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Dynamics-Enabled Frequency Sources (DEFYS)
Program Manager and PoC: Dr.Jeffrey Rogers
Document Type: Presolicitation Notice
Solicitation Number: BAA09-60
Posted Date: August 31, 2009
Original Response Date: November 16, 2009
Current Response Date: November, 2009
Original Archive Date: September 24, 2010
Current Archive Date: September 24, 2010
Classification Code: A -- Research & Development
Naics Code: 541 -- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services/541712 -- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Description
DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of dynamics-enabled frequency sources. The research goal is the development of compact frequency sources capable of maintaining low phase noise under high accelerations or vibrations and over a wide temperature range. Oscillator phase noise ultimately limits capabilities of electronics in a wide range of both military and civilian applications. Effected systems often use a reference oscillator and any noise in this frequency source will translate into a reduction of overall performance. Current high performance frequency sources can be expensive and are based on technologies with size, weight, and power requirements which demand large platforms or exotic packaging and compensation. Reducing these requirements would enable a number of breakthroughs by facilitating the use of high performance sources in the broader set of applications where resources are limited.
Due to the degree of maturity of current high performance frequency sources it is expected that meeting the goals of this solicitation will require an alternative architecture based on a nanoscale oscillator. At this length scale the dynamic range for linear behavior shrinks to the point that nonlinearity and noise become unavoidable device characteristics. The traditional views of both nonlinear behavior and noise as undesirable suggests moving to the nanoscale is a poor option to address the high performance frequency challenge. However, recent advances in both nonlinear science and nano-engineering suggest that nonlinearity and noise can be exploited to surpass traditional performance limits and yield frequency sources with an unprecedented phase noise capability per unit device volume.
All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or full proposal to this BAA, should be directed to one of the administrative addresses below; e-mail or fax is preferred. E-mail: DARPA-BAA-09-60@darpa.mil; PHONE: (703) 351-8427 for administrative/TFIMS questions; PHONE: (703) 351-8720 for technical questions. DARPA intends to use electronic mail for correspondence regarding DARPA-BAA-09-60.
See the full BAA document attached.
Contracting Office Address
3701 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22203-1714
Primary Point of Contact
Jeffrey Rogers, Program Manager/MTO
DARPA-BAA-09-60@darpa.mil