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High Gain, High Power PCSS with Integrated Monolithic Optical Trigger

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Army
Contract: W15QKN-16-C-0085
Agency Tracking Number: A2-6275
Amount: $514,145.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: A14A-T004
Solicitation Number: 2014.0
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2014
Award Year: 2016
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2016-09-26
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2017-09-26
Small Business Information
P.O. Box 261501
San Diego, CA 92196
United States
DUNS: 118547830
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Richard Ness
 (858) 566-8585
 nessengr@san.rr.com
Business Contact
 Richard Ness
Phone: (858) 566-8585
Email: nessengr@san.rr.com
Research Institution
 Texas Tech University
 Dr. Andreas Neuber
 
Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering Box 43102
Lubbock, TX 79409-1075
United States

 (806) 834-8270
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

The objective of this Phase II proposal is to continue the development of a Photoconductive Semiconductor Switch (PCSS) with an integrated optical trigger that can switch at least 30 kV, 1 kA, 20 ns pulses with jitter <100 ps. The PCSS must be triggered without an external laser and the PCSS/trigger package must have a lifetime of >108 shots. Ness Engineering, Inc. (NEI) and Texas Tech University (TTU) propose to utilize wide bandgap materials to demonstrate lock-on switching and allow much less optical trigger pulse energy to activate the PCSS device. PCSS designs such as this would be useful for a variety of applications, including those identified by the Army: Ultra Wide Band (UWB) sources and ground penetrating radar for use in detecting and potentially neutralizing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). NEI and TTU have the unique expertise and facilities to design, construct and test a brassboard prototype photoconductive switch to demonstrate the technology and continue the development through to commercialization. The three researchers on the NEI/TTU team have a combined experience of almost 100 years in pulsed power and solid state device development.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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