 ns dead time, and maximum 90 ps jitter. An investigation of the PNR SSPD’s detection efficiency for multiphoton events shows good uniformity across sections. As a result, such a PNR SSPD is a good candidate for retrieving the photon statistics for light sources and quantum key distribution systems.

Abstract: Photonic integrated circuits (PICs), the optical counterpart of traditional electronic integrated circuits, are paving the way toward truly portable and highly accurate biochemical sensors for Department of Defense (DoD)-relevant applications. We introduce the fundamentals of PIC-based biochemical sensing and describe common PIC sensor architectures developed to-date for single-identification and spectroscopic sensor classes. We discuss DoD investments in PIC research and summarize current challenges. We also provide future research directions likely required to realize widespread application of PIC-based biochemical sensors. These research directions include materials research to optimize sensor components for multiplexed sensing; engineering improvements to enhance the practicality of PIC-based devices for field use; and the use of synthetic biology techniques to design new selective receptors for chemical and biological agents.