AIR FORCE
STTR 08.B PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS
The Air Force proposal submission instructions are intended to clarify the DoD instructions as they apply to AF requirements.
The responsibility for the implementation and management of the Air Force Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program is with the Air Force Research Lab, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The Air Force STTR Program Manager is Mr. Steve Guilfoos, (800) 222-0336. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) is responsible for scientific oversight and program execution of Air Force STTRs.
Air Force Research Laboratory
AFOSR/PIE
Attn: Raheem Lawal
875 Randolph Street
Suite 325, Room 3112
Arlington, VA 22203-1954
Phone: (703) 696-7313 / (703) 696-9513
Fax: (703) 696-7320
Email: raheem.lawal@afosr.af.mil
For general inquires or problems with the electronic submission, contact the DoD Help Desk at 1-866-724-7457 (8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). For technical questions about the topic during the pre-solicitation period (28 July through 24 August 2008), contact the Topic Authors listed for each topic on the website. For information on obtaining answers to your technical questions during the formal solicitation period
(25 August through 24 September 2008), go to http://www.dodsbir.net/sitis.
The Air Force STTR Program is a mission-oriented program that integrates the needs and requirements of the Air Force through R&D topics that have military and commercial potential.
Unless otherwise stated in the topic, Phase I will show the concept feasibility and Phase II will produce a prototype or at least show a proof-of-principle.
Phase I period of performance is typically 9 months, not to exceed $100,000.
Phase II period of performance is typically 2 years, not to exceed $750,000.
The solicitation closing dates and times are firm.
PHASE I PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
Read the DoD program solicitation at www.dodsbir.net/solicitation for detailed instructions on proposal format and program requirements. When you prepare your proposal, keep in mind that Phase I should address the feasibility of a solution to the topic. For the Air Force, the contract period of performance for Phase I shall be nine (9) months, and the award shall not exceed $100,000. We will accept only one cost proposal per topic proposal and it must address the entire nine-month contract period of performance.
The Phase I award winners must accomplish the majority of their primary research during the first six months of the contract. Each Air Force organization may request Phase II proposals prior to the completion of the first six months of the contract based upon an evaluation of the contractor’s technical progress and review by the Air Force Technical point of contact utilizing the criteria in section 4.3 of the DoD solicitation The last three months of the nine-month Phase I contract will provide project continuity for all Phase II award winners so no modification to the Phase I contract should be necessary. Phase I technical proposals have a 20 page-limit (excluding the cost proposal and Company Commercialization Report). The Air Force will evaluate and select Phase I proposals using review criteria based upon technical merit, principal investigator qualifications, and commercialization potential as discussed in this solicitation document.
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ALL PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS TO THE AIR FORCE MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY.
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It is mandatory that the complete proposal submission -- DoD Proposal Cover Sheet, entire Technical Proposal with any appendices, Cost Proposal, and the Company Commercialization Report -- be submitted electronically through the DoD SBIR/STTR website at http://www.dodsbir.net/submission. Each of these documents is to be submitted separately through the website. Your complete proposal must be submitted via the submissions site on or before the 6:00 am EST 24 September 2008 deadline. A hardcopy will not be accepted. Signatures are not required at proposal submission when submitting electronically. If you have any questions or problems with electronic submission, contact the DoD SBIR/STTR Help Desk at 1-866-724-7457 (8am to 5pm EST).
Acceptable Format for On-Line Submission: The technical proposal should include all graphics and attachments but should not include the Cover Sheet or Company Commercialization Report (as these items are completed separately). Cost Proposal information should be provided by completing the on-line Cost Proposal form.
Technical Proposals should conform to the limitations on margins and number of pages specified in the front section of this DoD solicitation. However, your cost proposal will only count as one page and your Cover Sheet will only count as two, no matter how they print out after being converted. Most proposals will be printed out on black and white printers so make sure all graphics are distinguishable in black and white. It is strongly encouraged that you perform a virus check on each submission to avoid complications or delays in submitting your Technical Proposal. To verify that your proposal has been received, click on the “Check Upload” icon to view your proposal. Typically, your uploaded file will be virus checked and converted to PDF within the hour. However, if your proposal does not appear after an hour, please contact the DoD SBIR/STTR Help Desk.
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The Air Force recommends that you complete your submission early, as computer traffic gets heavy near the solicitation closing and slows down the system. Do not wait until the last minute. The Air Force will not be responsible for proposals being denied due to servers being “down” or inaccessible. Please assure that your e-mail address listed in your proposal is current and accurate. By the end of September, you will receive an e-mail serving as our acknowledgement that we have received your proposal. The Air Force cannot be responsible for notifying companies that change their mailing address, their e-mail address, or company official after proposal submission.
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An offeror needs to document their Phase I or II proposal's commercial potential as follows: 1) the small business concern's record of commercializing STTR or other research, particularly as reflected in its Company Commercialization Report http://www.dodsbir.net/submission; 2) the existence of second phase funding commitments from private sector or non-STTR funding sources; 3) the existence of third phase follow-on commitments for the subject of the research and 4) the presence of other indicators of commercial potential of the idea, including the small business' commercialization strategy.
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL
If you have never visited the site before, you must first register your firm and create a password for access (Have your Tax ID handy). Once registered, from the Main Menu:
Select “Prepare/Edit Phase I Cover Sheets” –
1. Prepare a Cover Sheet. Add a cover sheet for each proposal you plan to submit. Once you have entered all the necessary cover sheet data and clicked the Save button, the proposal grid will show the cover sheet you have just created. You may edit the cover sheet at any time prior to the close of the solicitation.
2. Prepare a Cost Proposal. Use the on-line proposal form by clicking on the dollar sign icon.
3. Prepare and Upload a Technical Proposal. Using a word processor, prepare a technical proposal following the instructions and requirements outlined in the solicitation. When you are ready to submit your proposal, click the on-line icon to begin the upload process. You are responsible for virus checking your technical proposal file prior to upload. Any files received with viruses will be deleted immediately.
Select “Prepare/Edit a Company Commercialization Report” –
4. Prepare a Company Commercialization Report. Add and/or update sales and investment information on all prior Phase II awards won by your firm.
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NOTE: Even if your company has had no previous Phase I or II awards, you must submit a Company Commercialization Report. Your proposal will not be penalized in the evaluation process if your company has never had any STTR Phase Is or IIs in the past.
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Once steps 1 through 4 are done, the electronic submission process is complete.
Evaluation of the primary research effort and the proposal will be based on the scientific review criteria factors (i.e., technical merit, principal investigator (and team), and commercialization plan). Please note that where technical evaluations are essentially equal in merit, and as cost and/or price is a substantial factor, cost to the government will be considered in determining the successful offeror. The Air Force anticipates that pricing will be based on adequate price competition. The next tie-breaker on essentially equal proposals will be the inclusion of manufacturing technology considerations.
The Air Force will utilize the Phase I evaluation criteria in section 4.2 of the DoD solicitation in descending order of importance with technical merit being most important, followed by the qualifications of the principal investigator (and team), and followed by commercialization plan. The Air Force will use the phase II evaluation criteria in section 4.3 of the DoD solicitation with technical merit being most important, followed by the commercialization plan, and then qualifications of the principal investigator (and team).
We anticipate having all the proposals evaluated and our Phase I contract decisions within approximately four months after proposal receipt. All questions concerning the evaluation and selection process should be directed to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).
The Air Force has implemented on-line proposal status updates and debriefings (for proposals not selected for an Air Force award) for small businesses submitting proposals against Air Force topics. At the close of the Phase I Solicitation – and following the submission of a Phase II via the DoD SBIR / STTR Submission Site
(https://www.dodsbir.net/submission ) - small business can track the progress of their proposal submission by logging into the Small Business Area of the Air Force SBIR / STTR Virtual Shopping Mall (http://www.sbirsttrmall.com ). The Small Business Area
(http://www.sbirsttrmall.com/Firm/login.aspx ) is password protected and uses the same login information as the DoD SBIR / STTR Submission Site. Small Businesses can view information for their company only.
To receive a status update of a proposal submission, click the “Proposal Status / Debriefings” link at the top of the page in the Small Business Area (after logging in). A listing of proposal submissions to the Air Force within the last 12 months is displayed. Status update intervals are: Proposal Received, Evaluation Started, Evaluation Completed, Selection Started, and Selection Completed. A date will be displayed in the appropriate column indicating when this stage has been completed. If no date is present, the proposal submission has not completed this stage. Small businesses are encouraged to check this site often as it is updated in real - time and provide the most up - to- date information available for all proposal submissions. Once the “Selection Completed” date is visible, it could still be a few weeks (or more) before you are contacted by the Air Force with a notification of selection or non – selection. The Air Force receives thousands of proposals during each solicitation and the notification process requires specific steps to be completed prior to a Contracting Officer distributing this information to small business.
The Principal Investigator (PI) and Corporate Official (CO) indicated on the Proposal Coversheet will be notified by Email regarding proposal selection or non-selection. The Email will include a link to a secure Internet page to be accessed which contains the appropriate information. If your proposal is tentatively selected to receive an Air Force award, the PI and CO will receive a single notification. If your proposal is not selected for an Air Force award, the PI and CO may receive up to two messages. The first message will notify the small business that the proposal has not been selected for an Air Force award and provide information regarding the availability of a proposal debriefing. The notification will either indicate that the debriefing is ready for review and include instructions to proceed to the “Proposal Status / Debriefings” area of the Air Force SBIR / STTR Virtual Shopping Mall or it may state that the debriefing is not currently available but generally will be within 90 days (due to unforeseen circumstances, some debriefings may be delayed beyond the nominal 90 days). If the initial notification indicates the debriefing will be available generally within 90 days, the PI and CO will receive a follow – up notification once the debriefing is available on-line. All proposals not selected for an Air Force award will have an on-line debriefing available for review. Available debriefings can be viewed by clicking on the “Debriefing” link, located on the right of the Proposal Title, in the “Proposal Status / Debriefings” section of the Small Business Area of the Air Force SBIR / STTR Virtual Shopping Mall. Small Businesses will receive a notification for each proposal submitted. Please read each notification carefully and note the proposal number and topic number referenced. Also observe the status of the debriefing as availability may differ between submissions (e.g., one may state the debriefing is currently available while another may indicate the debriefing will be available within 90 days).
PHASE II PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS
Phase II is the demonstration of the technology that was found feasible in Phase I. Only those Phase I awardees that are invited to submit a Phase II proposal and all FAST TRACK applicants will be eligible to submit a Phase II proposal. The Phase I award winners must accomplish the majority of their primary research during the first six months of the contract. Each Air Force organization may request Phase II proposals prior to the completion of the first six months of the contract based upon an evaluation of the contractor’s technical progress and reviewed by the Air Force Technical point of contact utilizing the criteria in section 4.3 of the DoD solicitation The awarding Air Force organization will send detailed Phase II proposal instructions to the appropriate small businesses. Phase II efforts are typically two (2) years in duration and do not exceed $750,000. (NOTE) All Phase II awardees must have a Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) approved accounting system. Get your DCAA accounting system in place prior to the AF Phase II award timeframe. If you do not have a DCAA approved accounting system this will delay / prevent Phase II contract award. If you have questions regarding this matter, please discuss with your Phase I contracting officer.
All proposals must be submitted electronically at www.dodsbir.net/submission. The complete proposal - Department of Defense (DoD) cover sheet, entire technical proposal with appendices, cost proposal and the Company Commercialization Report – must be submitted by the date indicated in the invitation. The technical proposal is limited to 50 pages (unless a different number is specified in the invitation). The commercialization report, any advocacy letters, and the additional cost proposal itemized listing (a through h) will not count against the 50 page limitation and should be placed as the last pages of the Technical Proposal file that is uploaded. (Note: Only one file can be uploaded to the DoD Submission Site. Ensure that this single file includes your complete Technical Proposal and the additional cost proposal information.) The preferred format for submission of proposals is Portable Document Format (PDF). Graphics must be distinguishable in black and white. Please virus check your submissions.
FAST TRACK
Detailed instructions on the Air Force Phase II program and notification of the opportunity to submit a FAST TRACK application will be forwarded with all AF Phase I selection E-Mail notifications. The Air Force encourages businesses to consider a FAST TRACK application when they can attract outside funding and the technology is mature enough to be ready for application following successful completion of the Phase II contract.
NOTE:
1. Fast Track applications must be submitted not later than 150 days after the start of the Phase I contract.
2. Fast Track Phase II proposals must be submitted not later than 180 days after the start of the Phase I contract.
3. The Air Force does not provide interim funding for Fast Track applications. If selected for a Phase II award, we will match only the outside funding for Phase II.
For FAST TRACK applicants, should the outside funding not become available by the time designated by the awarding Air Force activity, the offeror will not be considered for any Phase II award. FAST TRACK applicants may submit a Phase II proposal prior to receiving a formal invitation letter. The Air Force will select Phase II winners based solely upon the merits of the proposal submitted, including FAST TRACK applicants.
PHASE II ENHANCEMENT POLICY
The Air Force currently does not participate in the DoD Enhancement Program.
In addition to all the Phase I contractual deliverables, Phase I award winners must submit a Phase I Final Summary Report at the end of their Phase I project. The Phase I summary report is an unclassified, non-sensitive, and non-proprietary summation of Phase I results that is intended for public viewing on the Air Force SBIR / STTR Virtual Shopping Mall. A summary report should not exceed 700 words, and should include the technology description and anticipated applications / benefits for government and / or private sector use. It should require minimal work from the contractor because most of this information is required in the final technical report. The Phase I summary report shall be submitted in accordance with the format and instructions posted on the Virtual Shopping Mall website at http://www.sbirsttrmall.com.
All final reports will be submitted to the awarding Air Force organization in accordance with Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL). Companies will not submit final reports directly to the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC).
The Air Force reserves the right to modify the Phase II submission requirements. Should the requirements change, all Phase I awardees that are invited to submit Phase II proposals will be notified. The Air Force also reserves the right to change any administrative procedures at any time that will improve management of the Air Force STTR Program.
Air Force STTR 08B Topic Index
AF08-BT01 Autonomous Nonbattery Wireless Strain Gage for Structural Health Testing and
Monitoring in Extreme Environments
AF08-BT02 Adaptive Integrated Multi-Modal Sensing Array
AF08-BT03 Development of Multidisciplinary, Multi-Fidelity Analysis and Integration of Aerospace
Vehicles
AF08-BT04 Full-field, High Temperature Strain and Displacement Measurement
AF08-BT05 Guidestar Enhancement for Adaptive-Optical Systems on Large-Aperture Telescopes
AF08-BT06 Cyber Superiority for Air Force Combatant Commanders
AF08-BT07 Hybrid Structures for Improved Damage Tolerance of Unitized Structures
AF08-BT08 Silicon-Based Nanomembrane Photonic and Electronic Components
AF08-BT09 Variable Thrust / Specific Impulse Electrospray Propulsion
AF08-BT10 Graphene Fabrication Process and Apparatus Development
AF08-BT11 Thermally Remendable Composite Structures with Resistive Heating Network of Carbon
Fibers
AF08-BT12 Development of Compact, Lightweight Power Transmission Devices for Directed Energy
Applications
AF08-BT13 Heat Transfer Prediction in Transitional Hypersonic Flow
AF08-BT14 NON-THERMIONIC CATHODE FOR HIGH POWER, LONG PULSE, LONG
LIFETIME MAGNETRONS
AF08-BT15 Combustion Screech Reduction Technologies in Afterburners
AF08-BT16 Mid-Infrared Precision Frequency Combs
AF08-BT17 Development of Diagnostic Model for Hydrogen Permeation through High-Strength
Alloys
AF08-BT18 Ultradense Plasmonic Integrated Devices and Circuits
AF08-BT19 Computational Prediction of Kinetic Rate Constants for Condensed Phases
AF08-BT20 Scalable technology for growth of high quality single crystal gallium nitride
AF08-BT21 High-Temperature Environmental Barrier Coating for Silicon Carbide Composites
AF08-BT22 Oxide Heterostructure-Based Nanoelectronics Devices
AF08-BT23 Health Monitoring of Composite Structures Using Carbon Nanotubes
AF08-BT24 Nonlinear Signature-Matched Hyperspectral Change Detection
AF08-BT25 Electrical power generation for sustained high speed flight
AF08-BT26 Frequency agile terahertz detectors
AF08-BT27 Real-time In-situ Impact and Damage Locator in Anisotropic Aerospace Structures
AF08-BT28 Reconfigurable Materials for Photonic Systems
AF08-BT29 Affordable Structures Using Advanced Machining Techniques
AF08-BT30 Instrumentation for Nanoscale Spectroscopy
Air Force SBIR 08B Topic Descriptions
AF08-BT01 TITLE: Autonomous Nonbattery Wireless Strain Gage for Structural Health Testing and
Monitoring in Extreme Environments
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform
OBJECTIVE: Develop a passive, conformal RF device capable of sensing and transmitting wide bandwidth strain or structural health monitoring data at service temperatures ranging from -60C to +300C.
DESCRIPTION: This topic seeks novel concepts for a passive, conformal sensor that can transmit high-bandwidth data from extreme environments at temperatures ranging from -60C to +300C and accelerations levels up to 56600g. The sensor should be easily installed with no permanent changes to the component or surface upon which it is installed. The sensor must be sufficiently small and conformal to avoid disrupting aerodynamic flows.
Situations arise with structural testing or structural health monitoring of aerospace components operating in extreme environments (jet engine fan and compressor blades, aircraft propellers, helicopter blades, transmission parts) where a passive sensor capable of transmitting high-bandwidth sensor data is needed. A common method of structural testing or structural health monitoring is to install sensors and wire them to a data collection system. For example, strain and shear are sensed with this technique. However, wired sensors are generally limited to temperate environments and stationary structures. In more difficult test environments, either a wired sensor cannot be installed or the sensor and its wires are expensive to install and short-lived. Further, powering a sensor with batteries is usually impractical and sometimes impossible, so a passive sensor is necessary. Bulky wireless data relay devices are available to condition and transmit sensor data, but they cannot be used in harsh environments, extreme temperatures, tight spaces, or fast-moving structures, and the sensors still need to be wired to the data relay.
PHASE I: Determine technical feasibility and an approach for the RF device. Feasibility must be addressed for operating temperature, strain sensing, high-rate data transmission, operation of multiple sensors on the same test article, and sensor size.
PHASE II: Fabricate and demonstrate the operation of a number of passive, conformal RF devices on a high speed, high temperature aerospace component. The operating environment includes temperatures up to 300C and acceleration forces up to 56600g.
PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: Conformal RF device is being developed for structural health monitoring of defense and aerospace vehicles in extreme environments. Commercial application: Although developed for use in aerospace applications, the passive conformal RF device technology could be used on a wide variety of industrial testing and structural health monitoring applications.
REFERENCES:
1. Wireless Strain Sensing Networks; S.W. Arms, C.P. Townsend, J.H. Galbreath, A.T. Newhard 2nd European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, Munich, Germany, 7-9 July 2004 MicroStrain, Inc., 310 Hurricane Lane, Unit 4, Williston, VT 05495 www.microstrain.com
2. An Experimental and Theoretical Characterization of a Broadband Arbitrarily Polarized Rectenna Array; J. A. Hagerty, Z. Popovic; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Colorado Bolder, CO; IEEE, MTT-S Digest 2001 pgs 1855-1858.
3. The RF-Powered Surface Wave Sensor Oscillator—A Successful Alternative to Passive Wireless Sensing; Ivan D. Avramov; ieee transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control, vol. 51, no. 9, September 2004 pg 1148.
4. Wireless Telemetry for Gas-Turbine Applications; Russell G. DeAnna; U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio; NASA/TM—2000-209815 March 2000.
KEYWORDS: strain sensor, wireless sensor, passive sensor, conformal sensor
AF08-BT02 TITLE: Adaptive Integrated Multi-Modal Sensing Array
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors
OBJECTIVE: Design and fabricate adaptive, staring, multi-modal imaging sensor based on co-registered detector elements that utilize novel electronic and photonic materials and structures, resulting in spatial, spectral (ultra-violet (UV) to radio frequency (RF)), and polarimetric detection functionality integrated into a single focal plane array package.
DESCRIPTION: The premise of this research is that developing adaptive multi-modal sensors that can capture multiple electromagnetic observables (intensity, wavelength, polarization, phase, etc..) in a time-resolved, ‘staring’ imaging format will provide dramatically enhanced detect and ID capability for extremely challenging military problems involving low contrast targets over broad areas in a highly dynamic scene. Battlefield sensing requirements include finding and tracking individuals of interest in populated urban areas, detecting activity and materials indicative of IED placement, and detecting and identifying threatening space objects at long ranges. Historically, military target recognition involved conventional military objects exhibiting unique spatial and spectral signatures that were generally isolated from densely populated areas. However, target recognition problems of today include discriminating a multitude of complex objects deeply embedded in urban areas, day and night, where the most common urban objects can have tactical significance, and achieving high detection probability is critical to mission success. Current-generation remote sensing methods (e.g., broadband FLIR) are limited in their ability to search and detect camouflaged targets in deep-hide or highly-cluttered backgrounds. Proven approaches for enhancing deep-hide, high-clutter target recognition includes utilization of multi- to hyper-spectra exploitation to improve signal-to-clutter ratio, and fusing multi-modal/multi-discriminant data, such as FLIR with SAR, to significantly reduce the amount of processing required for target classification, while simultaneously increasing target ID confidence.
Limitations facing state-of-the-art multi- and hyper-spectral imagers include their ‘step-stare’ mode of operation (vs. desired starring mode) with revisit times that compromise detection of rapid moving targets, and their fixed-multi/hyper-band construct that can result in a tremendous amount of unimportant data for exploitation. Also, today’s airborne hyper-spectral sensors are massive, typically 4-5X that of typical FLIR sensor units employed on tactical aircraft and weapons platforms, and they also require greater sensitivity than typical FLIR sensors to overcome the reduced photon count in narrow wavelength bands. Challenges confronting fusion of multi-discriminant data from single-mode detectors includes handling translational registration errors, and a lack of robust, efficient feature extraction and correlation capabilities. To avoid the problem of unnecessary or unproductive sensor use and computations, it would be desirable to ‘intelligently’ select ‘on-the-fly’ an optimum subset of sensors and sensor settings that are most decision-relevant. While this will be very difficult requiring breakthroughs in many sensing technology fronts, emerging innovations in semiconductor materials, device structures, and information sciences offer many interesting opportunities. A ‘home-run’ approach of interest is to innovate and develop a tunable multi-mode, vertically-integrated (common sensor package), large-format starring focal plane array to accommodate the dynamic sensing requirements dictated by the dynamic target scene. This would involve actively controlling sensor modes and settings to optimize information gathering in a knowledge-based manner with an identifiable selection criterion.
PHASE I: Perform feasibility studies for novel sensor designs through modeling and experimental demonstrations, and calculate potential multi-modal sensor design capabilities and performance parameters. The program focus is on design, modeling and simulation of novel concepts for high-performance tunable multi-modal (UV-RF) focal plane arrays. This includes innovative physical device concepts (i.e., utilizing nanomaterials, nanostructures, hetero-material integration schemes, electrical interconnect schemes, etc.) and prediction of fused-mode detector output signals, in coordination with first-order benefits analysis modeling of expected downstream data exploitation. Novel multi-modal detector designs should be guided by consideration of how they can optimally exploit phenomenology of general multi-mode target scene signatures; how can multi-mode data streams be fused and interpreted in novel and beneficial ways. For example, fused spectral-polarimetric signatures provide information on target material composition, surface characteristics, and 3-D shape simultaneously from a single sensor snapshot, where information in the spectral dependence on polarization state may not be evident from separated polarization and spectral data. To exploit these and other multi-mode opportunities, a coordinated multi-discipline research team experienced in detector device design, and knowledgeable in data fusion and image processing and exploitation will be needed. Sensing modalities of interest include spatial, spectral, polarimetric, radiometric, and temporal; wavelengths of interest span UV (0.2um) to RF (mm). The envisioned multi-modal device design should build from extensive developments in both passive and active sensing, but specifically address the basic research aspect of multi-modal integration into a common sensor package (e.g., detector array).
PHASE II: Demonstrate a working prototype for an adaptive, integrated multi-mode sensing device concept and implementation scheme based on high priority spectrum and mode considerations provided by the government. Perform appropriate sensor design modeling and performance analysis of hardware and software design implementations, and fabricate and characterize full-up prototype devices.
PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: Military applications include compact, smart, high-fidelity battlefield sensing for emerging layered sensing concepts. Commercial application: Commercial applications include fabrication of high fidelity multi-functional sensing capabilities enabling for a multitude or emerging photonics applicaions.
REFERENCES:
1. S. Krishna, et al., “Hot dot detectors,” IEEE Circuits and Devices Magazine,” vol. 18, pp.14-24 (January 2002).
2. W. Chen and T. G. Andersson, “Intersubband transitions for differently shaped quantum wells under an applied electric field,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 60, pp. 1591-1593 (1992).
3. Y. Wei, et al., “Quantum dots of InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice for infrared sensing,” Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. vol. 692, H3.1.1 (2002).
4. D. Kim, et al., “Imaging multispectral polarimetric sensor: single-pixel design, fabrication, and characterization,” Applied Optics, vol. 42, pp. 3756-3764 (July 2003).
KEYWORDS: multi-spectral, hyperspectral, polarization, infrared detectors, nanotechnology, imager, polarimeter, optical properties, nano-structured materials
AF08-BT03 TITLE: Development of Multidisciplinary, Multi-Fidelity Analysis and Integration of
Aerospace Vehicles
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform
OBJECTIVE: To pioneer innovative methods for representing, managing, and fusing information of various levels of fidelity within an engineering discipline and across multiple disciplines for a wide-range of analysis and design tools.
DESCRIPTION: Computational modeling and simulation techniques are sufficiently advanced for routine use at various stages of the system design process, particularly at the sub-system and component level. The complete analysis of an aerospace system as a whole remains a difficult and on-going challenge. The challenge is compounded with the many technical disciplines involved, each capable of a range of modeling techniques and levels of fidelity to the physics. The earliest attempts at vehicle analysis tools were limited to single disciplines at low levels of physical fidelity. Over the years, models improved as modern computing enabled high-fidelity, physics-based analysis and design tools. Another trend combines models from different disciplines for a multi-disciplinary approach. Some very advanced software provide interface environments where users may select from a range of analysis tool options, e.g., in a framework environment [1, 2].
Current methodologies for the design, analysis, and optimization of air vehicles and vehicle systems and sub-systems rely on a variety of capabilities. Existing capabilities are multi-faceted in terms of design area and specialty (focusing on fluid dynamic, propulsive, aerodynamic, fueling, structural, and thermal systems, etc.). Furthermore, they are multi-level in terms of complexity and degree of sophistication, ranging from simple (but rapid) parametric engineering tools to complex multi-dimensional coupled partial-differential equation solvers. They also include discrete integrated multi-disciplinary system solvers (highly synergistic suites of sub-system and specialty computational design tools) which are becoming increasingly capable in providing complex system-level design, analysis, and optimization. Most computational design capabilities utilized in preliminary design optimization studies are relatively lower-order tools. Such tools allow reasonable computational turn-around times for what is generally a highly iterative process. Further into the design process higher order tools (such as three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics solvers for fluid systems and complex finite element solvers for structural systems) are utilized (most generally on the sub-system level) in order to provide very detailed information relevant to actual sub-system performance and operability. A revolution in vehicle analysis will follow when users can determine with confidence when high, medium, and low fidelity analysis are appropriate and combine the output seamlessly over an exhaustive range of conditions. It has not yet been discovered how to realize this merging and managing of information from multiple analysis tools.
This topic calls for the exploration and innovation of methods for representing and managing information from a wide range of analysis tools, including the mathematical formulation to determine the need for higher fidelity simulations/solutions. One aspect of the research will be the study of appropriate mathematical models for capturing and combining information of varying fidelity. Example methods may include, but are not limited to, model reduction techniques, neural networks, response surfaces, design of experiments, and data fusion methods [3]. Another critical aspect of the research will be developing and assessing procedures for integrating information from different disciplines and accounting for the interaction physics [4]. The mathematical models and procedures developed will allow users to manage uncertainty and to account fully for the relevant physics of air vehicle systems with potential applications to high-speed vehicles.
PHASE I: Define baseline problem on a simplified system or component with at least two interacting disciplines and at least two different levels of fidelity. Develop candidate approaches for representing and integrating information from each discipline and model. Apply to baseline case and assess suitability to represent analysis data.
PHASE II: Define problem with increased geometric and/or multi-disciplinary complexity compared to Phase I. Select the most promising concepts from Phase I and develop procedures for integrating information from several analysis tools. Demonstrate capability to synthesize variable data and interactions from multiple disciplines.
PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: High-payoff military applications include improved analysis of multidisciplinary interaction for developing concepts in advanced sensor platforms, future strike, and access-to-space vehicles. Commercial application: Virtually every commercial market that deals with some aspect of system analysis could benefit from this technology. High efficiency commercial aircraft, more efficient aircraft engines, and improved
REFERENCES:
1. Briceño, S.I. and Mavris, D.N., "Implementation of a Physics–Based Decision–Making Framework for Evaluation of the Multidisciplinary Aircraft Uncertainty," SAE World Aviation Congress, 09–12 Sept. 2003.
2. Liu, Weiyu, and Batill, S.M., "Gradient–Enhanced Neural Network Response Surface Approximations," AIAA Paper 2000–4923, Long Beach, CA, September 2000.
3. Stephen J. Leary, Atul Bhaskar, Andy J. Keane, "A Knowledge-Based Approach To Response Surface Modelling in Multifidelity Optimization," Journal of Global Optimization Volume 26, Issue 3 (July 2003) pp. 297–319.
4. Simulation–Based Engineering Science: Revolutionizing Engineering Science through Simulation, Report of the National Science Foundation Blue Ribbon Panel, May 2006. www.nsf.gov/pubs/reports/sbes_final_report.pdf.
KEYWORDS: multi-fidelity analysis/design, multi-disciplinary analysis/design, data fusion, intelligent tools, knowledge/data management
AF08-BT04 TITLE: Full-field, High Temperature Strain and Displacement Measurement
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform
OBJECTIVE: Develop a full-field data capture capability for the displacement vector(u,v,w)and in-plane strain tensorof a structural component subjected to radiant heat in an acoustic environment.
DESCRIPTION: In order to validate high temperature modeling and simulation predictions of structural components, high-quality, robust experimental techniques which capture the full-field mechanical and thermal response are required. Not only should the implementation exhibit robustness over the temperature range (20 C ¡Ü T ¡Ü 1650 C); the system must also be insensitive to acoustic noise/excitation (¡Ü 170 dB). The total strain field measurement should be accurate to within 200 micro-strain over the range -10,000 ¦Ì¦Å ¡Ü ¦Å ¡Ü 10,000 ¦Ì¦Å while the absolute error in the temperature field should be no greater than 2.5%. If successful, the new experimental capability will provide unprecedented data capture of the heated side of a high temperature component. This data is invaluable for gaining understanding of structural and material response, damage initiation, progressive damage, and ultimately limit state attainment in moderately high temperature material systems.
Full-field techniques such as Digital Image Correlation (DIC) have been successfully used at room and elevated temperature up to the point at which the reflected radiation from the panel saturates the cameras. Other techniques which utilize laser illumination, e.g., Electronic Speckle Pattern Inferferometry (ESPI), have also been employed but still suffer from an inability to determine the location of the local deformation as the part begins to glow. The desired structural component sizes range from a few millimeters up to several meters. Therefore, the developed technique must provide accurate results over several orders of magnitude in field of view.
The full-field technique should consider proper filtering of visible light, proper illumination of the specimen, and adequate data capture rates. It is expected that the effects of natural and forced convection could influence techniques which rely on optical measurement (i.e. refraction). A handling plan which addresses these coupled issues along with a verification and validation approach is considered a necessary part of this effort.
Anticipated deliverables for Phase I effort: A detailed approach that addresses perceived and anticipated difficulties along with a systematic means of addressing these technology hurdles should be part of phase I. In addition, the technological approach should be demonstrated on a small scale. For example, if DIC is used, a single camera capable of surviving the thermal/acoustic environment should demonstrate data capture while the part is glowing. Thermocouples can be used to provide independent validation of the temperature field. Along with material property data, this data can be used to validate the deformation state of the specimen (e.g., thermal strain = CTE*∆T) in an unconstrained configuration.
Anticipated deliverables for Phase II effort: Phase II amounts to a scale up in size along with inclusion of capture of the thermal field. In phase II, multiple cameras will be integrated into a typical ¡°lamp bank¡± setup. The multiple camera system will integrate the views from the different cameras into a single full-field view through software/image manipulation. The effects of light refraction through the visible medium will be quantified and validated. A successful phase II effort will include delivery of a system which successfully captures the full-field displacement, strain and thermal fields of a hot part subjected to acoustic excitation in a lab setting.
PHASE I: Conceptualize and demonstrate the capability to capture the full field displacement and strain of a ¡°glowing¡± specimen where the visible light spectrum is saturated. The specimen should be subjected to a known thermal field for ease in validation.
PHASE II: Develop and construct a prototype system capable of capturing the full-field responses (thermal, displacement, and strain) of a structural component subjected to radiant heat and acoustic noise. Validate performance through rigorous test plan execution and provide associated process capability data.
PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: This technology is needed for validation of high-speed (hypersonic) air and spacecraft components and structures. Commercial application: Any application which requires evaluation of elevated temperature components would benefit from this technology.
REFERENCES:
1. Schmidt, T., Tyson, J., Galanulis, K., Full-Field Dynamic Displacement and Strain Measurement Using Advanced 3D Image Correlation Photogrammetry, Experimental Techniques, Part I: May/June 2003, Vol. 27 #3, 47-50, Part II: July/Aug, Vol. 27 #4, 44-47.
2. Schmidt, T, Tyson, J, Full-Field Dynamic Deformation and Strain Measurements Using High-Speed Digital Cameras, To Be Presented at SPIE 26th ICHSPP Conference,, Alexandria, VA, September 20, 2004.
3. Tyson, J., Schmidt, T., Galanulis, K., Advanced Photogrammetry for Robust Deformation and Strain Measurement, Proceedings of Soc. of Experimental Mechanics Annual Conference, Milwaukee, WI, June 2002.
4. Sachtleber, M., Zhao, Z., Roters, F., Raabe, D., Introduction to Polycrystalline Strain Mapping, GOM User Group Meeting 2001, Braunschweig, Germany, September 2001.
5. J. Michopoulos, Computational and Mechatronic Automation of Multiphysics Research for Structural and Material Systems, Invited Paper in "Recent Advances in Composite Materials" in honor of A.A. Paipetis, by Kluwer Academic Publishing, pp 9-23, 2003.
KEYWORDS: Full-field response, Digital image correlation, Laser Speckle Interferometry
AF08-BT05 TITLE: Guidestar Enhancement for Adaptive-Optical Systems on Large-Aperture
Telescopes
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Battlespace
OBJECTIVE: Develop and implement a method to enhance the local atomic sodium density in the mesosphere using ground-based sources.
DESCRIPTION: A global layer of sodium (Na) atoms exists in the mesosphere between 80 and 100 km (von Zahn et. al. 1987) with a peak density occurring between 90 and 95 km. The Sodium Guidestar Adaptive Optics System (NGAS) program for the 3.5-meter telescope at the Starfire Optical Range (SOR), Kirtland AFB, NM uses light emitted from a mesospheric sodium guidestar to perform adaptive-optical correction on distortion from atmospheric turbulence. Adaptive Optics (AO) allows much improved imaging of satellites which improves the Air Force Space Situation Awareness (SSA) program. The image quality is dependant on guidestar brightness which in turn depends on the Na density. The density of sodium atoms in the lower atmosphere varies by a factor 4 annually (Drummond et. al. 2007). This variation in guidestar radiance reduces the sky coverage and the number of months a year the AO system may be used. The objective is to stabilize and enhance the Na radiance. Models of the chemistry and physics of mesospheric atomic sodium have been developed. These models identify chemical and physical reservoirs which could release Na atoms (von Zahn et al. 1987, Plane et. al. 1999, McNeil et al. 1995, Cox et al. 2001). The goals of this topic are to identify potential atomic Na reservoirs in the mesosphere, develop a comprehensive and feasible method to release Na from these reservoirs using ground-based sources, and estimate the amount of Na that could be released, how long it would take to exact the release and how long the enhanced density would persist. The purposed method may use SOR facilities such as, the sodium guidestar pump fasor to excite atomic Na, the 3.5-meter telescope to observe guidestar radiance, and the beam director to launch a beam that might be used to release atomic Na.
PHASE I: Identify potential atomic Na reservoirs in the mesosphere. Develop a comprehensive and feasible method to release Na from these reservoirs using ground-based sources.
PHASE II: Develop and implement an experiment to test the method described in Phase I. Observe the increase in the local Na density in the mesosphere and measure it. Make sure Na density enhancement is not due to natural fluctuations based on location, the earth's magnetic field, sudden sodium layers, aurora etc. Report the results.
PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: Sodium guidestars are used by AFRL to improve imaging of satellites and enhance the Air Force Space Situation Awareness (SSA) program. Commercial application: A brighter Na guidestar could benefit Keck Observatory, Gemini Observatories, European Southern Observatory, Subaru Telescope, Steward Observatories, Kitt-Peak Observatory, Thirty-meter telescope...
REFERENCES:
1. Cox, R. M., Daniel, E. S., Plane, J. M. C., A study of the reaction between NaHCO3 and H: apparent closure on the chemistry of mesosphere Na, J. Geophys. Res. Lett., 106, 1733-1739, 2001.
2. Drummond, J. D., Novotny, S. J., Denman, C.A., Hillman, P. D., Telle, J. M., Eickhoff, M. L., and Fugate, R. Q., The sodium LGS brightness model over the SOR, 2007 AMOS Conference Technical Proceedings (www.AMOSTECH.com), 2007.
3. McNeil, W. J., Murad, E., Lai, S. T., Comprehensive model for the atmospheric sodium layer, J. Geophys. Res, 100, 16,847-16,855, 1995.
4. Plane, J. M. C., Gardner, C. S., Yu, J., She, C. Y., Garcia, R. R., and Pumphrey, H. C., Mesospheric Na Layer at 40„aN: Modeling and observations,¡¨ Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 104, pgs. 3773-3788, February 20, 1999.
5. Von Zahn, U., von der Gathen, P., Hansen, G., Forced release of sodium from upper atmosphere dust particles, J. Geophys. Res. Lett., 14, 76-79, 1987.
KEYWORDS: ground-based optical telescopes,atmospheric correction,adaptive optics,artificial beacon, mesospheric sodium guidestar,mesospheric sodium chemistry,laser-pumped guidestar,natural guidestar
AF08-BT06 TITLE: Cyber Superiority for Air Force Combatant Commanders
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors
OBJECTIVE: The United States Air Force is looking for technological innovations to provide operators with robust situational awareness, control of electro-magnetic spectrum, and maneuverability in cyberspace.
DESCRIPTION: Military dependence on information-based technology, completely networked systems, telecommunications, and other technologies that use electronics and the electro-magnetic spectrum have led to the recognition of cyberspace as a domain. Our adversaries are actively seeking ways to exploit our reliance on the cyberspace domain to further their own interests. We must do what we can to secure our national info-structure, prevent cyber attacks, and maintain our freedom to operate in the cyberspace domain. The cyber domain is where combatant commanders join all of the Services’ warfighting capabilities to conduct interdependent operations. Sensor operations in all domains are integrated in the cyberspace to allow information to be gathered quickly and data exchanged more precisely. New cyberspace capabilities are needed to enhance data integration, provide situational awareness, and provide air, space, and cyber operations integration, so the commander can control forces and the combat environment.
PHASE I: Perform preliminary investigations of advanced cyberspace capabilities that can integrate global and theater capabilities in support of the combatant commander.
PHASE II: Perform a proof-of-concept demonstration of advanced cyberspace capabilities.
PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: Results of the research will have application to computer networks, airfield operations, and telecommunication systems. Commercial application: Results of the research will have application to commercial computer networks, airline operations, and telecommunication systems.
REFERENCES:
1. Alexander, Keith, B., “Warfighting in Cyberspace,” Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 46, 3rd Qtr 2007, 31 July 2007.
2. Browne, Herbert, A., “It’s Time to Aim Ahead of the Cyberspace Target,” Signal, October 2002, pp. 14.
3. Millitello, L. & Hutton, R., "Applied Cognitive Task Analysis (ACTA): A Practitioner's Tool Kit for Understanding Cognitive Task Demands," Ergonomics Special Issue: Task Analysis, Taylor & Francis, London, ROYAUME-UNI, vol. 41, pp. 1618-1641, 1998.
KEYWORDS: electro-magnetic spectrum control, situational awareness, battle management, sensor resource management, cyberspace
AF08-BT07 TITLE: Hybrid Structures for Improved Damage Tolerance of Unitized Structures
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform
OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative structural concepts of tailored, graded or hybrid materials that enhance the damage tolerance capability of unitized structures.
DESCRIPTION: Conventional aircraft construction techniques inherently include features that are damage tolerant. Unitized structure tends to lack these features. In this effort typical unitized structural concepts shall be evaluated and fatigue or damage critical locations identified. For these locations, metallic and/or composite structural concepts of tailored, graded or hybrid materials shall be developed that enhance the damage tolerance capability of unitized structures.
PHASE I: Develop analytical tools and structural concepts of tailored or hybrid materials that enhance the damage tolerance capability of unitized structures. Candidate approaches will be conceptualized, demonstrated and subjected to realistic vehicle flight loadings to assess damage tolerance capability
PHASE II: Select the concept that has the most damage tolerance structure capability. Design a structural component, and manufacture and test the article to verify the concept.
PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: The structural technology developed will be applicable to large transport aircraft and other military vehicles. Commercial application: Commercial airliners and military transports have similar loading requirements, and thus the technology generated will be applicable to the each class.
REFERENCES:
1. Towards Technology Readiness of Fibre Metal Laminates Glare Technology Development (GTO) 1997-2000, J.W. Gunnink1,2, A. Vlot2, R. Alderliesten2, W. van der Hoeven3, A. de Boer3, W. ‘t Hart3, C.G. van Hengel1, P.L., Kuijpers2, R.C. van Oost1, G.H.J.J. Roebroeks1, J.Sinke2, M.S. Ypma2, T.J. de Vries2, Th. Wittenberg2.
2. An Historic Overview of the Development of Fibre Metal Laminates
C. A. J. R. VERMEEREN, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS Delft.
3. TOWARDS APPLICATION OF FIBRE METAL LAMINATES IN LARGE AIRCRAFT, A.Vlot, L.B. Vogelesang, T.J. de Vries, Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS Delft, The Netherlands.
KEYWORDS: Damage tolerance, unitized structures, hybrid structures, tailored properties, metallic structures, composite structures
AF08-BT08 TITLE: Silicon-Based Nanomembrane Photonic and Electronic Components
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors
OBJECTIVE: Design and develop silicon-based adaptive intelligent photonic/electronic components and systems for enhanced-performance imaging, communication, and information processing, using silicon-based nanomembranes, a potentially disruptive platform technology.
DESCRIPTION: Rigid, flat, crystallographically nearly perfect Si has been the mainstay of microelectronics, the leading technology during the last four decades. Significant improvements in this technology are possible, in particular in monolithic integration of optics into Si-based microelectronics and all-optic Si-based integrated microphotonics or nanophotonics. A potentially disruptive new platform technology, crystalline Si-based nanomembranes, not only suggests new and simpler paths to achieve these goals but extends the reach of Si into areas of adaptive intelligent photonics and electronics not thought possible only a short while ago.
Si nanomembranes are single crystals of Si (or equally Ge or layered combinations) that have been released from SOI (or GOI, Si, Ge etc.) and re-deposited on new substrates. They offer key technical advantages:
1) They provide a method for transferring single-crystal Si (or Ge) to any other substrate, including flexible hosts. Thus integration of best features of different materials is feasible.
2) They are stackable. Multiple transfers will produce membrane heterostructures.
3) They are flexible, deformable, and conformable, and can be manipulated dynamically.
4) They can be composed of heterolayers of Si, SiGe, SiGeC, etc. Such structures share strain coherently between all layers, resulting, e.g., in strained Si with zero dislocations and offering the prospect of engineering the Si (or Ge, etc.) band structure.
5) They can be lithographically patterned into any shape, including nanowires.
7) SiNMs are processable like bulk Si and retain the electronic properties of bulk Si. Thus all manner of Si devices can be fabricated, and high-volume manufacturing is feasible.
Of interest are innovative approaches for the development of 1) flexible intelligent photonics (FIP): adaptive frequency selective photonics components, modulators, mechano-activated adaptive optics, 3D photonic crystals and membrane waveguides; 2) strain engineered ultrasensitive, high-speed SiNM/GeNM photodetectors; 3) Si-membrane-based light sources; 4) high-speed flexible, conformal, and/or 3-D elec-tronics; 5) hybrid-orientation technology (HOT): fast flexible CMOS with integration on other hosts; 6) flexible conformal photovoltaics - integrated personal portable power sources; or 7) Si-membrane based thermoelectric materials. Adaptive intelligent photonic/electronic systems, improved detectors and imagers, light sources, conformal electronics and power sources, and very fast flexible electronics would all be of great value to the DoD, significantly advancing DoD capabilities, with potential impacts in the areas of energy-efficient ultra-compact dynamic intelligent information collection, high-capacity data networks, and adaptive rapid-response systems. Con-sequent commercial applications are legion.
PHASE I: Demonstrate through successful fabrication of a feasibility design innovative approaches for one or more of the above listed technologies. Feasibility of a novel application of Si nanomembranes (e.g., a 3D photonic crystal device, an advanced photodetector, a flexible-PV personal power source on textiles, or membrane based adaptive optics) will involve simulation of the device design, predicted specifications of the design, and demonstration of the feasibility of processing steps.
PHASE II: Develop a manufacturable prototype of a device in one or more of the above technology areas. Demonstrate integration with requisite control and necessary other components to make a complete photonic/electronic/power system. Demonstrate superiority over Si wafer-based devices, where the device is an improvement over current technology rather than new technology.
PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: Si nanomembranes have the potential for revolutionizing many fields, including imaging, communication, information processing, sensing, energy conversion, and even personalized medicine. Commercial application: Membrane-based light sources can provide inexpensive optical inter-connects and optical add/drop multiplexers for direct optical connections without the need of optical-to-electrical conversion.
REFERENCES:
1. R. A. Soref, "The Past, Present, and Future of Silicon Photonics," IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron 12, 1678-1687 (2006).
2. S. A. Scott and M. G. Lagally, "Elastically strain-sharing nanomembranes: flexible and transferable strained silicon and silicon-germanium alloys," J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 40, R75-R92 (2007).
3. K. Lee, M.J. Motala, M.A. Meitl, W.R. Childs, E. Menard, J.A. Rogers, R.G. Nuzzo and A. Shim, "Large Area, Selective Transfer of Microstructured Silicon: A Printing-based Approach to High Performance Thin Film Transistors Supported on Flexible Substrates¨ Adv. Mater. 17, 2332-2336 (2005).
4. W. Peng, M. M. Roberts, E. P. Nordberg, F. S. Flack, P. E. Colavita, R. J. Hamers, D. E. Savage, M. G. Lagally, and M. A. Eriksson, "Single-Crystal/Amorphous-Multilayer Heterostructures Based on Nanomembrane Transfer", Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 183107 (2007).
5. P. P. Zhang, Emma Tevaarwerk, B.-N. Park, D. E. Savage, G. Celler, I. Knezevic, P.G. Evans, M. A. Eriksson, and M. G. Lagally, "Electronic Transport in Nanometre-Scale Silicon-on-Insulator Membranes¡¨, Nature 439, 703 (2006).
KEYWORDS: silicon nanomembranes, adaptive optics,CMOS imagers, photodetectors, lasers,silicon microphotonics,strain engineering,photonic crystals,light emitting diodes, LED, switches,waveguides,thermoelectrics, photovoltaics,HOT,fast flexible electronics, nanostructures,nanophotonics,silicon on insulator, membrane bonding,conformal electronics.
AF08-BT09 TITLE: Variable Thrust / Specific Impulse Electrospray Propulsion
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Space Platforms
OBJECTIVE: Investigate means to operate a single-thruster / single propellant electrospray propulsion within a wide specific impulse / thrust range while maximizing the performance.
DESCRIPTION: The goal of this research is to identify propellants for electrospray propulsion able to cover at high propulsion efficiency an unusually wide range of specific impulses (Isp) going from several hundred seconds, typical of colloidal propulsion (emission of just drops, with no ions), up to values of thousands of seconds, typical of purely ionic propulsion (emission of just ions with no drops). Available mixtures have already shown an ability to span efficiently a wide Isp range, up to a few hundred seconds. Therefore, ions will only coexist with unconventionally small drops, both having comparable ejection speeds, with associated favorable propulsion efficiency [Ref 1]. However, the electrical conductivity of these mixtures was insufficient to achieve the desired high specific impulse. Several studies have already demonstrated the ability of ionic liquids to emit pure ion beams to achieve very high specific impulses at high propulsion efficiency. Ionic liquids can also emit drop and ion mixtures that achieve smaller and controllable specific impulses, but so far this has always happened under relatively low propulsive efficiency. The reason for this inefficiency is that the drops produced from ionic liquids in this mixed regime have been relatively large. In several recent articles [Ref 2] authors have noted that some ionic liquids of high conductivity and surface tension produce emissions of relatively small clusters which may give a controllable specific range at high propulsive efficiencies.
PHASE I: To identify propellant mixtures that provide emissions with small cluster formations, which permit a specific impulse control at acceptable efficiency. Challenge is to design propellants & propulsion schemes able to cover both high & low specific impulse range with a fixed thruster and propellant.
PHASE II: Based on the advances in Phase I, build an electrospray thruster that using optimized propellant mixture that can provide controllable specific range at high propulsive efficiencies.
PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: Military application: Electrospray propulsion with variable specific impulse and thrust is well-suited for on-board spacecraft propulsion that needs to perform multiple operations.
Commercial application: Variable specific impulse electrospray propulsion is a multi functional thruster that can be used orbit raising, drag correction, and maneuvering of the commercial satellites.
REFERENCES:
1. Bocanegra et al., J. Prop. & Power, 20, 728, 2005.
2. D. Garoz, C. Bueno, C. Larriba, S. Castro, I. Romero-Sanz, and J. Fernandez de la Mora, Y. Yoshida and G. Saito, Taylor cones of ionic liquids from capillary tubes as sources of pure ions: The role of surface tension and electrical conductivity, J. Appl. Phys. 102, 064913, 2007.
KEYWORDS: electrospray thrusters, electric propulsion, ionic propellants
AF08-BT10 TITLE: Graphene Fabrication Process and Apparatus Development
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes
OBJECTIVE: Synthesis of uniform mono-layer, defect free epitaxial graphene films with u>10E4 for electronic device development for two-dimensional thin film.
DESCRIPTION: Graphene has unique properties: half-integer quantum Hall effect, quantized electrical resistivity, zero band-gap with zero density of states at the Fermi-level. To develop and exploit these and other electronic properties, new techniques and fabrication apparatus for reproducible growth of high structural quality graphene layers are needed on semiconductor and dielectric substrates of at least 5 cm in diameter.
PHASE I: Vendor to determine most auspicious fabrication technique for large area, uniform high-quality graphene sheets by thermal reduction of SiC, MBE, evaporation, CVD, HPCVD, beam assisted CVD, or pyrolysis. Vendor will demonstrate efficacy by Raman spectroscopy, and provide samples to AFRL/RX.
PHASE II: With academic partner(s) and sample evaluation at AFRL/RX, confirm graphene technique based on electronic/photonic evaluations, and on equipment requirements. Additional experiments to be performed with construction of a prototype production system capable of at least 5 cm diameter single crystal films. Alpha testing to be performed at vendor’s site, and system beta testing at AFRL.
PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: Graphene has great potential electronic/photonic applications for terahertz sensors, signal sources, and a wide variety of nano-scale detectors and high power handling devices essential to the USAF. Commercial application: Graphene R&D is hampered by lack of large area, quality films on suitable substrates. Having machinery producing high quality graphene films will lead to dynamic applications of this technology.
REFERENCES:
1. K. Bullis, “Graphene Transistors,” Technology Review, March/April 2008, p. 59-60.
2. A.K. Geim & K.S. Novoselov, “The rise of graphene,” Nature Materials, 6, 191-193 (2007)
3.