Award Data

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 ...

Busek Co. Inc (Busek) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) propose to develop the design of a photon actuated, ultrafast carbon nanotube (CNT) field emission cathodes for high-power electron beam accelerator sources. The cathode will be based on massive arrays of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nano-Fibers (VA-CNFs) that are individually controlled by a vertical ungated field effect transisto ...

Electromagnetic launchers or rail guns are a key component of the Navy’s all-electric ship of the future, but they lack the durability required for repeated firings. TDA Research and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) are developing a tough, durable and conductive refractory metal coating that will protect the copper alloy conductors (rails) from the extreme heat and wear conditions inside the ...

In collaboration with Sandia National Laboratory, Physical Sciences Inc (PSI) proposes to design, develop, and demonstrate a Frequency Agile Terahertz Sensor (FATS) for trace explosives residue detection. The critical frequency agile terahertz (THz) detector is based on an electronically tunable plasmonic grating-gate technology developed by our collaborators at Sandia. Phase I will further impr ...

The Air Force has expressed an interest in identification and evaluation of nanoscale device architectures capable of functional logical operation in a VLSI format. However, fundamental limits prevent straightforward extension of optical lithography to nanoscaled device fabrication. Non-conventional lithography techniques such as x-ray and particle based methods (e.g., electron beam lithography) p ...

Physical Sciences Inc. proposes an innovative, filter free approach to rapidly concentrate and detect bacterial spores from large volumes of flowing water for the purpose of early warning detection of contaminated potable water supplies against low concentration biological pathogens. Our approach builds on previous concentration work to study the feasibility of optimizing this approach and lays t ...

Solar cell technology is a promising alternative energy source. Present challenges for viable solar technology include decreasing material cost (using thin-film organic polymers), increasing production (using printing processes), and increasing the efficiency. Surface plasmon organic solar cells address these challenges. Surface-plasmons provide confinement in thin-film solar cells and allow for w ...

Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI) proposes to demonstrate environmentally benign, low cost biological agent simulant particles that mimic the infrared, scatter, fluorescence and atomic absorption spectra of bacillus subtilis (BG), Erwinia herbicola (EH), and the MS2 Bacteriophage (MS2). These stimulant particles will be composed of materials that are commonly available foods or nutritional supplement ...

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and its partners, Research Support Systems (RSI, a PSI-subsidiary) and Professor Thomas Strohmer of UC Davis, propose to develop an innovative approach that can be employed by an ‘on-the-move’ sensor constellation to determine the size (length, width, and height), absolute geo-location, and 3-D concentration distribution of chemical threat clouds released on battle ...

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in partnership with the Electrical Engineering Department of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), proposes to compute and reduce mutual coupling between E-field antennas (in Transmit mode) and SQUIDs magnetic loops (in Receive mode) for improved signal reception in SQIF arrays. For the computation of the mutual coupling in the near field PSI and WPI will use an ...