MODIFICATION
A -- Defense Sciences Research and Technology
- Notice Date
- 4/14/2004
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714
- ZIP Code
- 22203-1714
- Solicitation Number
- BAA04-12
- Response Due
- 2/2/2005
- Archive Date
- 3/3/2005
- Point of Contact
- Brett Giroir, Deputy Director, DSO, Phone (571) 218-4224, Fax (571) 218-4553,
- E-Mail Address
-
bgiroir@darpa.mil
- Description
- NEGATIVE INDEX MATERIALS (NIM), SOL BAA04-12, Addendum 4, Due: 06/16/04, POC: DR. VALERIE BROWNING, DARPA/DSO, Ph: (703) 696-2314, email: baa04-12@darpa.mil, URL: www.darpa.mil/dso. Website Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dso0412/. The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) in the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) is interested in reviewing innovative research and development proposals on materials that exhibit negative index of refraction in the rf to optical frequency range. The vision for DARPA?s new start initiative, Negative Index Materials (NIM), is to further understand and explore the physics of left-handed transport and negative refractive index and to significantly expand the frequency range at which these phenomena are observed. These materials were first considered theoretically in 1967 when a Russian theorist, Veselago, published a paper in which he considered the electrodynamics of materials with simultaneously negative dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability. In this paper Veselago predicted a number of properties for such a material, should it exist, including the following: 1) the material would exhibit a negative index of refraction, in contrast to conventional materials that exhibit a positive index of refraction; 2) the material would exhibit ?left-handed? propagation of electromagentic waves meaning that the phase and group velocities would be directionally opposed. In 2000, the first reports of a ?left-handed? or ?negative index? material were published, and since that time many of Veselago?s original predictions have been verified experimentally or through extensive simulation. Having confirmed the existence of negative refraction in resonant rf structures with negative permittivity and permeability, researchers are now postulating many exciting new DoD relevant applications for these materials. These applications include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) lightweight, compact lenses with improved optics; 2) sub wavelength/high resolution imaging across the electromagnetic spectrum; 3) novel approaches to beam steering for radar, rf, and/or optical communications; and 4) novel approaches for integrating optics with semiconductor electronics. Exploring the possible implementation of negative index materials for such applications will require significant enhancements in the properties of existing NIM materials (bandwidth, loss, operational frequency, etc.), as well as improved understanding of the physics of their electromagnetic transport properties. Specific technical objectives of the DARPA/DSO NIM Program include the following: 1) understand and verify the physics and consequences of opposing group and phase velocities; 2) explore and demonstrate sub wavelength imaging using negative index materials; 3) expand the operational frequency range of negative index materials; and 4) understand and reduce the loss mechanisms of negative index materials for practical application. These technical objectives are discussed in greater detail below. Understand and verify the physics and consequences of opposing group and phase velocities: The original theory proposed by Veselago postulated that an electromagnetic wave moving through a material with negative permittivity and permeability would exhibit opposing group and phase velocities. Although recent experimental results and extensive simulation appear to be consistent with Veselago?s hypothesis, a definitive experiment to directly measure a negative phase advance inside a ?left-handed? material has yet to be designed, let alone performed. One direct consequence of a negative phase advance would be the potential to use this phenomenon to compensate for the positive phase advance of a wave that has propagated through a ?right-handed? medium, such as free space. Another consequence of opposing group and phase velocities would be the amplification of evanescent waves that would normally decay exponentially in a ?right-handed? medium. The recovery of information carried by evanescent modes could lead to lenses that are not diffraction limited, i.e., lenses that are capable of subwavelength imaging. Explore and demonstrate sub wavelength imaging using NIM: Subsequent to the first reports of NIM in 2000, it was further postulated (as discussed above) that the negative phase advance of an electromagnetic wave in a negative index material would lead to amplification of normally exponentially decaying evanescent modes. While the exponential decay of these modes in conventional positive index/right-handed materials results in resolution limitations, the amplification of these modes in a negative index/left-handed material suggests the possibility of sub wavelength imaging beyond what is achievable using classical optics. While recent experiments have provided some evidence for the transmission of evancescent modes through thin metallic surfaces, a demonstration of sub wavelength imaging has yet to be achieved. Therefore, a demonstration of evanescent mode enhancement and sub wavelength image reconstruction (particularly at IR and optical frequencies) are important technical objectives that must be achieved in order to exploit NIM for future DoD imaging applications. Expand the operational frequency range of NIM: The NIM results reported to date have been demonstrated over a limited range of frequencies in the rf spectrum. Due to the resonant nature of these NIM structures, bandwidth is also limited. Since the negative refractive properties are attributed to a combination of negative permittivity and permeability, expanding the frequency range of operation up into the IR and optical spectrums will require the demonstration of materials that exhibit the appropriate dielectric and magnetic responses at these frequencies. Recent experimental results have suggested the possibility of a magnetic-like response in resonant structures at THz frequencies. However, the measurement and design of these structures are still very preliminary and in need of additional research. Also, expanding the bandwidth of NIM structures will be important for many applications. Therefore, alternatives to ?resonant? NIM structures need to be explored and demonstrated. Potential solutions to bandwidth limitations include the use of active or tunable structures and/or the search for exotic new materials that exhibit intrinsic negative permittivity and permeability. Understand and reduce the loss mechanisms of NIM: Existing NIM have been demonstrated with losses below 1 db/cm. However, these losses are anticipated to increase significantly at higher frequencies and may, ultimately, be unacceptable for many applications. In addition, the mechanisms of loss in NIM are not completely understood. Therefore, understanding the loss mechanisms and developing strategies to minimize loss in these materials are important technical objectives in order to realize the future potential for NIM in many DoD applications. In order to realize the vision of the NIM program, DARPA/DSO is soliciting innovative research and development proposals that address one or more of the technical objectives described above. We encourage the formation of interdisciplinary teams integrated towards developing and demonstrating NIM that may some day be exploited in a variety of DoD relevant applications, such as those listed in this BAA Addendum. While DARPA does not participate or provide direction in the formation of teams, in order to facilitate teaming opportunities, DARPA is sponsoring a Teaming Website at the following URL: www.sainc.com/nim. Proposal Requirements: Only full proposals are being considered under this Addendum. To receive consideration under this Addendum PROPOSALS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 1600 EDT JUNE 16, 2004, to the address shown below. Proposals received after that date will be considered under the open BAA but not this Addendum. Proposers should submit proposals that describe a time phased materials development and demonstration program consisting of an 18 month Phase I and an 18-24 month optional Phase II. While a system level demonstration of NIM is not the goal of this BAA Addendum, proposers should describe in detail how the anticipated application of NIM provides the overall direction and performance metrics for their proposed NIM development efforts. Proposers should also quantitatively discuss how the realization of their proposed NIM application would be of benefit to DoD. Specifically, the technical volume of full proposals submitted under this Addendum should contain an Executive Summary that clearly and concisely addresses the following questions: 1) What is the anticipated application of the proposed negative index material development effort? 2) How and to what extent (be as quantitative as possible) is this application relevant to the DoD missions? 3) Based on the anticipated application, what are the required performance goals for the negative index materials being proposed? 4) How do the required performance goals quantitatively compare to what has already been demonstrated? 5) How are the performance metrics proposed consistent with the technical objectives listed in this BAA Addendum? 6) What are the quantitative 18 month Phase I milestones that would justify continued funding under the proposed optional Phase II effort? 7) What are the optional Phase II quantitative milestones? The bulk of the technical volume should then describe in detail the proposed technical approach for achieving and demonstrating the stated negative index material performance metrics. Full proposals should be formatted and submitted in accordance with the instructions provided in the original FEDBIZOPS solicitation, BAA04-12 http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm. To facilitate the submission process, a website has been established, http://www.sainc.com/dso0412. Evaluation of Proposals: Evaluation of proposals will be in accordance with BAA04-12. For general administrative questions, please refer to the original FEDBIZOPS solicitation, BAA04-12 of February 2, 2004. GENERAL INFORMATION: In all correspondence, reference BAA04-12, Addendum 4. Address for Proposal Submission: DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA04-12 Addendum 4, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. Technical Point of Contact: Dr. Valerie Browning, DARPA/DSO; (703) 696-2314; baa04-12@darpa.mil. Web address for Full Proposal Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dso0412
- Record
- SN00566041-W 20040416/040414212652 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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