N132-100 TITLE: Absorption and/or Scattering of Light by Small Particles

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Materials/Processes, Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 272

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted". The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Design, develop and demonstrate concepts for a material that acts as a spectral blocker, absorber and/or scatterer of light in the ultraviolet (UV) when dispersed in the atmosphere.

DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this effort is to design, develop and demonstrate a material, aerosol or other form of material, that, when dispersed, evolved, sprayed, released or in any other manner delivered into the atmosphere, results in an area of one or more of the following in the UV spectral region: negative refraction, unreflective, absorbing, scattering, blocking, optically thick and/or expanding. One concept might include a small package delivery device that starts a rapidly-generating, extended, dense cloud of such material. Material should not be reflective of sunlight. Concepts might include but are not limited to quantum dots, nanoparticles, metamaterials, aerosols or other form. Safety of life and property should be considered when proposing materials that could be considered unsafe or hazardous. Submissions should include some form of proof of concept such as modeling and simulation, material science theory, demonstration or laboratory evidence of proposed phenomenon.

PHASE I: Identify suitable concepts and materials and conduct proof of concept such as modeling and simulation, lab demonstration or other proof of the ability to create desired/proposed effect. Characterize all attributes of the material such as scattering/emission/absorption in UV and other regions of the spectrum (Visual and Infrared (IR)) and safety hazards (flammability, toxicity, environmental impact, etc.). Develop plans for packaging and integration into delivery systems. In Phase I option, down select most promising candidates for a functional demonstration.

PHASE II: Develop prototypes that deliver proposed material to the atmosphere. Government-furnished testing devices may be available for characterization of the effects of this test such as spectrometers.

PHASE III: Develop full-scale manufacturing process for proposed material and device. Participate in testing efforts of the proposed material.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The contractor will pursue commercialization of the various components developed for potential commercial uses in homeland defense applications.

REFERENCES:
1. Bohren, C.F., Huffman, D.R. (1983). Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles; Wiley-Interscience: New York.

2. Bruce, D., Geiver, J. Statistical comparison of measured obscurant cloud images and radiative transfer model output, Proc. SPIE 1967, Characterization, Propagation, and Simulation of Sources and Backgrounds III, 278 (August 13, 1993); doi:10.1117/12.151050; http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.151050

KEYWORDS: Ultraviolet; Electromagnetic Spectrum; spectrum obscurity; cloud characterization; path radiance change; cloud density

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between April 24 through May 24, 2013, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting May 24, 2013, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (13.2 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 13.1 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.