Award Data

We propose a solution to the Navy"s laser weapons warning problem. The proposed solution employs a combined approach of extending the wavelength spectrum and dynamic range of current State of the Art laser warning systems. The proposed wide optical bandwidth will be achieved by adapting previously developed methods. The system will exploit on going design work created for visible multi-threat opti ...

Bridger Photonics, Inc. and the University of Arizona have successfully demonstrated a Phase I dynamically programmable multi-band compressive imaging system. The team demonstrated three key technical concepts that prove the feasibility of this powerful technology: 1. Advanced algorithms were used to develop compressive measurement basis sets for imaging and target classification. The algorithms ...

Advanced ordnance and propulsion systems utillize materials, such as RDX and HMX, that provide good performance but cannot meet todays more stringent safety and environmental requirements. Unfortunately, in newer compounds created to replace them, the performance falls with the sensitivity. The ORBITEC team proposes the development of new energetic materials that will be both high performance and ...

We aim to develop lightweight and rugged liquid crystal (LC)-based sensors suitable for integration into small unmanned vehicles, including hand-launched UAVs and throwable robots. For Phase I proof of concept, we propose to develop sensors that detect DMMP, H2S, NO2 and NH3. These gases include simulants of chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals, selected for their relevance to ...

The technical objectives of this proposal are: (1) design a grating-coupled surface-emitting (GCSE) active-photonic-crystal (APC) 4.6 micron-emitting quantum-cascade laser (QCL) to deliver 15 W diffraction-limited CW power in the main lobe of the far-field beam pattern; (2) design a GCSE-APC QCL structure with monolithic aperture-filling optical elements for obtaining close to 90 % of the surface- ...

The technical objectives of this proposal are: 1) Design a metal/semiconductor grating-based (i.e., substrate-emitting) Grating-Coupled Surface-Emitting Distributed Feedback Quantum Cascade Laser (GCSE-DFB QCL) emitting at 4.6 microns with high beam quality; and 2) Demonstrate a GCSE-DFB QCL emitting at 4.6 microns with single-lobe-beam operation and high beam quality, under CW operation. It is th ...

Helmeted navy divers are exposed to high levels of noise from self-generated mechanisms, such as regulator exhaust, and external sources, such as underwater tool-generated noise. Noise exposure limits can be easily exceeded especially if effective communications through helmet-mounted speakers is required. A multi-faceted approach is proposed to reduce self-generated noise as well as overall helme ...

Flexible electronic and optical devices, including sensors/detectors, waveguides, and photonic crystal structures, have significant promise for improving communication and information processing capabilities in a number of military and commercial applications. However, the development of such flexible devices has been hindered by the lack of effective manufacturing processes for producing these de ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects more than five million people in the USA. Currently there is no cure for AD. Available medicines are aimed only at temporarily reducing symptoms and slowing down the progression of the disease. While many new compounds have been developed to treat AD, they ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Early diagnosis of infectious disease is critical to patient outcome. An important early question is - is it a fungus, a bacterium or a virus? A rapid answer to this question would allow preemptive treatment that cansave lives. The goal of this project is a rapid and inexpensive immunoassay that will use serum as a sample to broadly identify the presence of ...