Physics

Objective
This program seeks breakthrough fundamental science in physics supporting the Air Force’s advanced technology requirements.  Recent investments have focused on 4 areas:  Optical Sciences, Plasma Physics, Atomic and Nuclear Sciences, and Geophysics.  Emphasis is on advancing laser sources and materials as well as particle physics.

Optical Sciences

• Laser and Optical Physics - Seeking novel processing techniques for high quality ceramic laser materials with control over spatial distributions of dopants and index of refraction, and processing methods for achieving low loss laser ceramics with non-isotropic, and therefore necessarily aligned, grains. Aligned grain ceramic materials are also of interest as large size, high average power nonlinear optical materials using quasi-phasematching techniques. New ideas for high average power fiber lasers are of interest, including new materials, and large mode area structures, novel ways of mitigating nonlinear issues, and studies of coupling multiple fiber lasers which can withstand very high average power. Novel compact, particularly tunable or wavelength flexible, potentially inexpensive, infrared lasers are of interest.
• Ultrashort Pulse Laser-Matter Interactions  - This program seeks innovative science concepts in the areas of attosecond science, femtosecond optical frequency combs and high-field laser physics:
  • Attosecond science: Seeking new concepts for improved attosecond sources (e.g. increased efficiency, higher flux, shorter pulses, and higher photon energy), development of pump-probe methods that investigate interactions with systems ranging from isolated atoms / molecules to condensed matter, attosecond pulse propagation, novel concepts for attosecond experiments and fundamental interpretations of attosecond measurements.
  • Optical frequency combs: Thrust areas include dispersion management techniques to increase the spectral coverage to exceed an octave while maintaining high powers per comb, new concepts to extend frequency combs from the extreme ultraviolet into the mid-wave and long-wave infrared spectral regimes, development of novel resonator designs (e.g. micro-resonator based) and ultra-broadband pulse shaping.
  • High-field laser physics: Seeking techniques for ultrafast- laser processing (e.g. machining, patterning), mechanisms to control dynamics of femtosecond laser propagation in transparent media (e.g. filamentation), concepts for monochromatic, tunable laser-based sources of secondary photons and particle beams, laser-based compact particle accelerators and concepts for high peak power laser architectures and technology that efficiently scale up to high repetition rates and/or new wavelengths of operation.

Plasma and Electro-Energetic Physics
The objective of this program is to understand and control the interaction of electromagnetic energy and charged particles to produce useful work in a variety of arenas, including sensors and radar, communications, novel compact accelerators, compact pulsed power, particle-field interaction physics, power-efficient methods to generate and maintain significant free-electron densities in ambient air, plasma chemistry at high pressure, and the physics of strongly coupled plasmas. Innovative science that combines plasma and electro-energetic physics with the high-energy density associated with nuclear forces (e.g. nuclear batteries where radiation produces currents in semiconductors and propulsion plasmas sustained via fusion) will be considered.

Atomic and Molecular Physics
This program encompasses fundamental experimental and theoretical Atomic and Molecular physics research that is primarily focused on studies of cold and ultracold quantum gases, precision measurement, and quantum information science (QIS) with atoms, molecules, and light. These research areas support technological advances in application areas of interest to the Air Force, including precision navigation, timekeeping, metrology, and novel materials for Air Force needs in the future.  Specific research topics of interest in this program include, but are not limited to, the following: physics of quantum degenerate atomic and molecular gases; strongly-interacting quantum gases; new phases of matter; non-equilibrium dynamics of cold quantum gases; cold/ultracold plasmas; ultracold chemistry; precision spectroscopy; novel clocks; and high-precision techniques for navigation, guidance, and remote sensing.

Geo-Physics
This program encompasses fundamental experimental and theoretical geo-physics research that is primarily focused on studies of seismology. This research area supports technological advances in application areas of interest to the Air Force, including transport of infrasound signals, hydroacoustic signals, atmospheric ducting of RF propagation, and near-field seismic signal transport.  This topic area is currently exploratory in nature and may be expanded in the near future.

Solicitation
BAA-AFOSR-2014-0001

Collaboration Tools
Following are different ways you can share information with Lt Col Zickafoose and your colleagues.

• View or share files. You can view files Lt Col Zickafoose has uploaded and also share files with him and your colleagues.
• Upload your white paper. Fill out the form and attach your white paper for Lt Col Zickafoose.
• Provide feedback or ask questions. You can start a discussion or ask a question using our online forum

Program Reviews & Meetings

Contact Information
Lt Col Matthew Zickafoose
Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD)
7-23-17 Roppongi, Minato-ku
Tokyo, Japan 106-0032

Office:  +81-3-5410-4409
Fax:  +81-3-6385-3133
AOARD.Physics@us.af.mil