Plasma etching is one of the most important methods used forpatterning of electronic materials and for fabrication of vlsi circuits. critical to the understanding and further development of processes such as plasma etching is the availability of diagnostic tools that permit study and eventual… More

Existing instrumentation for chemical analysis of gas mixtures do not provide the capability for real-time measurement of a broad range of species at trace (ppb) concentration levels. such a capability is important in many applications in atmospheric research, pollution control, toxic gas sensing,… More

Large quantities of toxic hydrogen chloride (hcl) gas are emitted during some missile launches, posing a serious safety hazard to lauch site personnel. existing instrumentation for measuring hcl concentrations does not have adequate time response or sensitivity, and is susceptible to interferences… More

Measurements of atmospheric humidity in cold regions or winter field environments are difficult using existing meteorological instrumentation. in general, present field instruments for untended humidity measurements are plagued by low sensitivity and drifts in calibration, resulting in poor accuracy… More

The accurate measurement of concentrations or fluxes of trace gases in the atmosphere is crucial to many areas of atmospheric research. instrumentation based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy has wide generality for detection of many atmospheric species. to date, however, such systems… More

The development of nonintrusive sensors to measure combustion species concentrations in high temperature, particle-laden environments is important in kinetic rate studies, in following the evolution of reactant species in laboratory-scale combustors, in studying corrosion processes, and in… More

The measurement of atmospheric water vapor or humidity is critical in many research and commercial applications. a better knowledge of water vapor distribution throughout the atmosphere is necessary for understanding tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry, stratospheric-tropospheric exchange, the… More

A fast-response method for measurement of water vapor concentrations in high temperature flows is needed for research on hypersoni airbreathing engines as well as other applications in combustion research or control. the proposed innovation will utilize inexpensive room temperature laser diodes to… More

A fast-response method for measurement of molecular oxygen concentrations in high temperature flows is needed for wind tunnel research on hypersonic air-breathing engines as well as other applications in combustion research or control. the proposed innovation will utilize inexpensive room… More

Methane plays an important role in the chemistry of both thetroposphere and stratosphere, and its increasing concentration may have important effects on the global environment. the development of improved low cost instrumentation for real-time measurement of methane fluxes is crucial to… More

We describe a novel leak detector for xenon that has direct application to testing radio-isotope-powered thermoelectric generators. successful demonstration of our innovation will allow improved efficiency in thermoelectric generators by removing the helium that is now added to the xenon buffergas… More

The proposed innovation uses a novel scheme to increase dramatically the amount of chemical information obtained from mass spectroscopy and uses the added information to support automated computerized deconvolution of the mass spectra of combustion mixtures. the results obtained in phase i will… More

Improved methods for measuring species concentrations and temperature are needed for microgravity combustion research as well as other applications in combustion research or control. the proposed innovation will utilize inexpensive room temperature laser diodes to measure absorption by important… More

To achieve a detailed and quantitative understanding of combustion chemistry, new diagnostic methods that can quantify the important reactive species present in a combustion system are required. most existing laser-based techniques are unable to provide absolute species number densities and usually… More

The combination of gas chromatography with mass spectrometry(gc/ms) provides the best general purpose analytical instrument for sensitive characterization of complex mixtures. it is used in the fields of chemistry, biology, geochemistry, environmental science and forensics. in most cases, the gas… More

Southwest sciencies, inc. proposes a novel mass spectrometric method, * ionization energy modulated mass spectrometry (iemms), for the rapid detection of vapors from explosives, incendiaries and noxious gases. iemms combines electron impact ionization using a monochromatic electron beam with ion… More

The developmenbt of real-time process control for semiconductor device fabrication is critical to advancing the technology in manufacturing microelectronic circuits. in phase i, recent advances in tunable diode laser fabrication and detection technology will be exploited to develop compact and cost… More

This research facilitates the development of diode laser-based instruments that provide exceptional sensitivity and selectivity for the real-time detection of important gases in harsh, high temperature, high pressure environments. these instruments target the needs of coal-fueled energy conversion… More

Wn source of atmospheric hydrogen peroxide, which is important in the chemistry of acid precipitation. direct-measurements of atmospheric hydroperoxyl radical concentrations provide important data for use in testing and improving models of atmospheric photochemistry. the research utilizes… More

This project will develop a frequency standard for the uranium-stomic vapor laser isotope separation (u-avlis) process using a visible diode laser locked to an atomic resonance. a key feature is the use of the velocity modulation method to provide a high signal/noise locking discriminant without the… More

Southwest Sciences proposes the development of a diode-laser-based hygrometer for atmospheric studies. The instrument dynamic range will span dew (frost) points of +40¿ C down to -90¿ C and will be suitable for in situ measurements throughout the troposphere and tropopause. Response times will… More

The hydroxyl radical (oh) plays a key role in the photochemistry of both the troposphere and the stratosphere. it is the primary oxidizing agent responsible for the removal of most trace gases including co and ch4. since the oh radical determines the lifetimes and, thus, the concentrations of many… More

Ultrafast lasers (lasers that generate pulses with durations of ~10 picoseconds or less) have a large number of applications in biochemistry, chemistry, physics, and electrical engineering. unfortunately, these systems are difficult to use largely because ultrafast laser pulses are extremely… More

New methods for the fitting of experimental analytical chemical data are required for quantitative mixture analysis. Frequently, the measured properties of a multi-component system are very convoluted and identification of the systems components from the pure component measurements is non-trivial. … More

This project addresses the development of diode-laser-based continuous-emissionsmonitors (CEMs) to meet the emissions monitoring requirements imposed on a widerange of industries by Federal and state clean air regulations. The overridingobjective is the development of new, highly reliably… More

Southwest sciences proposes the development of a diode laser-based moisture sensor. the instrument dynamic range will span water vapor mixing ratios of 100 ppm to better than 10 ppb. the planned instrument detects absolute water vapor concentrations using optical spectroscopy with a… More

Environmental monitoring of trace gas species is becoming an increasingly important area of concern for both private and government sectors. Desirable characteristics for such sensors include portability, low power requirements, high sensitivity, rapid response and low maintenance. A semiconductor… More

Jet engines and other turbine combustors operate at high pressures, with turbulence length and time scales on the order of 100 um and 100 us. Accurate experimental characterization of turbulent reacting flows is critical for validating computational fluid dynamics and chemistry codes used in the… More

40963 November 19, 1996 Southwest Sciences, Inc. Hybrid electric vehicles equipped with an auxiliary engine have shown extended driving range and better energy efficiency than electric vehicles equipped with only a standard electric power train. However,… More

Southwest Sciences will develop a novel fire detection technology based on optical spectroscopy, using diode lasers and fiber optics. Rapid, quantitative detection of part per million concentrations (or better) of multiple gases, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen… More

63 A Novel Mass Spectrometer for Characterization of Electrochemical Processes--Southwest Sciences, Inc., 1570 Pacheco Street, Suite E-11, Santa Fe, NM 87505-3937; (505) 984-1322 Dr. David S. Bomse, Principal Investigator Mr. Alan C. Stanton, Business Official DOE Grant No.… More

40444 November 18, 1996 Southwest Sciences, Inc. Increasing energy consumption and environmental degradation may contribute to deleterious changes in the radiative balance and chemical composition of the atmosphere. The quantitative measurement of water… More

A diode laser method for the real-time measurement of absolute flux concentrations and spatial profiles of atomic beams used in MBE will be tested. The proposed method uses the doubled output of a near-infrared diode laser to access atomic absorption lines of species such as Ga, Al and In. The… More

Commercial aviation offers a low cost platform from which to make extensive humidity measurements, provided the instrumentation can run autonomously and endure the rigorous flight schedules. Advances in state of the art diode laser gas sensing technology make possible compact, fully automated,… More

50950-98-I Diode Laser Water Vapor Sensor for Weather Balloons--Southwest Sciences, Inc., 1570 Pacheco Street, Suite E-11, Santa Fe, NM 87505-3937; (505) 984-1322 Dr. Mark Paige, Principal Investigator Dr. Alan C. Stanton, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-98ER82671 Amount: $75,000 Current… More

Decomposition studies of energetic materials require rapid (microsecond resulution), highly sensitive detection of a plethora of reaction intermediates and products. The detection system must be able to distinguish among numerous compounds in real time without using traditional methods of… More

The use of solid fuel rockets generates HCL and other pollutants that must be monitored remotely. Differential absorption lidar (DIAL) permits the remote, spatially resolved measurement of many trace atmospheric gases. This proposal describes a novel method for measuring lidar signals that… More

Not Available Dynamic Structures and Materials proposes to develop dissipative acoustic arrays for the control of interior noise in launch vehicle payload fairings. The innovation in this work is the use of discrete noise control sources that utilize feedback control to dissipate acoustic energy.… More

Not Available There is an exploding demand for high fidelity 3D models in a variety of fields, both in the commercial and military sectors. Commercially available 3D rendering engines are able to meet these high fidelity 3D modeling requirements efficiently if they are given bump maps (which… More

Not Available A 9 month Phase I research program is proposed for studying the three-dimensional state of stresses at bolted/bonded joints in composite laminates, by using a new layer-by-layer hybrid BEM (Boundary Element method)-Sinc interpolation technique. The primary goal of this research is to… More

Not Available The objective of this program is to develop an all polymer material with a surface resistance less than 10 6 ohm/square, and having optical, mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties suitable for use in aircraft transparencies. These transparencies are typically acrylic and… More

A need exists for continuous monitoring of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in spacecraft/habitat air. HCN, a highly toxic gas generated by burning or smoldering plastics, can provide early warning of spacecraft fires. NASA has established a Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentration (SMAC) of 1 ppm for… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will lead to the development of compact, low cost gas sensors and analyzers based on cavity ringdown spectroscopy using near-infrared lasers manufactured for fiber optic communications. Although conventional cavity ringdown spectroscopy… More

Southwest Sciences proposes to apply a novel, yet simple non-invasive technique, Point Diffraction Interferometry (PDI), to provide highly accurate and precise two-dimensional temperature profiles. This proposed instrument can provide reliable and robust temperature measurements that are required… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Currently available high throughput DNA sequencing instruments achieve base calling by wavelength resolved, fluorescence detection of dye labeled fragments using a CCD camera. Identification of labels using fluorescence… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Currently available high throughput DNA sequencing instruments achieve base calling by wavelength resolved, fluorescence detection of dye labeled fragments using a CCD camera. Identification of labels using fluorescence… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a prototype high speed, non-invasive, optical probe for electric fields, and hence waveforms, in semiconductor devices. The technique is designed to work on any semiconductor regardless of its crystal structure and can be… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a prototype high speed, non-invasive, optical probe for electric fields, and hence waveforms, in semiconductor devices. The technique is designed to work on any semiconductor regardless of its crystal structure and can be… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is designed to assess the feasibility of developing a nonintrusive diode laser sensor for oxygen contamination in drug product bottles. In this project, designs for overcoming problems associated with ambient oxygen signals and optical… More

In March 1988, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a rule change requiring commercial aircraft to install smoke detection systems in cargo compartments to control the risk of on board fires, which have caused more than 30 accidents and 250 deaths in the United States in the last 14 years.… More

In March 1988, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a rule change requiring commercial aircraft to install smoke detection systems in cargo compartments to control the risk of on board fires, which have caused more than 30 accidents and 250 deaths in the United States in the last 14 years.… More

The development of a versatile gas sensor for use in gravitational studies and/or long-term monitoring of biological systems in space must address a number of constraints beyond those found in Earth-based systems. Southwest Sciences proposes to combine a new type of laser with high sensitivity… More

The development of a versatile gas sensor for use in gravitational studies and/or long-term monitoring of biological systems in space must address a number of constraints beyond those found in Earth-based systems. Southwest Sciences proposes to combine a new type of laser with high sensitivity… More

Combustion studies in microgravity are critical to ensuring the safety of personnel onboard space craft as well as for improving our knowledge of combustion phenomena. Under microgravity conditions, flame ignition, propagation and extinction become simplified due to the lack of buoyancy.… More

Combustion studies in microgravity are critical to ensuring the safety of personnel onboard space craft as well as for improving our knowledge of combustion phenomena. Under microgravity conditions, flame ignition, propagation and extinction become simplified due to the lack of buoyancy.… More

This Phase I SBIR research project will investigate the feasibility of an ammonia sensor based on an antimonide laser and an advanced, low noise modulation spectroscopy method. The rapid response and high sensitivity will allow the use of the eddy correlation method to provide continuous measurement… More

We propose a novel, infrared sensor for continuous monitoring of trace contaminants in spacecraft air. Our approach takes advantage of a new class of mid-infrared diode lasers and uses high sensitivity optical methods to achieve fully-automated sensors capable of long term, space-borne operation.… More

A need exists for continuous monitoring of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in spacecraft/habitat air. HCN, a highly toxic gas generated by burning or smoldering plastics, can provide early warning of spacecraft fires. NASA has established a Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentration (SMAC) of 1 ppm for… More

A need exists for continuous monitoring of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in spacecraft/habitat air. HCN, a highly toxic gas generated by burning or smoldering plastics, can provide early warning of spacecraft fires. NASA has established a Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentration (SMAC) of 1 ppm for… More

The ability to perform in-situ measurements of oxygen concentration in fire environments at a fast rate (better than 1 sec ) is not fulfilled by available sensor systems in the marketplace. Current systems involve extraction of gas samples with the required removal of water, particulate, and… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is designed to develop a nonintrusive diode laser sensor for detecting oxygen in the headspace of pharmaceutical vials. Many drugs are oxygen sensitive and must be bottled in an oxygen free environment. There are no nonintrusive methods… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is designed to develop a nonintrusive diode laser sensor for detecting oxygen in the headspace of pharmaceutical vials. Many drugs are oxygen sensitive and must be bottled in an oxygen free environment. There are no nonintrusive methods… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will lead to the development of a new type of widely tunable external cavity diode laser for use in next generation optical networks. These networks, parts of which are being deployed now, will rely on a high degree of network flexibility,… More

Many hazardous gases that NASA needs to monitor on and around space vehicles during launch could be detected using mass spectrometers that need operate over only a limited mass range. But, stringent requirements of low weight and low power operation, plus the ability to tolerate high G-forces and… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I Project proposes to develop an enhanced spectral interferometry method for biological and biomedical applications. This method will provide rapid, high resolution optical imaging and can be easily coupled with fiber optics for in-vivo applications… More

Many hazardous gases that NASA needs to monitor on and around space vehicles during launch could be detected using mass spectrometers that need operate over only a limited mass range. But, stringent requirements of low weight and low power operation, plus the ability to tolerate high G-forces and… More

Southwest Sciences, Inc. proposes development of an innovative five-dimensional fluorescence imaging system that combines spectrally resolved, scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy with fluorescence lifetime detection. Our proposed multi-dimensional fluorescence microscope is unique from… More

The prediction, identification and notification of spacecraft fires is critical in assuring the safety of manned space missions. Absent the effects of buoyancy in space, the chemical and fluid dynamic phenomena that govern the ignition, spread and extinction of fires are far different than those on… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a pulse measurement device intended to fully characterize optical pulses used in fiber optic telecommunication systems. Next generation optical networks will use 40 Gbit/s rates requiring pulse widths of less than ~25… More

DESCRIPTION (Provided by Applicant): A rapid, high resolution optical imaging method for important clinical and biomedical research problems will be developed. The method can be easily used with fiber optics and can be incorporated into endoscopes, catheters and similar devices for in vivo… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I proposal will lead to the development of a sensor for detection of the early onset of ketosis by breath acetone measurements. The device will be hand-held, lightweight, and battery-powered. Near-infrareddiode laser measurement of a gas-solid reaction… More

This Phase II SBIR Research project will continue the development and testing of an innovative instrument for measuring fluxes of atmospheric ammonia to be delivered at the end of Phase II. The instrument will combine advances in diode laser technology with sophisticated laser modulation methods to… More

This STTR program will develop a two-dimensional Hadamard transform method for combining time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) and ion mobility separation (IMS) analysis of trace species. Target applications include chemical and biological agentdetection as well as protein sequencing and… More

There is a need for the nondestructive diagnosis of micro-cracking in the composite skin of a honeycomb sandwich structure used in aircraft and space systems. We propose to use Differential Spectral Interferometry (DSI) as a noninvasive tool to quantifythe location and depth of micro-cracking in the… More

72927S03-I The safety and reliability of the nation¿s natural gas infrastructure requires the rapid and efficient detection of pipeline leaks. Existing methods have the requisite sensitivity, but are too slow. What is needed is a rapid, remote sensing system, suitable for aircraft deployment,… More

72037S03-I A better scientific understanding of the sources and sinks of CO2, and of the interactions between the biosphere and atmosphere (troposphere and stratosphere) are needed. However, in situ measurements have been restricted to airplane or large stratospheric-type balloon gondola… More

72829S03-I The primary water loop in a nuclear reactor includes numerous welds which can, over time, develop leaks. Existing methods for leak detection are slow, resulting in costly down-time. A system that could rapidly identify the location of leaks would improve the safety and economics of… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this project is to develop an intravascular optical imaging device that will aid in the diagnosis of atherosclerosis. According to statistics compiled by the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease affects over 61 million… More

The nutritional health of field personnel deployed for extended periods is a long-standing problem critical to military troop performance and readiness. The combination of extraordinary physical stresses and the limited provisions carried by militaryfield personnel result in large caloric… More

Southwest Sciences proposes to develop an automated, fast, and compact instrument to measure tropospheric ammonia from light aircraft. Ammonia plays important roles in aerosol particle chemistry, and particle characteristics are critical in understanding climate change and air quality. Existing… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to develop an oxygen sensor for monitoring explosive mixtures in the head space (ullage) of an aircraft fuel tank. This sensor integrates technological advancements in micro-electronics such as digital signal processors, new vertical… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)Phase I project proposes to develop an innovative approach to fluorescence microscopy that will provide high spatial resolution and improved contrast. As demonstrated from previous work, the proposed fluorescence microscope is unique because it provides… More

72829-The primary water loop in a nuclear reactor includes numerous welds which can, over time, develop leaks. Existing methods for leak detection are slow, resulting in costly down-time. A system that could rapidly identify the location of leaks would improve the safety and economics of plant… More

72037-A better scientific understanding of the sources and sinks of CO2, and of the interactions between the biosphere and atmosphere (troposphere and stratosphere) are needed. However, in situ measurements have been restricted to airplane or large stratospheric-type balloon gondola platforms, due… More

Southwest Sciences proposes continuing development of an instrument for use on a lightweight aircraft capable of measuring tropospheric concentrations of ammonia. Gas phase ammonia plays important roles in determining the formation and composition of aerosol particles. Understanding the chemical… More

The optimization of scramjet engine performance parameters such as combustion efficiency, thrust maximization, reduction in pollutants, minimization of exhaust signatures (for stealth) are essential. Measurements of chemical species and temperature in the scramjet engine during test flight are… More

Trace contamination of the International Space Station (ISS) by formaldehyde?a known carcinogen? is a significant potential threat to crew health. The spacecraft maximum allowable concentration (SMAC) in air is only 40 parts per billion and ambient concentrations appear to be increasing as… More

75871-The quantification of the sources and sinks of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, will be essential for the assessment and prediction of the anthropogenic effects of climate change. In addition, measurements of carbon monoxide would help distinguish between the… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This SBIR project will develop a rapid, high resolution optical imaging method for clinical and biomedical applications including imaging of arterial and venous structures s atherosclerotic plaques, detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous tissues, optical… More

The ability to grow food and recycle components of cabin air are critical to the success of long-term space flight missions. In order to assure that plants used for biomass production grow under optimal conditions, sensors are required to monitor the generation of biogenic and other relevant gases.… More

This Phase I STTR project will demonstrate that frequency-modulated magneto-optical rotation (FM-NMOR) can provide high sensitivity for an airborne magnetometer. FM-NMOR uses a diode laser to produce a coherent, aligned population of atoms. Polarimetry is used to measure the rotation rate of the… More

This Phase II STTR research project is designed to further develop a mass spectrometry technology employing Hadamard Transform (HT) multiplexing techniques with the goal of developing a relatively simple, linear, rugged, HT time-of-flight (HT-TOF) mass spectrometer that offers high sensitivity and… More

78550S Storage of radioactive wastes at many DOE facilities generates hazardous and explosive gases. Sensitive and selective monitoring of these gases is required to ensure the safe operation of storage facilities. This project will develop technology for multiple gas measurement using laser… More

79517S The largest uncertainty in global climate change is the effects of aerosols, and it is critical that aerosol processes are well quantified in order to assess anthropogenic influences on climate. Ammonia is an important species in aerosol particle nucleation, growth, composition, and… More

Trace contamination of the International Space Station (ISS) by formaldehyde -- a known carcinogen -- is a significant threat to crew health. The spacecraft maximum allowable concentration (SMAC) in air is only 40 parts per billion and ambient concentrations appear to be increasing as formaldehyde… More

This SBIR project will investigate a coherent imaging lidar system for measuring 3D wind fields using commercial off-the-shelf components. The system is designed to achieve high spatial resolution, enabling the measurement of eddy structures important in turbulent transport. The Phase I research… More

Concentrations of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide are rapidly increasing, and agricultural activities are the dominant source of nitrous oxide. This project will develop instrumentation to measure nitrous oxide levels in agricultural areas in order to better assess the impact of agriculture on… More

This Small Bussiness Innovation Research Phase I Project will develop a new, low-cost carbon monoxide sensor for small industrial burner feedback control systems that will help meet requlatory goals of minimizing pollution as well as optimizing heat release for these systems. This device will… More

Southwest Sciences proposes to develop innovative instrumentation for the rapid, 3-dimensional imaging of biological tissues with cellular resolution. Our approach is a variant of optical coherence tomography that will use a very small, low power and compact white light source to provide 2… More

The Phase I research will investigate the use of a piezoelectric pulsed electrospray ionization source (ESI) to implement Hadamard Transform (HT) signal multiplexing of ion mobility (IMS) instruments. The signal multiplexing advantage of the Hadamard transform method offers 50% instrument duty… More

In this SBIR porject, Soouthwest Scineces proposes to design, build and test a real-time, field portable instrument for detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Our technology uses time- and wavelength-resolved flourescence spectroscopy (T&WFS) to identify PAHs at sub-ppb… More

This Phase I SBIR project will demonstrate sensitive measurements of magnetic field gradients by nonlinear atomic spectroscopy. The gradients are determined by measuring the magnitudes of the magnetic fields in two atomic vapor cells. A vertical cavity surface emitting laser is used to create an… More

This Phase II STTR project will continue the research and development of a simultaneous multi-species sensor system for scramjets flight test instrumentation. The sensor system is based on modulation-frequency multiplexing to combine several laser wavelengths and using a single two-color photodiode… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Summary. Atherosclerosis is indicated by the American Heart Association as a primary factor in three fourths of deaths resulting from cardiovascular disease. It is now recognized that many coronary events and strokes are caused by atherosclerotic plaques that… More

This Phase II STTR project will continue the research and development of a sensitive magnetometer based on nonlinear atomic spectroscopy and frequency-modulated light. The instrument will take advantage of low cost commercial light sources coupled to optical fibers. A prototype instrument will be… More

Concentrations of methane in the atmosphere have increased 150% in the past three centuries, and accurate measurements are need to characterize the sources of this greenhouse gas. Isotope measurements are a candidate technology, but existing measurement approaches are cumbersome, and require that… More

Large uncertainties in the global carbon budget complicate our understanding of how fossil fuel combustion affects the atmosphere and biosphere. To address these uncertainties, a precise and compact instrument for long-term unattended operation will be developed to measure the isotopic ratios of… More

The U.S. Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI), overseen by the DOE, has the goal of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next 10 years. However, the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are not well understood. Very high precision instruments to… More

When high powered laser pulses are focused in air, light filaments with extremely long propagation distances and high intensities can form. In this STTR Phase I project, we will investigate the potential of laser light filaments for sensing applications. Direct comparisons will be made between… More

Southwest Sciences proposes the development of an optical, near-ultraviolet chlorine dioxide sensor having a measurement range for about 0.01 to 2000 ppm with a response time of less than 10 seconds. The sensors will be compact - about the size of a 1quart milk carton including electronic and… More

Verification is a key part of any technology that is designed to capture and contain carbon dioxide as a way to prevent climate change related to the combustion of fossil fuels.  The measurement of carbon in soils and sub-soils is an important component of this verification.  Laser induced… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will examine the feasibility of developing a balloon-based instrument that can measure water vapor and methane at high precision and accuracy. Water vapor and methane play critical roles in the chemistry, dynamics, and radiative budget of the… More

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will investigate an optical coherence tomography (OCT) instrument useful for a wide range of research and development needs in material science, biology, medicine and other fields. Users will be able to optimize the imaging parameters… More

Thermal barrier coatings (TBC's) are widely used in aircraft engines to protect metal components from high operating temperatures in order to improve the durability and engine efficiency. Since coating spallation can lead to premature component failure, it is highly desirable to have a… More

In the past, passively mode-locked semiconductor laser sources, which require no synchronization by external driver circuits, were greatly preferred for their simplicity, but were plagued with large timing jitter, > 10 ps that restricted their usefulness as short pulse devices. These passive… More

The development of scramjet engines for aerospace vehicles requires testing of engine components in wind tunnels and, more importantly, in flight. These tests provide valuable information for developing a viable engine and means for deciphering some of the complexities inherent in such a system. … More

Southwest Sciences proposes the development of an ultra-sensitive optical spectroscopy technique having applications in explosives and chemical agent detection, and rapid health screening/monitoring for warfighter field diagnostics and health care. The technique, called noise-immune,… More

This Phase I SBIR project investigates a novel approach to vector magnetometry based on high precision measurements of the total magnetic field. The calibration is based on the measurement of the Larmor frequency of an atomic vapor. The accuracy should be sufficient to determine the curl of the… More

The effects of aerosol particles on climate are the most uncertain aspects for quantifying the impact of human activities on future climate changes. Although ammonia plays a critical role in the formation and identity of atmospheric aerosol particles, ammonia is incredibly difficult to measure due… More

The U.S. Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI) has the goal of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next 10 years. However, the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are not well understood. Very high precision instruments to quantify the… More

Southwest Sciences Inc., in collaboration with the University of Texas, propose to develop a versatile multipass cell for optical absorption and spontaneous Raman measurements of flames. This new design will achieve over 100 passes with a tight central spatial footprint for Raman studies as well as… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall objective of this SBIR project is the development of a rapid, high resolution optical method for intravascular imaging with a specific emphasis on identifying vulnerable plaque. The approach uses a novel har monic detection method combined with swept… More

This Small Business Innovation Research ( SBIR) Phase II research project will develop, test fly, and inter-compare a balloon-based sensor for measuring atmospheric water vapor and methane. The chemical sonde is based upon low power vertical cavity lasers, compact optical cells, and noise-lowering… More

Advanced composite materials are widely used in many aerospace structures. Although these materials possess superior mechanical properties, they are subject to various types of damage during operation. Therefore, it is highly desirable to have non-destructive inspection (NDI) tools capable of… More

Southwest Sciences proposes development of residential fire sensing systems based on low cost optical imaging sensors combined with newly introduced highly miniaturized, low power CO sensors. Sensor modules will also include temperature sensors. The modules will be part of a low power wireless… More

This Phase I SBIR project will investigate a method to accurately measure total magnetic fields in the range 0 to 1.6 mT in support of missions to Jupiter. The measurement approach is based on fundamental physical quantities. High sensitivity will be demonstrated, and an upper bound on systematic… More

Southwest Sciences proposes a novel sensor to measure atmospheric temperature at high frequency (10 Hz) and with high precision and accuracy (0.1 degrees C). Existing temperature sensors are negatively impacted by high airflows on platforms such as aircraft or by the presence of cloud particles. … More

Monitoring and controlling blade tip clearance of high pressure turbines are important for maintaining the integrity of the engine during its operating points and life cycle. Operating the engine with minimum tip clearance provides several benefits, such as increased turbine efficiency, reduced… More

Spacecraft fires create exception risks to crew members. There is usually no place to escape. Even small amounts of hardware damage can compromise a mission. The most effective fire extinguishing agents, Halons, are prohibited because of the toxicity and corrosiveness of combustion byproducts. … More

Significant emissions of environmentally important gases result from manure management systems associated with animal production. Confined livestock and poultry operations are identified as important sources of emissions that are of environmental concern on spatial scales ranging from local to… More

The Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase I project will demonstrate an optical non-destructive inspection (NDI) method for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), based on a combination of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and photo-stimulated luminescence… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall objective of this SBIR project is the development of a rapid, high resolution optical method for in vivo imaging with a specific emphasis on intravascular imaging and the identification of vulnerable plaque. The approach uses a novel harmonic… More

In the past, passively mode-locked semiconductor laser sources, which require no synchronization by external driver circuits, were greatly preferred for their simplicity, but were plagued with large timing jitter, > 10 ps that restricted their usefulness as short pulse devices. These passive… More

The U.S. Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI) has the goal of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next 10 years. However, the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are not well understood. High precision instruments to quantify the concentrations and… More

The U.S. Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI), overseen by the DOE, has the goal of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next 10 years. However, the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are not well understood. Accurate monitoring of the isotopic… More

The neutron electric dipole moment (EDM) experiment is a DOE nuclear physics project that seeks to measure the precession of neutrons in superimposed magnetic and electric fields. The magnetic field must be homogeneous to 1 part in one million, but existing instruments compromise this requirement… More

Southwest Sciences Inc., in collaboration with the University of Texas, proposes to construct, test and deliver a versatile enhanced gain multiple pass cell for optical absorption and spontaneous Raman measurements of flames. This is achieved primarily by the use of a new multiple pass cell design… More

Over the past decade, the importance of understanding the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases has been recognized. In particular, airborne measurements of CO2 profiles throughout the troposphere and lower stratosphere have provided a great deal of useful information, but… More

Southwest Sciences¿ Phase 2 SBIR project will lead to development of residential fire sensing systems based on recently developed, low cost temperature and optical imaging sensors combined with newly introduced highly miniaturized, micropower CO sensors. Sensor modules will be part of a low power… More

Hybrid silicon nitride ceramic rolling element/metal ring bearing technology is a valid candidate to meet the high performance requirements of gas turbine aircraft engines and hybrid bearings are beginning to be introduced into engines aboard aircraft. However, success in these demanding… More

Pulsed detonation engines (PDE) have the potential to operate with higher efficiency and lower operating costs than scramjets and turbines. Initiating and sustaining detonation in a controlled, repeatable manner is difficult, at present, and requires optimization of a number of parameters. Key… More

Thermal barrier coatings are increasingly being used to protect metal components from the hot gas stream in advanced industrial gas turbines. Their use improves the durability of turbine parts and increases efficiency of operation. However, premature failure remains a critical concern. Thus, it… More

Carbon dioxide fluxes to the biosphere must be measured to determine if the rate of CO2 absorption by the environment is changing. Instruments for measuring CO2 should be capable of remote operation in rugged field environments and should be easy to set up. This project will develop a differential… More

This project will focus on the development of an imaging sensor, suitable for in-flight testing, for the non-intrusive measurements of local temperature, pressure, gas concentration, and velocity within the engine flow path of hypersonic flight vehicles. Development of scramjet engines for aerospace… More

The release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels is considered to be the major cause of global warming, with potentially damaging economic and environmental effects worldwide. The sources and sinks of CO2 and the interactions between the biosphere and atmosphere… More

This SBIR project is designed to develop a high-sensitivity optical spectroscopic method for rapid health screening and monitoring including warfighter field diagnostics and, potentially, detection of chemical warfare agents. The method called noise-immune, cavity-enhanced, optical heterodyne… More

The Navy requires measurements of the wake field of helicopters in the vicinity of carrier ships to determine the safe operating envelope for the V-22 and to verify the accuracy of models obtained by computational fluid dynamics. This Phase I SBIR project will examine the feasibility of a… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall objective of this SBIR project is the development of a rapid, high resolution optical method for in vivo imaging with a specific emphasis on identifying vulnerable plaque associated with cardiovascular disea se. The approach uses a patent pending… More

The neutron electric dipole moment experiment is a Department of Energy project that seeks to test the standard model of the electroweak and strong interactions within a nucleon by measuring the precession of neutrons in superimposed magnetic and electric fields. To achieve the desired sensitivity… More

Understanding the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases has been recognized as critical to predicting climate change and global warming. A variety of research studies funded by DOE, NSF, NASA and NOAA to measure the fluxes and fluctuations of CO2 profiles throughout the… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), once identified exclusively as a pernicious toxic gas, is now recognized as a key participant in a myriad of physiological functions. Activity occurs in a wide variety of systems including period ontal, cardiovascular, neurological,… More

Southwest Sciences proposed the development of a rugged, compact, and automated instrument for the high sensitivity measurement of tropospheric carbon monoxide (CO). The application of recently developed room temperature vertical cavity diode lasers operating near 2300 nm permits the development of… More

Southwest Sciences proposes development of gas filter correlation (GFC) spectroscopy using non-periodic gratings for spaceborne and airborne deployment. Our proposed technology will result in smaller, lighter weight, lower power, and more rugged instrumentation than is possible using established… More

Magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) is an important component of anti-submarine warfare. This Phase I SBIR project will investigate a low-cost, high sensitivity sensor for both sea and airborne antisubmarine warfare. We recently demonstrated high sensitivity using magnetometers based on nonlinear… More

Thermal barrier coatings are increasingly being used in advanced power plant and industrial gas turbines to protect metal components from the hot gas stream. Their use improves the durability of turbine parts and increases efficiency of operation. However, premature failure remains a critical… More

A better understanding of the influences of nitric acid in cloud droplet formation is needed in order to better predict the radiation balance of the Earth in climate modeling studies. New instrumentation to provide fast response airborne measurement of nitric acid vapor and other aerosol precursor… More

The release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels and through other anthropogenic releases is considered to be the major cause of global warming, with potentially damaging economic and environmental effects worldwide. The sources and sinks of these gases and the… More

Improved measurement technology is needed to better characterize the exchange and transformation of carbon between the biosphere and the atmosphere. These measurements require highly accurate and precise instruments that are capable of providing isotopic abundances to discriminate between man-made… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop and commercialize an imaging sensor capable of rapid, non?]intrusive, spatially?]resolved measurement of temperature, and concentration of chemical species in combustion systems. This imaging sensor system incorporates… More

i6 Membership for Southwest Sciences, Inc Phase II proposal #0646479 i6 Proposal #: 1119658 Southwest Sciences, Inc has requested support for a one year membership to the New Mexico Technology Ventures Corporation that was recently selected as the recipient of the Economic Development… More

Southwest Sciences proposes to continue the development of a rugged, compact, and automated instrument for the high sensitivity measurement of tropospheric carbon monoxide (CO) and methane. The application of recently developed room temperature vertical cavity diode lasers (VCSELs)operating near… More

Knowing atmospheric 13CO2/12CO2 ratios precisely is important to understanding biogenic and anthroprogenic sources and sinks for carbon. Currently available field deployable instrumentation have unfavourable attributes such as high power requirements, are extremely expensive, are too large, are not… More

The release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels and other anthropogenic sources is considered to be the major cause of global warming, with potentially damaging economic and environmental effects worldwide. The sources and sinks of these gases and the… More

ABSTRACT: Developing the quick strike capability of the Air Force requires hypersonic testing using advanced instrumentation to determine key aerodynamic parameters. A novel method for stand-off measurement of gas velocity is proposed. The method should operate over a wide dynamic range, from still… More

ABSTRACT: Southwest Sciences proposes the development of an inlet unstart detector based on the measurement of flow velocity at very high bandwidth using lower power electronics and simpler analyses within a compact footprint. Early detection of thermal choking and engine unstart in the isolator… More

The development of laser standoff detection systems for toxic gases is proposed. The systems will use new broadly tunable distributed feedback (DFB) lasers operating in the mid-infrared spectral region. The laser technology has already demonstrated a capability for significant wavelength tuning. The… More

Naturally occurring in the stratosphere, ozone plays a significant role in many atmospheric reactions, cloud formation, and is the key player in shielding harmful UV radiation. In the troposphere, it is a criteria pollutant produced via photochemical smog reactions, and is key in the formation of… More

The Compound Specific Analyzer - Combustion Products is used on the International Space Station as a warning monitor of smoldering or combustion events and, after any fire event, to indicate that toxic gas levels have subsided for safe re-entry of the crew to the affected area. This monitor is being… More

Isotopic analysis of carbon dioxide is an important tool for characterization of the exchange and transformation of carbon between the biosphere and the atmosphere. These measurements require highly accurate and precise instruments that are capable of providing isotopic abundances to discriminate… More

This Phase I SBIR project will investigate a new, low-cost approach to atomic magnetometry that is suited for operation from UAVs and research balloons. Atomic magnetometers have been available for decades, but they remain expensive and relatively power-hungry, restricting their use to a small range… More

DOEs efforts to monitor legacy sites for groundwater contamination would benefit from turn-key systems that can measure metal contaminant concentrations in situ. Southwest Sciences proposes to develop a micro-fluidic sensor for measuring heavy metals in groundwater by measuring their uv-visible… More

This Phase I SBIR project will examine methods to make maps of magnetic fields with both high spatial resolution and high sensitivity. The sensing element will be an NV doped diamond. Magnetic fields will be measured by electron spin resonance. The Phase I work will show that diffraction limited… More

Southwest Sciences, Inc., in collaboration with Prof. Jianhua (Jay) Wang MD, PhD of the University of Miami Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, proposes an improved approach to ocular surface imaging and mapping for automated fitting of ocular prosthetic devices. The approach combines state-of-the-art… More