TARGETED DRUG DELIVERY TO THE BRAIN

Not Available Silicon carbide power electronics will figure into a variety of Air Force missions such as enabling the development of more electric aircraft and advancing the development of supersonic and hypersonic aerospace vehicles, which require advanced control electronics and sensors. A true FBL(Fly-by-light)/PBW(Power-By-wire) system will require a simple light weight interface where an optical signal, will provide control signal to the power electronics of the electrical actuator and the feedback from the actuator and the motor control. With the present technology, the gap still lies in the immaturity of the optical technology in controlling the high power switches. Here we are proposing to develop a light activated IGBT device which would control the acturate and measure the output device position for feedback. Advantage of the light activation is the high tolerance to electro rnagnetic interference(ES) and the complete isolation of the gate circuit to load circuit. In the Phase I portion of the research program, we will fabricate the IGBT device and switching properties of the device will be demonstrated using optical triggering. A typical transistor characteristic of drain current as a function of gate voltage for both dark current and for avalanche gain will be measured. The result obtained from such device will enable the present technology to aim for higher breakdown voltage, switching frequencies, lower on state voltage drops and faster turn on and isolation from load and also triggering with the least optical energy. In Phase II of the program, performance of this device in controlling an actuator will be demonstrated.