March 2022 - Physical Sciences Inc.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), has been awarded a contract from the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a laser-based magneto-optical atomic polarization spectroscopy technique that is capable of quantifying Uranium-238 (U), Thorium-232 (Th), and Potassium (K) in clean materials – the dominant primordial isotopes contributing to a radiation background in underground rare-event nuclear physics experiments.

DOE seeks to develop a laser based diagnostic to quantify radioactive impurities present in clean materials at radiation levels of ultra-clean materials (< 1 µBq/kg). PSI’s diagnostic will address the need for an analytical instrument to screen clean/radiopure materials incorporated into rare-event nuclear physics experiments for U, Th, and K. Existing radioassays suffer from long measurement times or matrix interference effects that limit achievable detection limits, or complicate the analysis on a material-by-material basis.

PSI’s technology can be broadly applied to monitoring soil and water for metals contamination. The technology is particularly relevant for water monitoring applications of metals such as mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, and manganese that represent a risk to public health. The technology will have sufficient limits of detection to monitor the aforementioned elements below the maximum permissible exposure limits in real time field measurements.

For more information, contact:

Dr. David Oakes
Group Leader, Aero Thermal Signatures
oakes@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

Press Release

DARPA has selected eight teams to pioneer novel ways of designing and manufacturing large structures on orbit. Physical Sciences Inc. will develop continuous fabrication of regolith-derived, glass-ceramic mechanical structures for use in large-scale orbital applications.

DARPA Kicks Off Program to Explore Space-Based Manufacturing

For more information, contact:

William Kessler
Vice President, Applied Optics
kessler@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc (PSI), in collaboration Dartmouth College, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, has been awarded a research program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop and demonstrate a novel fluorescence neural imaging technology that enables high-speed recording of membrane potentials from multiple neurons.

The investigation of the complex neural dynamics and the cognitive functions of the brain requires non-invasive recording tools with high spatial and temporal resolution. Fluorescence imaging/microscopy is one of the state-of-the-art technologies for high spatial resolution recording of the activity of neuron populations. However, existing fluorescence neural imaging technologies generally have limited speed, providing less than a few hundred frames per second. The milliseconds or slower temporal resolution substantially precludes measuring the precise timing of the generation and propagation of neuron spikes, which is the key component of neural signaling.

PSI’s technology combines two complementary imaging channels to achieve parallel neuronal recording with both sub-micron spatial and sub-millisecond temporal resolution. The high-speed recording function is achieved using a novel imaging technique based on a high-sensitivity single-point detector and a high-speed spatial light modulator (SLM). We have demonstrated the feasibility of the technology by imaging cultured neurons labeled with calcium and voltage indicating fluorescent sensors. During this effort, a prototype will be developed that will include a universal high spatiotemporal resolution sensor that is compatible with various imaging setups including head-mounted fluorescence mini-microscopes. This project will result in a robust technology for non-invasive recording of neuronal kinetics with high spatiotemporal resolution, offering a greatly needed tool in the neuroscience field.
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) has been awarded a contract from Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to develop the Network Fusion Radiation Analysis Tool (NFRAT) to address the need for an enhanced detection, localization and identification capability in support of sensitive site exploitation, perimeter monitoring and contamination avoidance operations.

The NFRAT software will utilize probabilistic representations of the radiological environment and statistical models of radiation detector response to fuse measurements from multiple radiation detectors reported over a tactical network. The NFRAT fusion approach will be designed to reduce the time needed to characterize a source. NFRAT will generate source isotopic identification, activity, location and motion parameters and will also detect the presence of distributed sources and estimate a spatial map of contamination levels and type. NFRAT will be integrated with situational awareness tools, such as Team Awareness Kit (TAK), to provide visual feedback on search status.

NFRAT technology can reduce search time in response to civilian radiological/ nuclear emergencies reducing the exposure of personnel operating in radioactively contaminated environments. These benefits will be achieved through integration of NFRAT with network-enabled commercial Personal Radiation Detectors (PRDs) and Spectroscopic Personal Radiation Detectors (SPRDs) used by first responders. NFRAT can be integrated with CivTAK, the civilian variant of TAK, with minimal additional effort.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Bogdan Cosofret
Vice President, Detection Systems
cosofret@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003