WASHINGTON – U.S. Navy researchers needed a company to carry out research that could leave to development of new kinds of electro-optical sensors for reconnaissance, surveillance, and situational awareness. They found their solution from DCS Corp. in Alexandria, Va.
Officials of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington announced a $9.6 million contract to DCS last week to investigate the use of radiation in the wavelength region between near-ultraviolet and far-infrared wavelengths.
These electro-optical technologies could lead to a variety of advanced sensors for applications like missile defense, counter-terrorism, anti-camouflage, and target acquisition.
DCS experts will conduct research and development in the generation, propagation, detection, and use of radiation in wavelenths between near-ultraviolet and far-infrared.
The Naval Research Laboratory's Optical Sciences Division carries out theoretical and experimental research in these optical wavelenths, with an eye to understanding physical principles involved in optical devices, materials, and phenomena. DCS engineers will focus on extending this understanding in the direction of device engineering and advanced operational techniques.
Among the jobs DCS will do under this contract are systems analysis, prototype system development, research in optically related military problems.
This electro-optical work will involve quantum optics, laser physics, optical waveguide technologies, laser–matter interactions, atmospheric propagation, holography, optical data processing, fiber-optic sensor systems, optical systems, optical materials, radiation damage studies, infrared surveillance and missile seeker technologies, infrared signature measurements, and optical diagnostic techniques.
Part of the effort will involve developing, analyzing, and using special optical materials. On this contract DCS will do the work in Washington and should be finished by October 2023. For more information contact DCS Corp. online at www.dcscorp.com, or the Naval Research Laboratory Optical Sciences Division at www.nrl.navy.mil/Our-Work/Areas-of-Research/Optical-Sciences.
