Award Data

For applications in DoD satellite systems, devices based on novel nanomaterials offer significant advantages over traditional technologies in terms of light-weight and efficiency. Examples of such novel devices include quantum dot (QD) based solar cells, photodetectors, radars and sensors. However, the response of these devices to radiation effects is not well understood, and radiation effects mod ...

Certain lanthanide halides have significantly higher light output than NaI:Tl, the comparison standard for scintillators, plus other important properties, including fast decay times and excellent proportionality. Unfortunately, lanthanide halides grown by traditional melt processes have high production costs and limited availability. Crystals are usually limited to about 5 cm x 5 cm, right cylinde ...

The use of WMDs and IEDs by covert insurgents and terrorists poses a significant risk to U.S. military forces and civilians. The capability to execute rapid forensic DNA analysis to identify individuals who manufactured and transported these threatening devices is of paramount importance to military mission, homeland security and civilian safety. Current DNA forensic analyses are time-consuming, b ...

Three nuclides are especially useful in detecting thermalized neutrons: helium-3, lithium-6 , and boron-10. Since current demand will deplete reserves of helium-3 in roughly two years, there is a large desire to develop detectors that have the capacity to replace helium-3 tubes. In this proposal we spell out our plan to adapt Neotron''s already developed fission neutron detector into a high effic ...

Sample preparation has been recognized as the single most important challenge to be faced in the development of detect-to-warn (DTW) systems. Available commercial sample preparation technologies are expensive, slow, and require trained laboratory technicians and sophisticated laboratory equipment for operation. Addressing this need, we propose to design, fabricate, and demonstrate a general purpos ...

Current offensive solutions to neutralize chem/bio agent facilities rely on blast and/or short-burst high-temperature neutralization but have the potential to produce severe collateral damage via agent release. Our team proposes the Dispersed Energetics Coupled for Optimized Neutralization (DECON) Concept, an alternative concept to perform bulk neutralization of agents. The DECON concept can be s ...

Future high-performance integrated circuits in DoD satellite systems will require non-planar nano-technology devices, such as MultiGate Field Effect Transistors (MuGFET) or FinFET, which can decrease pattern area of logic circuits below 50% of the conventional planar technologies. The International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors predicts that such devices will be the cornerstone of sub-32nm ...

It is proposed to develop a novel process for growth of high quality CZT crystals for nuclear detection applications. Currently the THM process is the technology of choice for production of high quality CZT crystals. This process, however, suffers from extremely low growth rates. The development effort proposed here will seek to increase the crystal growth rate by 5-10 times the current levels ...

THE PROPOSED FIBLOC SENSOR PROVIDES AN ECONOMIC MEANS TO PROTECT, LITERALLY, MILES OF A PREFERRED PERIMETER REGION AGAINST UNAUTHORIZED INTRUSIONS. THE OPTICAL FIBERS EMPLOYED INT HE FIBLOC SENSOR PROPAGATE CW OR PULSED INFRARED LIGHT SIGNALS WHOSE TRANSMISSION AND/OR REFLECTION SENSITIVITY IS AFFECTED BY MECHANICAL PRESSURE SUCH AS WOULD BE PRODUCED BY THE DISTENSION OF SURFACED MOUNTED FIBERS AL ...

THE PHASE I EXPERIMENTAL EFFORT WILL DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A FIELD WORTHY GROUND MOTION SENSOR TO REPLACE PIEZO-ELECTRIC ACCELEROMETERS FOR CONVENTIONAL EXPLOSIVES AND NUCLEAR TESTING. THE OUTPUT SIGNALS OF PIEZO-ELECTRIC ACCELEROMETERS MUST BE INTEGRATED TWICE TO DETERMINE GROUND MOTIONS. THIS PROCESS REDUCES SYSTEM ACCURACY AND MEASUREMENT BANDWIDTH. ADDITIONALLY, AS PIEZO-ELECTRIC SENS ...