The objective of the RF Semiconductor Devices, RF Solid State Amplifiers and Wide Bandgap Materials program is to develop solid state (e.g., wide bandgap semiconductor), low noise, high speed electronic devices and circuits for use in surveillance, electronic warfare, multifunctional RF systems and communications. Included is basic and applied research in device physics, emerging solid state phenomena, materials, and circuit architectures.
Research Concentration Areas
- Emphasis is on device advancements that enable a significant improvement in broadband performance, high linearity, and/or high (e.g., 60%) power added efficiency.
- Also included are emerging applications for wide bandgap materials and devices in the areas of transmitter and receiver components, mixed signal and digital circuits.
- Current research interests span from HF through mm-wave and up to the TeraHertz (THz) frequencies.
- The program is investigating electronic properties of wide bandgap, III-V and silicon-based semiconductors and novel devices, focusing on novel high power microwave and switching devices for broadband radar, electronic warfare, communications, and multifunctional systems applications.
Research Challenges and Opportunities
- Advancing wide bandgap materials properties such as GaN and related group III-Nitrides, along with emerging solid state technologies in order to advance new transistor technologies for solid state power amplification.
- High efficiency amplification (DC to RF conversion efficiency) is required as power consumption and thermal dissipation directly impact overall platform affordability.
- Very broadband and highly linear amplifiers enable shared RF aperture approaches to reduce the proliferation of single function antennas that currently clutter Navy platforms.
How to Submit
For detailed application and submission information for this research topic, please refer to our broad agency announcement (BAA) No. N0001425SB001.
Contracts: All white papers and full proposals for contracts must be submitted through FedConnect; instructions are included in the BAA.
Grants: All white papers for grants must be submitted through FedConnect, and full proposals for grants must be submitted through grants.gov; instructions are included in the BAA.