September 2024 - Page 2 of 2 - Physical Sciences Inc.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Space Force to develop a chip-scale ring laser gyroscope capable of navigation-grade performance.

Chip-based gyroscopes can be a scalable solution to the problem of equipping small space vehicles within our distributed national defense network with the hardware needed for accurate navigation. The large size, weight, and power (SWaP) of conventional gyroscopes has greatly limited the proliferation of this technology in space. To overcome this challenge, Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI) and the University of New Mexico will develop a compact, low-power, and high-sensitivity gyroscope based on integrated photonics. To achieve high performance at low SWaP, PSI’s Photonic Integrated Gyroscope for Enhanced On-chip Navigation (PIGEON) platform will combine advances in integrated photonics with operation near an exceptional point for enhanced sensitivity in measuring low rotational rates.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Christopher Evans
Group Leader, Scalable Photonic Technologies
cevans@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the Air Force SpaceForce. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop a low-cost high speed rotor hub imaging system, capable of providing motionless visualization for early onset detection of rotor hub failures. Currently there is no adequate technology to detect the onset of a rotor hub harness failure in real time, before a signal becomes intermittent or the damage has already been experienced, which leads to lost test time (LTT). Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) will develop a Smart Triggering-Rotor Hub Imaging System (ST-RHIS) that will generate real-time “still” images, enabling motionless rotor hub visualization while spinning at up to 3000 rpm. Real time images will be streamed as video to the operator. At the end of Phase I, PSI will have demonstrated the capability in a scaled down configuration that will be ruggedized into a field deployable product during Phase II. PSI will fully integrate the proposed ST-RHIS system into a NFAC video system with active assistance from NFAC personnel by the end of Phase II.

For more information contact:

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

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported by a contract with the Army Engineering Development Center (AEDC). This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop a comprehensive software suite for the design and optimization of metasurfaces embedded on doubly curved surfaces.

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with their university partner, will develop a rigorous electromagnetic design suite that adapts low-profile planar electromagnetic structures onto doubly curved surfaces. This critical technology will be developed to support the Air Force’s need for high performance radio frequency technologies that can be placed at arbitrary locations on airborne platforms in order to enhance situational awareness in contested electromagnetic environments. The software suite, Preserving Rigorous Electromagnetic Structures using Topology Optimization (PRESTO) will enable the design and simulation of conformal metasurfaces that either mitigate the influence of substrate curvature or use the innate property of the system to enhance the electromagnetic modulation capabilities of metasurfaces to generate novel electromagnetic solutions with improved performance.

For more information, contact:

Dr. David Woolf
Group Leader, Structured Optical Materials
dwoolf@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Eglin AFB. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy to develop a fast-acting, variable-ratio beam splitter to distribute laser power from a directed-energy weapon system to different points aboard Navy warships.

PSI will develop and test a large-aperture, high-power, polarization-insensitive, variable beamsplitter capable of transmitting 300 kW of continuous-wave (CW) power with sub-millisecond switching speeds by leveraging Frustrated Total Internal Reflection. PSI has chosen this design due to its advantages of fast switching speed and relatively low SWaP in comparison to other technologies after evaluating several alternative designs. PSI proposes methods to mitigate risks such as optical surface contamination, and optical contact bonding. In the Phase I base program, PSI will build a subscale demonstrator in order to test the effectiveness of these mitigation strategies, thereby reducing risk before building a full scale prototype in the Phase II program. In the Phase I option, PSI will prepare a detailed mechanical design of the Phase II prototype and order the long lead time optical prisms necessary for such a device.

For more information contact:

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

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the National Institutes of Health to develop an in-line Raman cytometry sensor probe for the real-time monitoring of host cells in viral vector culturing bioreactors.

Gene therapy is an emerging therapeutic technology that uses genes in targeted cells to prevent and/or treat acquired disorders and inherited genetic diseases. The rapid advancement of human gene and disease research has increased the demand for gene therapy and investment in the production of large-scale clinical applications. However, the clinical potential of gene therapy is limited by the current manufacturing capability of gene delivery products. Gene therapy biologics are primarily produced by harvesting viral vectors in mammalian cell cultures, a delicate and complex process influenced by numerous environmental factors. Ineffective monitoring and control of viral production can result in manufacturing challenges such as cell instability, high impurity levels, limited scalability, and reduced productivity. To develop efficient and reliable biomanufacturing processes, a deep understanding of bioprocess dynamics is essential. This necessitates advanced analytical technologies that can provide accurate, real-time insights into key bioprocess parameters and quality attributes.

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with our university partner, proposes to develop a novel in-line biomanufacturing process analytical technology tool. It enables real-time monitoring of the biomolecules of host cells and their environment in large-scale bioreactors. The technology is based on optical spectroscopic techniques that combine Raman scattering and autofluorescence. An innovative spectroscopy cytometry design will be adopted to efficiently distinguish intra-cellular biomolecules within the host cells from extra-cellular biomolecules in culture media. In this program, a prototype cytometry probe system will be designed, constructed, and evaluated by measuring and analyzing intra-cellular biomolecules in real-time during viral vector production bioreactor operations. Successful development of this technology will support biotech R&D to improve the understanding and monitoring of bioprocesses, which in turn will promote the development of advanced processes for large-scale production of viral vector products for gene therapy applications.

For more information contact:

Dr. Youbo Zhao
Group Leader, Spectral Solutions
yzhao@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported by a contract with the National Institutes of Health. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.