Characterization of Piezoelectric Materials by Laser Ultrasonic/Optical Stimulus

Fueled by the need for wireless and broadband communications, the number of channels available to accommodate this rapidly growing traffic is reaching its saturation state. A logical solution is to squeeze channel spacing and communicate at much higherfrequencies. Yet, it is beyond our technical limits to produce the most basic component - an ultra-stable piezoelectric resonator, capable of performing at the Gigahertz range with minimum drift characteristics. Under the Phase I effort, we havedemonstrated the feasibility of our Laser Ultrasonic/Optical Stimulus Technology capable of characterizing these resonators throughout its fabrication process. Our Phase II objectives are to expand, implement and commercialize this high speed, non-contacttechnology to control the fundamental parameters that guarantee the production of these ultra-stable, high frequency resonators.Support towards our proposed Phase II effort includes Strong Endorsement from the Sensors & Electron Device Directorate, Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD; $200K (cash) Mission Fund commitment from the Army's Frequency Control Program; $283K (cash)matching fund via the State of California (CalTIP Program); and $209K (in-kind) matching fund from various semiconductor and solar cell industries. These matching fund commitments will make us eligible for Army's Phase II Plus pilot program, which we willapply through ARL's SBIR Office