August 2021 - Physical Sciences Inc.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc (PSI), has been awarded a research program from the National Institutes of Health /National Institute of Aging (NIH /NIA) to develop a novel technology that will non-intrusively monitor driver cognitive decline and/or high-risk driving behavior that is especially suited for seniors (aged over 65).

Contextual physiological biomarkers along with computer vision based drive quality measurements will be obtained through a cloud-based acquisition system. Real-time risk assessments that are measures of cognitive status will be performed on the cloud to provide comprehensive analysis on drive quality metrics for seniors with varying levels of cognitive impairment.

Assessment of a driver’s cognitive status requires the use of a complex monitoring platform that can be seamlessly installed into any automobile without interfering or adding complexity to driving. Therefore, PSI is developing a cloud-based, multi-modal routine cognitive/drive assessment system that combines a Smart Steering Sleeve (S3), which monitors physiological biomarkers, along with a Computer Vision (CV) system that provides contextual insight for biomarker changes and monitors a driver’s habits. The Cloud-based Computer Vision Smart Steering Sleeve (C-CVS3) sensor system will be capable of monitoring biomarkers such as heart rate, hand gripping force, and the presence of excessive sweat from the skin surface indicating stress levels affecting potential drive quality degradation that are also factors expected to be associated with cognitive impairment during critical events. Dash cameras provide temporal context including reaction times to unexpected hazards in addition to driver’s safety measures, such as staying within the lane, and maintaining distance to surrounding vehicles. The transmitted data to the cloud from both modalities will be used to derive cognitive/drive quality indices (QI) for driving risks that can be associated with increased stress levels, attention deficiency and/or cognitive decline in individuals.

This modality will result in an add-on adaptive platform in automobiles that gauges cognitive status/decline providing value to the auto insurance industry, RMV, as well as to the caregivers of the cognitively impaired patient apart from the individual himself to identify a quantifiable parameter before giving up driving or to seek additional cognitive diagnosis.

For more information, contact:

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

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc has been awarded a research contract from the US Army to develop an adaptive free-space optical communication system, capable of maintaining low bit error rate (~ 10-9) over long ranges (> 20 km) by correcting for atmospheric and other environmental factors while operating at eye-safe power levels.

PSI’s concept uses three adaptive systems to optimize performance in the presence of platform motion, varying optical scattering/absorption, and atmospheric turbulence. Our common-axis optical transceiver provides high optical throughput while minimizing size and weight. Using PSI’s advanced adaptive optics model, combined with design and hardware experience, will result in a high-performance free-space optical system that is readily adaptable for real-world conditions.

The adaptive free-space optical communication system will provide secure, high data rate communications over long ranges through difficult atmospheric conditions. The method of wavefront sensing offers higher spatial resolution and dynamic range compared to more commonly used Shack-Hartmann sensors. Development of this technology may prove beneficial for earth-based telescope and high-energy laser systems in need of high fidelity wavefront control.

For more information, contact:

Dr. David Sonnenfroh
Area Manager, Atmospheric Sciences

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

Newsletter

In Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) Optical Devices and Technology Group, Chris Evans, Principal Research Scientist, is leading recent growth in integrated photonics technologies. Analogous to conventional electronic circuits, these “circuits of light” bring new functionality in an unprecedented compact footprint in support of the National Quantum Initiative and National Security related missions. We are proud to be involved in multiple material systems, including silicon (Si), silicon nitride (SN), indium phosphide (InP), and thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN). These PSI Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) are enabling functions such as time delay for radar beam forming, efficient and compact frequency modulation and frequency shifting for atom-based quantum sensors, quantum time-bin encoding, integrated optical spectrometers, and orbital angular momentum states of light for improved underwater communications. Contributing to these efforts are: Kyle Dorsey, Principal Scientist; Brandon Young, Principal Engineer; Justin Brown, Principal Scientist; and Michal Cwik, Scientist.

PICs made out of (clockwise from upper left) Si, TFLN, TFLN (under test), and SN

The newly formed Structured Optical Materials Group, led by David Woolf, is pioneering work on engineered optical materials that create both new optical capability in existing form factors and existing optical capability functions in new form factors. For example, by incorporating a phase change material (PCM) such as vanadium oxide in a conventional thin-film optical coating stack, we create a surface whose emissivity, or thermal “color”, autonomously adjusts to stabilize its temperature. The examples pictured below are of PCM stacks formed on Si using an in-house process developed in a collaboration with PSI’s Materials Group. Key contributors include: Colin Hessel, Principal Research Scientist and AJ Wright, Senior Engineer. These components will be used to cover critical surfaces of a satellite to help the spacecraft passively regulate its internal temperature.

Two examples of PCM stacks formed on Si

Another promising engineered optical structure under development is the “metalens” or “metasurface”. In a metalens, the ray bending lens function of a conventional optic is achieved in a flat, and therefore, highly compact form factor by patterning a surface with a carefully chosen and positioned set of shapes that achieve the desired optical phase function. The 1 cm diameter flat metalens below was fabricated in an effort under DARPA sponsorship. The inset panels show successively larger magnification until the pattern is visible only when observed with an electron microscope. This metalens is designed for operation in the visible wavelength regime, but this approach is also being applied in the infrared and will play a critical role in the upcoming DARPA ENVision program to develop the next generation night vision technology for the U.S. military. In addition to collaborations with key academic groups, PSI staff contributing to this technology area include: Kyle Dorsey, Principal Scientist; Brandon Young, Principal Engineer; Rick Wainner, Principal Research Scientist; Joe Goodwin, Principal Scientist; and Jon Rameau, Principal Research Scientist.

For more information on PSI’s Photonics Enterprise, please contact Joel Hensley, Vice President, Photonics

A 1 cm diameter flat metalens

Contract News

PSI recently received the following research contracts:

“BioSIGMA: Sensor Expansion and Turbulence Modeling” from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

“Quantum-memory Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (QWDM)” from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

“One-dimensional Convolution Neural Network for Improved Training Time and Standardization in Spectral Class” from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

“Wearable High-Power Microwave Exposure Sensor” and “Low-shot Object Tracking and Targeting Algorithms for Next Generation Combat Vehicles” from the U.S. Army

Physical Sciences Inc. | contact@psicorp.com | (978) 689-0003 |

Subscribe to the PSI Newsletter

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), has been awarded a research program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a novel technique to identify amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposits in the retina as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

PSI will develop an optical imaging technique capable of non-invasively identifying specific chemical compounds in vivo in the retina with cellular-level resolution and without the use of contrast agents. PSI will validate the ability of this technique to identify early indications of AD.

Although AD cannot yet be treated with the intent to cure, sufficient early diagnosis will facilitate intervention with available therapeutics, adding years of productive quality time to the patient’s life. However, the lack of suitable diagnostic tools for both in vivo rapid screening of Aβ aggregation and early detection of AD pathology poses severe limitations. Current available structural, functional, and metabolic brain imaging methods are not yet suitable for repeated population screening in the preclinical stages. They are either limited by the use of unsafe ionizing isotopes (radioactivity), involve high costs, have low availability, or provide reduced resolution or specificity. An alternative non-invasive approach to visualize Aβ plaques in AD patients may be achieved through high-resolution optical imaging of the retina, knowing that Aβ plaques form in retinal layers and share properties with those in the brain.

The retina, as an extension of the brain, is the only part of the central nervous system that can be imaged non-invasively at sub-cellular resolutions. Human postmortem histopathological studies have shown accumulation of Aβ in the retinas of those with confirmed AD, principally in the inner-retinal layers. PSI is developing a multispectral adaptive optics-based non-invasive optical imaging technique that will enable in vivo cellular-level resolution for early detection of Aβ presence in the retina and will facilitate a path to understanding the onset of various neurodegenerative diseases. This effort will build on our expertise in high-resolution retinal imaging and spectral analysis.

For more information, contact:

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

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in partnership with Thor Quantum Electronics (TQE) has been awarded a research program from the U.S. Navy to develop and demonstrate a high bandwidth free space optical (FSO) communications link using novel high bandwidth LWIR quantum cascade lasers (QCLs).

With the increasing demand on battlefield information transfer bandwidth, FSO links are emerging as a necessary alternative and/or addition to existing radio frequency and microwave systems. All platforms, from space to air to ground to the individual soldier, can benefit from the unique aspects of FSO links. In addition to higher bandwidth, FSO links also bring increased security because they are challenging to intercept and tap for eavesdropping. With recent advances in longwave-infrared (LWIR, 8–12 μm) source and detector technology, there is an opportunity to extend FSO communications to these longer wavelengths where reduced Rayleigh scattering lowers transmission losses.

Although the military will be the primary initial early adopters of this technology, it is anticipated that specialized commercial use will follow, where there is a specific need for a dedicated high-bandwidth communications network.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Joel Hensley
Vice President, Photonics
hensley@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003