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Underwater Vertical Electric Field Detection

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N68335-09-C-0281
Agency Tracking Number: N091-027-0958
Amount: $79,914.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N091-027
Solicitation Number: 2009.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2009
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2009-04-30
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2009-10-30
Small Business Information
15 Cabot Road
Woburn, MA 01801
United States
DUNS: 004841644
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Jing Zhao
 CTO
 (781) 935-1200
 jzhao@agiltron.com
Business Contact
 Geoffrey Burnham
Title: CTO
Phone: (781) 935-1333
Email: gburnham@agiltron.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Underwater electric field detection in the vertical (Z-component) direction is becoming more important in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) to detect and classify marine vessels in addition to the horizontal (X and Y component) plane. Leveraging on our extensive experience on photonic approaches for electric field sensing and RF photonics, AGILTRON proposes to realize a feasible class of vertical electric field detectors under water using Brag gratings, PZT electronic optical materials and other WDM technology. This sensor is passive and compact with a meter-size antenna. Because of the intrinsic electromagnetic immunity of optical fiber, the detected signal can be sent to a distanced center processing terminal insulated from the static electric and electromagnetic fields. In the proposed sensor, the DC and extremely low frequency electromagnetic (ELFE) signals are converted into AC signals. So the sensitivity of the DC and ELFE signals can be improved in this sensor by avoiding 1/f noise. In the Phase I program, we will build a model to simulate the performance of the proposed sensor. At same time, a prototype will be set up to demonstrate its functionality in detecting electric fields. Then a design with its preliminary performance based on ASW requirements will be presented for the Phase II Program.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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