Prospects for Photonic Integrated Circuit LIDARs in Space Applications

LIDAR technology plays a pivotal role in numerous space applications, including remote sensing, rendezvous and docking, debris detection and planetary landers. Existing spaceborne LIDAR technology employs discrete optical and optoelectronic components, resulting in relatively bulky designs with high power consumption. However, the continued developments in CubeSats and upcoming lander missions are leading to more demanding SWaP (size, weight and power) requirements. In order to meet the need for more compact designs, consideration is now being given to the application of photonic integrated circuits (PICs). This paper presents the preliminary design of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) LiDAR system. The proposed system exploits a hybrid integration approach, combining indium phosphide (InP) and silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) chips, to take advantage of their respective benefits.