Award Data

Increased computational speed and improved numerical algorithms have made computational chemistry an important tool in the development of new chemical compounds and processes. In particular, single-reference coupled cluster (CC) methods, such as CCSD(T), provide an excellent compromise between speed and accuracy in applications involving molecules near their equilibrium geometries, capturing most ...

We propose to develop a combination Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering and Shear-Force Microscopy (TERS-SFM) instrument to study the composition and morphology of nanoparticles, surfaces, and biofilms on any substrate material. The instrument developed during Phase I will rely upon Scanning Tunneling Microscopy combined with TERS (TERS-STM) to test the effects of various excitation wavelengths and tip ...

Secure, domestic sources of rare earth elements (REE) would be of great strategic importance to the Department of Defense, as well as many commercially important industries. Our approach takes advantage of an abundant and low cost source not previously co

Multi-modal (including spatial, spectral and polarimetric) photodetectors and focal plane arrays (FPA) can dramatically enhance the target detection, tracking and identification capability of a battle field sensing system. Most existing multi-spectral polarimetric sensing systems employ dispersive optics (gratings or prisms), or external polarizer technologies to obtain spectral and polarimetric c ...

The ever-decreasing size of the electronic microchips and the ever-increasing density of electronic components required to support future Air Force platforms are creating the problem of substantial localized heat generation that can impair component operation. State of the art thermal interface materials (TIMs), that are used to dissipate heat from the source to the spreader in a microchip, are se ...

LADAR light reflection from a target is highly dependent of the spectral reflectivity and texture properties of the surface. Such dependencies could be exploited for target recognition based on surface characterization with appropriate imaging conditions and processing algorithms. Target surface light reflection is characterized by the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF), which ...

The implementation of structural health monitoring (SHM) systems into naval applications has been hindered due to component quantity, including sensors, power/communication cables, and acquisition/computation units, as well as data quality. Particularly for large-area applications such ship hulls, complexity of implied system infrastructure can be impractical, and data can be worthless with attenu ...

A goal of Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) is to use computer simulation of complex systems to make scientifically informed assessments for high-consequence decisions. Because end-to-end empirical data is difficult to obtain for the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), computer simulation provides the best method for understanding BMDS capabilities against a wide range of threats. Numerica Co ...

The objective of this Project is to explore and develop refractory coatings on high strength, high electrical conductivity copper alloy, to enable damage resistant electromagnetic launcher. An electromagnetic launcher consists of two parallel copper rails, and a moving armature. High electrical currents passing through the rails and armature result in strong magnetic fields, high temperatures, che ...

Genome-scale predictable cellular design and engineering of biomanufacturing systems is the overarching a goal of DARPA's Living Foundry thrust and, if realized, will enable rapid engineering of living biosystems for a broad range of applications in biotechnology and pharmacology. However, constructing living cells with designed genome is not fully automated and is severely limited by inhere ...