Detection of carbon monoxide (CO) is an essential element of the North American Carbon Program. CO detection is challenging because of the low, 100 parts-per-billion (ppb), concentrations in the atmosphere and the required 10 ppb precision. Vista Photonics proposes to develop novel optical sensing… More

78093S Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are best quantified by determining the carbon dioxide isotope ratios. The precision required represents a challenge to optical measurement techniques under field deployment conditions. This project will develop a compact, rugged, mid-infrared… More

78031S Understanding global warming requires continuous field measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations. High-precision measurements of at least one part in 3000 are required. However, these high-performance instruments must meet stringent cost objectives. A simple, rugged, photoacoustic… More

78044S Department of Energy waste storage tanks require continuous monitoring of species in solid, liquid, and gaseous phases. Gas phase species of interest include ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide. This project will develop in situ optical sensors that will selectively and sensitively detect… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project will determine the performance and operating specifications for a new laser spectrometer suitable for detection of trace moisture at semiconductor process tools. Trace moisture contamination has an adverse, costly, effect on… More

The danger from fire aboard spacecraft is immediate with only moments for detection and suppression. Spacecraft are unique high-value systems where the cost of failure is measured in lives and dollars. Space crews have little or no chance to escape vessels on fire. It is imperative to detect the… More

Department of Energy waste storage tanks require continuous monitoring of species in solid, liquid and gaseous phases. Gas phase species of interest include ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. This project will develop in situ optical sensors that selectively and sensitively detect… More

Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are best quantified by determining their carbon dioxide isotope ratios. However, the required precision represents a challenge to optical measurement techniques under field deployment conditions. This project will develop a compact, rugged, mid-infrared… More

The Vision for Space Exploration demands increasing reliance on real-time trace gas monitors onboard spacecraft. Present grab samples and badges will be inadequate beyond low-Earth-orbit. New better monitors will be critical components for early detection of fire, release event monitoring, crew… More

Trace species measurement on unmanned atmospheric research craft suitable for interplanetary travel is a demanding application for optical sensing techniques. Yet optical techniques offer many advantages including high-precision, fast response, and strong species selectivity. Balloonsonde, kite,… More

Future long-duration manned space flights will rely upon onboard production facilities to grow and produce food throughout the mission. Because the lives of the mission participants will depend upon successful agricultural and horticultural practices, it is imperative to provide them with… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Medical diagnostics and monitoring are critical components in modern medicine. Adequate medical devices are needed that are compact, light weight, easy to operate, reliable and therefore suitable to be operated outside of hospitals directly in doctors offices.… More

High-performance carbon dioxide detection is a critical component of the Department of Energy's greenhouse gas measurement strategy. However, high sensitivity, precision, and selectivity, in the presence of atmospheric contaminants, are a challenge to optical detection methods. In this project, an… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will determine the performance and operating specifications for a new laser spectrometer suitable for detection of multiple trace atmospheric species. The rugged, compact sensor head will be slightly larger than a can of soda and provide below… More

The measurement of atmospheric carbon dioxide on expendable balloonsondes , a critical component of the DOE¿s greenhouse gas measurement strategy, is a challenge to optical detection methods. For this application, high sensitivity, precision, and selectivity are required in a rugged, compact… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Breath tests are increasingly entering into medical diagnostics because of their non-invasive nature. However, a substantial breakthrough in breath testing is hampered by available instrumentation that is bulky, expensi ve and often not capable of real- time… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I research project will determine the performance and operating specifications for an inexpensive laser spectrometer suitable for high-precision detection of carbon dioxide in the environment. Carbon dioxide is the major contributor to greenhouse… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project will determine the performance and operating specifications for a low-cost optical CO2 isotope ratiometer for medical applications. The carbon isotope ratio in breath CO2 allows non-invasive diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of… More

Breath respiratory species measurement during extravehicular activity (EVA) or intravehicular activity (IVA) is a demanding application for optical sensing techniques. Yet optical techniques offer many advantages including high-precision, fast response, and strong species selectivity. … More

Environmental species measurement on airborne atmospheric research craft is a demanding application for optical sensing techniques. Yet optical techniques offer many advantages including high-precision, fast response, and high species selectivity. Balloonsonde, kite, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV),… More

Trace species measurement on unmanned atmospheric research craft suitable for interplanetary travel is a demanding application for optical sensing techniques. Yet optical techniques offer many advantages including high-precision, fast response, and strong species selectivity. Balloonsonde, kite,… More

Reliable and efficient fire detection is a precondition for safe spaceflight. The threat of onboard fire is constant and requires early, fast and unfailing detection. Current fire detectors are prone to fatigue and have insufficient sensitivity, selectivity and time-response. Smoke detectors… More

Improved production yield is a constant objective of increasingly sophisticated agricultural practices. As Earth's population grows, higher yield is a critical mechanism for insuring adequate food supply. An effective way to increase yield is by reducing waste. Crops react to stressors by releasing… More

Sufficient and safe water resources are the foundation of a society. With growing Earth population the protection of the limited resources becomes more challenging. Scientific assessment of groundwater vulnerability to depletion and pollution is required for optimized water-use and for… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project will determine the performance and operating specifications for a high-sensitivity laser spectrometer suitable for selective detection of trace ethylene during crop processing applications. Crops react to environmental stressors by… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project will determine the performance and operating specifications for a low-cost optical ammonia sensor for medical applications. Ammonia in human breath has been established as a significant biomarker with high potential for treating kidney and liver… More

In the future, coal fired power plants will require carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CCS). Without CCS, the emitted carbon dioxide could lead to irreversible climate change. It is critical to insure that sequestered carbon dioxide remain trapped. High-performance sensors are required to… More

Although carbon dioxide remains the most cited greenhouse gas, other gases play important roles in climate change. Of these, carbon monoxide and methane are the most important. Comprehensive studies of global warming require these gases to be monitored continuously to unravel their contribution to… More

Isotope hydrology is a powerful method for tracing the transport and dispersion of contaminants in the subsurface. Although widely applied, the method depends on sample analysis in specialized laboratories equipped with expensive and complex analysis tools. Instead, this project will develop small… More

Understanding global warming requires continuous field measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations. High-precision measurements of 1 part in 3000 or better are required. However, these high-performance instruments must meet stringent cost objectives. A simple, rugged, photoacoustic spectrometer… More

The measurement of atmospheric carbon dioxide using balloonsondes, a critical component of the DOE's greenhouse gas measurement strategy, is a challenge to optical detection methods. High sensitivity, precision, and selectivity are required in a rugged, compact, lightweight package. This project… More

Environmental species measurement on airborne atmospheric research craft is a demanding application for optical sensing techniques. Yet optical techniques offer many advantages including high-precision, fast response, and high species selectivity. Balloonsonde, kite, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV),… More

Trace species measurement on unmanned atmospheric research craft suitable for interplanetary travel is a demanding application for optical sensing techniques. Yet optical techniques offer many advantages including high-precision, fast response, and strong species selectivity. Balloonsonde, kite,… More

Breath respiratory species measurement during extravehicular activity (EVA) or intravehicular activity (IVA) is a demanding application for optical sensing techniques. Yet optical techniques offer many advantages including high-precision, fast response, and strong species selectivity. … More

The well-being of the crew on manned missions depends critical on the composition of the habitat air. Oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor are the most important air constituents that have to be monitored continuously. Optical monitoring with its features of high precision, strong species… More

NASA is developing new platform systems that have the potential to benefit Earth science research activities, which include in situ instruments for atmospheric measurements for use on radiosondes, dropsondes, tethered balloons, kites, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Aerosols influence global… More

Studying the isotopic composition of materials is an established method to obtain detailed insight into formation and evolution processes in our Universe. Water may play a dominant role in unraveling these processes. Isotope hydrology applied in situ on the Moon and other planets might develop… More

Understanding global warming requires continuous field measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations. High­ precision measurements (one part ­in­ 3000 or better) are required; yet, these high ­performance instruments must meet stringent cost objectives. A simple, rugged, photoacoustic… More

The sustainable development and use of coal fired power plants will require carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CCS) in the future. Without CCS, the emitted carbon dioxide could lead to irreversible climate change. Because it is critical to ensure that sequestered carbon dioxide remain… More

Studying the isotopic composition of materials is an established method to obtain detailed insight into formation and evolution processes in our Universe. Water may play a dominant role in unraveling these processes. Isotope hydrology applied in situ on the Moon and other planets might develop into… More

New sensor technology is required to face the challenging tasks associated with future space exploration involving missions to the Moon and Mars. The safety and well-being of the crew critically depends on early detection of threats as well as maintaining stable and acceptable conditions in the crew… More

This project targets the development of a highly sensitive gas sensor to monitor atmospheric nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is an important species in Earth science research. It is one of the four principal greenhouse gases that result from human activities. It is the primary source gas for nitrogen… More

Isotope hydrology is a powerful method to trace transport and dispersion of contaminants in the subsurface. Although widely applied, the method depends on sample analysis in specialized laboratories equipped with expensive and complex analysis tools. Small, rugged analyzers suitable for on-site… More

Although carbon dioxide remains the most cited greenhouse gas, other gases play important roles in climate change. Carbon monoxide measurements are probably the most important gas phase measurements to be performed in the field to track pollution, to fingerprint sources and to separate dynamics from… More

Methane is considered the second most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. The relatively short lifetime makes it a candidate for mitigating global warming over the near-term. Highly sensitive measurement equipment is required to measure the low atmospheric concentrations with sufficient… More

Improved production yield is a constant objective of increasingly sophisticated agricultural practices. As Earth's population grows, higher yield is a critical mechanism for insuring adequate food supply. An effective way to increase yield is by reducing waste. Crops begin to ripen when encountering… More

Volcanic research is a significant part of the "Earth Surface & Interior" focus area of the NASA Earth Science program. Of particular interest are sensors for measuring the chemical composition and emission rate of gases released by volcanoes, from magma to the atmosphere, both prior… More

Volcanic research is a significant part of the "Earth Surface & Interior" focus area of the NASA Earth Science program. After a volcanic eruption, the smallest ash particles can remain in the atmosphere for days to months affecting public health in the surrounding regions and the… More

Measurement of atmospheric carbon dioxide on balloonsondes is a challenge to optical detection methods. High sensitivity, precision, and selectivity are required in a rugged, compact, lightweight package. Altitude-resolved atmospheric carbon dioxide detection on balloons is a critical component of… More

Understanding global warming requires continuous field measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations. High-precision measurements of a part-in-3000, or better, are required. However, these high-performance instruments must meet stringent cost objectives. A simple, rugged, infrared spectrometer can… More

Aerosol research remains a priority area and requires strong efforts to resolve the very complex processes that occur in the atmosphere. To understand aerosol formation and their implications on climate the study of precursors provides very valuable information. Ammonia is one of the most important… More

Although carbon dioxide remains the most cited greenhouse gas, other gases play important roles in climate change. Carbon monoxide measurements are probably the most important gas phase measurements to be performed in the field to track pollution, to fingerprint sources and to separate dynamics from… More

Methane is considered the second most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. The relatively short lifetime makes it a candidate for mitigating global warming over the near-term. Highly sensitive measurement equipment is required to measure the low atmospheric concentrations with sufficient… More

Sufficient and safe water resources are the foundation of a society. With growing Earth population the protection of the limited resources becomes more challenging. Scientific assessment of groundwater vulnerability to depletion and pollution is required for optimized water-use and for… More

Understanding global warming requires continuous field measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations. High-precision measurements of a part-in-3000, or better, are required. However, these high-performance instruments must meet stringent cost objectives. A simple, rugged, infrared spectrometer can… More