Month: September 2020

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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a research program from the U.S. Army to develop a novel multi-path extinction detector (M-PED) for the identification and quantification of aerosol and vapor phase chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals.

PSI’s M-PED simultaneously measures spectral extinction within an open path optical cell across multiple pathlengths in a single microbolometer frame. The resulting 2D data matrix is fit to Beer’s Law to identify and quantify chemical concentration. M-PED is projected to meet the Aerosol Vapor Chemical Agent Detector (AVCAD) performance specifications for aerosol and vapor sensitivity, unit size, weight, power and cost.

PSI’s M-PED will provide sensitive quantification of CWA and TIC vapors and aerosols in a compact instrument. As such, the M-PED will have application to a variety of defense, security and industrial applications. This technology will further provide the capability to validate models of compliance, safety, health, and industrial/medical process monitoring.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Julia Dupuis
Vice President, Tactical Systems
jdupuis@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, has been awarded a research program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a novel Endoscopic “Multifunctional” Optical Coherence Tomography instrument for airway tissue injury management that will provide clinicians with real-time feedback regarding the morphological and functional changes of the injured tissue.

Inhalation injury is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the civilian population. It is usually caused by the inhalation of smoke or toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen dioxide, etc. Bronchoscopy is currently used as a standard approach for inhalation injury assessment. However, it fails to provide submucosal and functional tissue information, both of which are essential for proper triage and selection of appropriate therapy. The PSI instrument will complement qualitative bronchoscopic findings with quantitative submucosal morphological and functional information, such as ciliary activity and compliance, which will enable more efficient screening, triage, and therapeutic guidance of inhalation exposures.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Nicusor Iftimia
Area Manager, Biomedical Optics Technology
iftimia@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a research program from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a Doppler-compensated Integrated Photonic Time-bin Entanglement Transceiver using a photonic integrated circuit platform. This transceiver will become a standardized component that will facilitate the exploration of quantum-entanglement applications both terrestrially and for space-based missions.

A quantum network based on quantum entanglement is a potentially revolutionary technology with anticipated applications, such as “blind” quantum computing and secure communications, as well as a host of yet-to-be-discovered uses. To realize the true potential of quantum entanglement, scientists and engineers need standardized and reliable hardware to transmit and receive entangled quantum states of light. A key component of this network will be entanglement distributions transceivers. Placing such transceivers within a satellite-based network—which is capable of long-distance networking—represents a major milestone for the development of quantum information technologies. Consequently, such components will be low size, weight, and power (SWaP) to be compatible with satellite transmission.

PSI’s transceiver technology is well-suited for space-based quantum communications, simultaneously having low size, weight, and power requirements while being specifically designed for the challenges of satellite-to-satellite and satellite-to-ground quantum entanglement distribution. In addition to serving as a test platform for NASA’s quantum information research, these transceiver modules will be key components for future NASA missions that may include space-based quantum networking. The transceiver modules could also be added to augment next-generation satellites with quantum capabilities. In addition, this time-based technology, which operates at telecommunication wavelengths, is well-matched to fiber-based quantum networks.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Joel Hensley
Area Manager, Optical Devices and Technologies
hensley@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a unique venturi for propellant feed systems that uses a passively controlled throat area to adjust flow rate.

PSI’s adaptive venturi is a safety device that eliminates fluid hammer in gaseous, liquid, and cryogenic systems by rapidly adjusting flow area to prevent pressure surges. These benefits are achieved without adding weight, volume, or power requirements, and sensors are not used. For high-pressure oxygen systems, the adaptive venturi eliminates the risk of ignition caused by adiabatic compression. This device has been demonstrated with a prompt response time and zero evidence of instability.

The adaptive venturi will have applications in any oxygen system where high pressures, soft goods, or high flow rates are desired. Extending the lifetime and maximum pressure capability of oxygen components will improve reliability and performance in these applications. More generally, the adaptive venturi will reduce the cost of qualifying gas, liquid, and cryogenic feed system by eliminating the need for surge mitigation testing. These benefits can be realized for both ground-based and flight plumbing systems. The adaptive venturi can also simplify propellant loading and priming operations for propellant systems in Air Force satellites and missile defense systems employed by the MDA, Army, and Navy. The ground test facilities that support these missions in DoD and private industry will benefit from the adaptive venturi due to improvements in safety, performance, and cost.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Jeffrey Wegener
Group Leader, Propulsion and Energetics

jwegener@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a smart sensor module (SSM) to enable wireless sensing capabilities in liquid propulsion systems.

The SSM will increase NASA’s capabilities by eliminating labor-intensive tasks such as routing and securing cables. It will also improve sensor accessibility in locations that are difficult to diagnose, and enable advanced computing technologies such as machine learning. The SSM is designed to connect to trusted, flight-qualified, and commercially available sensors without altering the measurement technique.

PSI’s smart, wireless sensor network will have significant applicability to ground testing and flight missions for NASA. Reductions in labor assigned to the design, assembly, and implementation of sensor systems will lead to significant cost savings. Using SSM’s with sensors that have flight heritage reduces the risk of installing the network in existing systems. Wireless sensors allow for diagnostics in previously inaccessible locations and smart sensors enable decentralized decision-making, rendering NASA systems safer. The commercial space industry and DoD can also use the expanded diagnostics and cost savings offered by intelligent sensor networks in their own propulsion systems. Power and energy industries have similar needs for real-time networks of sensors capable of high-acquisition rates. This technology can also be used in aircraft or oil and gas systems that require data from difficult to access areas.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Jeffrey Wegener
Group Leader, Propulsion and Energetics

jwegener@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003