BOZEMAN, Mont.- — Montana State University (MSU) has received a $750,000 grant from NASA to advance research in “programmable photonics.” This innovative technology involves light-based chips designed to address atmospheric blurring, akin to a poor Wi-Fi connection affecting NASA’s lasers.
Researchers at MSU are working on these chips to improve signal clarity, potentially building a “high-speed quantum internet” that could extend from Earth into deep space. This development aims to bring the next generation of explorers closer to home by enhancing communication capabilities.