Award Data

Multi-axis fiber grating strain sensors may be used to localize and qualitatively identify the degree of damage in composite parts. Signatures associated with delaminations and damage tow material are significantly different for strain imaging produced data. This Phase I project is directed toward improving the quantitative measurement capability of "strain imaging" methods through experiments, ...

Missile defense battle management is an inherently distributed process, involving sensors, weapons, and targets that are distributed over a region spanning thousands of miles. While most agents need some sense of "distant events", they neither need nor can afford detailed, high-fidelity models of the entire situation. CleverSet's approach to distributed battle management is based in variable reso ...

Birefringence microscopy provides a necessary tool for the next generation electro-optic components. This effort builds on the great success of the Phase I effort that demostrated a benchtop system that could measure birefringent samples with high spatial resolution (~1mm) and high accuracy (0.1m). From this basis we will develop an engineering prototype that meets the needs of industry and the mi ...

In this program, we propose to develop high-performance long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) photodetectors based on InAs/In(x)Ga(1-x)Sb Type II superlattice structures. The use of bandgap engineering approaches to control quantum confinement and strain effects allows for wide tunability of the superlattice bandgap, making these structures ideal for LWIR detection in the 8 to 12 um wavelength range. ...

The inability of current plume signature codes to accurately predict the altitude in the afterburning region at which the peak signature occurs and the rate of signature decay with altitude ("afterburning shutdown") is the subject of this solicitation. A more accurate description of afterburning plume chemistry is needed, particularly for hydrocsrbon-fueled systems. The issue is that either the ch ...

The impact of liquid fueled missile, thermal management systems on plume signatures, is of critical importance to accurate plume signature modeling. This proposal describes the innovative coupling of an engineering level thermal design tool, VITMAC (Vehicle Integrated Thermal Management Analysis Code) with a Quasi 3-D enhanced Standardized Plume Flowfield Model, SPF-IIIQ3D. In addition, we will ...

We will design, develop, and deliver a 1280x1024 pixel indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) focal plane array (FPA) and camera for visible and short wavelength infrared (SWIR) imaging. A 1280x1024 substrate-removed InGaAs focal plane array with high quantum efficiency from 0.4 µm to 1.7 mm will be developed for use in this camera. The camera will thus be usable for visible imaging, low light SWIR i ...

Sensors Unlimited (SUI) will design and deliver a 20 kHz frame rate, 256x256 element focal plane array and camera covering the entire visible and shortwave infrared wavelength bands (0.4 - 1.7 microns). The noise performance of the final imager will meet the desired specification of 6 photons using Sensors Unlimited's proprietary Buffered Input Gate Modulated (BIGM) readout integrated circuit. " ...

Structured Materials Industries, Inc. (SMI), in collaboration with BAE SYSTEMS, will develop and demonstrate an improved production technology for chalcogenide-based nonvolatile memories using MOCVD. The goal of this project is to fabricate and test alloyed and doped, chalcogenide Ge2Sb2Te5 test structures grown by MOCVD for subsequent incorporation in standard CMOS process technology. In additio ...

The feasibility of using AlGaInAs avalanche photodiodes (APDs) operated in linear mode as high-frame- rate solid state wavefront and tracking sensor elements capable of detecting single photons will be established. The small contrast between electron and hole ionization coefficients in common III-V compound semiconductors like AlGaInAs would normally prohibit their use in photon-counting APDs owin ...