Award Data

Semiconducting lasers, laser arrays and other diode-laser devices for both military and private sector applications benefit greatly if used in conjunction with isolators capable of preventing reflections from reentering the device. This proposal describes an approach which can be integrated with laser/amplifier semiconducting material system, to produce efficient non-reciprocal magneto-optic isola ...

The primary goal of Phase I work is to demonstrate the feasibility of synthesizing gallium nitride (GaN) powder. Secondarily, this powder will be used to grow high-purity single crystals of GaN from a liquid GaN phase. This would be accomplished using a proprietary variation of the skull melting technique. Since GaN demonstrates peritectic-type decomposition at atmospheric pressure, the entire sku ...

Currently vacuum based methods of PVD and CVD are the only processes for forming GaN thin films and coatings. These methods are usually expensive and are not applied in a production friendly manner. An atmospheric deposition technique that inexpensively and easily applies GaN thin or thick films in an environmentally friendly manner is a priority for any number of DOD and commercial applications. ...

F&S and Virginia Tech will cooperatively develop high performance protective ionic self-assembled monolayer (ISAM) organic/inorganic coatings for space-based optical and structural components, and work with Litton to upscale practical coating manufacturing. Revolutionary ISAM methods of creating multi-layer protective nanopartwcle films offer major advantages over con-ventional coating processes, ...

Demand for micrometer size metal powders is increasing rapidly as new technologies emerge which can make use of their unique characteristics. One rapidly growing application requiring such powders is metal injection molding, a powder metallurgy process for forming near-net-shape components with higher dimensional accuracy than earlier processes. A significant need also exists for micrometer size s ...

The objective of this Phase I is to develop a high quality, high speed, cost effective technique for polishing silicon carbide mirrors that are machined using single point diamond turning methods. The finished optic should have a more perfectly polished surface with uniform shape and thickness than is presently being produced. We will achieve this by using two different approaches, a novel non-con ...

We propose to design and fabricate an adaptive beam expander that can be switched between two magnifications. Specifically, the beam expander provides diffraction-limited performance for laser radar beams with diameters of 1 mm and 3 mm. The adaptive beam expander is lightweight, and it has no moving parts. Because the beam expander is an afocal system, it operates on both outgoing and incoming be ...

Silicon and gallium arsenide cannot meet some of the power, frequency, temperature and speed requirements of the next generation of electronic devices. Therefore, alternative semiconductor materials for electronic devices must be developed. Silicon carbide has many required properties such as wide bandgap, high breakdown field, high electron saturation velocity, and physical strength making it at ...

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In the proposed research, we will investigate a new class of long wavelength-IR (8-12 um) lasers which was first suggested by the PI in 1994. These lasers are based on cascaded type-II quantum wells. They maintain the electron recycling advantage of the recently reported quantum cascade laser, while circumvent its limitations. Not only can a population inversion be easily created with a nearly 100 ...