Electromagnetics

Program Description
This portfolio supports research in Electromagnetics (EM) whose objective is the interrogation (modeling/simulation) of linear/nonlinear Maxwell’s equations together with research in the general area of signal processing.

Basic Research Objectives
Basic research to produce conceptual descriptions of electromagnetic properties of novel materials/composites (such as photonic band gap media, negative index media, Parity-Time symmetry media, etc.) and the simulation of their uses in various operational settings is encouraged. Also of interest is temporal modulation of physical parameters of various components. Such a dynamically induced nonreciprocity can lead to a new generation of compact and energy efficient isolators, circulators, phase shifters, and other non-reciprocal optical and microwave devices. Basic research in inverse scattering theory in order to promulgate new methods which recognize and track targets or upgrade efforts to pursue Nondestructive Evaluation is encouraged. Efforts to identify suitable wideband radar waveforms to penetrate foliage, clouds, buildings, the ionosphere, or other dispersive/random/turbulent media as well as to notionally design transmitters to produce such waveforms are also supported. Research which develops the mathematical underpinning for computational electromagnetic simulation codes (both frequency domain and time domain) that are rapid and whose claims of accuracy are accompanied by rigorous error estimates/controls is encouraged. In the area of nonlinear Maxwell’s equations, commonly called nonlinear optics, research pursues descriptions of nonlinear EM phenomena such as the propagation of Ultrashort laser pulses through air, clouds, etc. and any possible exploitation of these pulses is supported. Such mathematical descriptions are anticipated to be a coupled system of nonlinear partial differential equations. Basic research in other nonlinear EM phenomena include the dynamics of the EM field within solid state laser cavities (particularly the modeling/simulation of non-equilibrium carrier dynamics within semiconductor lasers) and fiber lasers, the propagation of light through various nonlinear crystals (including Graphene), as well as other nonlinear optical media. All such modeling/simulation research is complementary to the experimental portfolios within AFOSR. As regards the signal processing component, an outstanding need in the treatment of signals is to develop resilient algorithms for data representation in fewer bits (compression), image reconstruction/enhancement, and spectral/frequency estimation in the presence of external corrupting factors. These factors can involve deliberate interference, noise, ground clutter, and multi-path effects. This component searches for application of sophisticated mathematical methods, including time- frequency analysis and generalizations of the Fourier and wavelet transforms, that deal effectively with the degradation of signaling transmission across a channel.

These methods hold promise in the detection and recognition of characteristic transient features, the synthesis of hard-to-intercept communications links, and the achievement of faithful compression and fast reconstruction for video and multi- spectral data. New combinations of asset location and navigation are being sought, based on analysis and high-performance computation that bring a force-multiplier effect to command/control capabilities. Continued upgrade and reliance on Global Positioning System makes it critical to achieve GPS-quality positioning in situations where GPS by itself is not sufficient. Ongoing research in non-Inertial navigation methods (including optical flow and use of signals of opportunity) will bring location precision and reliability to a superlative level.

You are highly encouraged to contact our Program Officer prior to developing a full proposal to discuss alignment of your ideas with our program goals, your proposed methods, and the scope of your proposed effort.

Solicitation
BAA

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Program Overview
AFOSR Spring Review 2014 Presentation by Dr. Arje Nachman.

Contact Information
Dr. Arje Nachman
AFOSR/RTB-1
Email: Electromagnetics@us.af.mil