Advanced Technology Development for Future UV Missions

Organization National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Reference Code 0091-NPP-MAR22-JPL-TechDev Application Deadline 3/1/2022 6:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone Description Major advances in technology are required to enable the next generation of UV instruments for discoveries beyond HST, GALEX, and Cassini. Two elements with high impact on UV instruments performance are high efficiency detectors and improved optical coatings. For example, solid-state photon counting detectors developed in our laboratory can dramatically increase the QE (>x 5) and significantly enhance both fabrication yield and reliability compared to flight-ready microchannel plate (MCP) sealed tubes. Similar gains are possible by improving optical coatings. Nanoscale control and manipulation of materials and device surface and interfaces are required to overcome challenges associated with UV technology. Advances in nanotechnology and materials tools make it possible to overcome these challenges. Powerful new techniques e.g., atomic layer deposition (ALD) can be used to form ultrathin, high quality layers suitable for antireflection coatings to improve detector QE and high performance optical coatings to improve optics efficiency. Furthermore, ALD can be used for detector passivation technique as noise reduction measure.

Successful candidate will develop chemistry and physics necessary for ALD to improve detectors and optics. Will interact with collaborators at JPL, Caltech, U of Colorado, Columbia, and other institutions. Will work in a team environment and will contribute to team’s expansion into new directions. Will publish results in technical refereed journals and present results in technical conferences.

Location:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena, California

Field of Science:Technology Development

Advisors:
Shouleh Nikzad
[email protected]
818-354-7496

Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control. Eligibility is currently open to:

U.S. Citizens; U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents; Foreign nationals who are in the U.S. at the time of application and on a valid J1 visa; and, Foreign nationals, asylees or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with a valid EAD card and pending I-485 or I-589 forms. These temporary eligibility limitations have been put in place due to inaccessible U.S. consulates and travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign nationals have made many substantive contributions to NASA, as well as to the greater scientific community throughout the life of the NPP. Therefore, we look forward to the time when the program will be open, once again, to all qualified scientists and engineers.

Eligibility Requirements Degree: Doctoral Degree.