DARPA wants photonic integrated circuits for military gyroscopes and clocks

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Microsystems Technology Office is soliciting research proposals for the development of a new class of atom-based systems using integrated photonics and trapped atoms to enable high-performance, robust, portable clocks and gyroscopes. The military researchers are asking industry to develop relatively simple portable photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for high-performance position, navigation, and timing (PNT) devices as an alternative to GPS for when satellite navigation signals are not available. A PIC or integrated optical circuit, similar to an electronic integrated circuit, integrates everal photonic (having to do with light) functions, providing capabilities for information signals imposed on optical wavelengths.