Award Data

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to develop novel polymer binder systems that will combine high energy density, on-demand curing, and compatibility with ammonium dinitramide oxidizer while retaining critical material properties of conventional energetic materials. The approach capitalizes on structural features of conventional polymer systems to provide tailored curing conditions, backbone mo ...

Rotating Detonation Engines (RDEs) are a leading approach for replacing the Brayton cycle with the much more efficient detonation cycle for air-breathing propulsion. Obtaining these efficiencies will push the limits of available materials, even for applications using significant gas cooling.Those hot-section materials must be chemically stable at heat-soak temperatures of 1450oC while experiencing ...

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to design, develop, and demonstrate a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) for upper stage propulsion systems of small launch vehicles. This novel engine design is based on a unique expansion nozzle that addresses the thrust performance issues that have persisted in rotating detonation engines to date. Exhaust gas acceleration is optimized by swept contour ...

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to develop an energy dense, long lifetime atomic battery. The battery is to be powered by a combination of complementary radioisotopes whose energy is converted directly to electric power by use of purpose-grown pn junction structures. Depending on the configuration, the battery is expected have a lifetime of at least 10 years before its power output drops by ...

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to develop a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) based analyzer for trace metal content in aviation or ground fuels.The sensor tool is intended for person-portable field use at fuel depots where a quick and easy analysis may be performed on a milliliter scale fuel sample. Currently, technicians must rely on sending fuel samples to nearby (or distant) l ...

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with Thorlabs Quantum Electronics (TQE), proposes to develop a new, state-of-the-art, high power, broadband mid-wave infrared (MWIR) laser for use in the Towed Optical Plume Simulator (TOPS). During the Phase I program the PSI led team will demonstrate that these new broadband devices can overcome the limitations of the current narrow spectral bandwid ...

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) will develop a versatile next generation high dynamic range (HDR) infrared scene projector (IRSP) that combines a flickerless wide field of view (WFOV) channel with an overlaid foveated high-intensity narrow field of view (NFOV) channel. Both channels employ digital micromirror devices (DMDs) as spatial light modulators with thermal IR and broadband quantum cascade las ...

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with Boston Applied Technologies Inc. (BATi), the leading supplier of high performance solid-state optics for light control, proposes to develop a High Speed MWIR Laser Attenuator that will exceed Air Force defined key performance parameters (KPPs) and thereby substantially improve the capability of missile plume signature simulation tools, such as th ...

Physical Sciences Inc., working with support from Sensor Electronics Technology Inc. (SETi), the leading supplier of high power deep ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV LEDs) in the United States, proposes to develop an advanced ultraviolet (UV) illuminator assembly that will exceed Air Force defined threshold key performance parameters (KPPs) and thereby substantially improve the capability of ...

The Air Force requires large scale scramjet engines but current fabrication methods have long lead times, high part rejection rate, and great expense. PSI will address these shortcomings by developing an Additive Manufacturing (AM) plus brazing process that allows duct segments to be jointed together into large-scale scramjet assemblies.PSIs method makes it possible to combine cooled metal panels ...