Rolling Door Seal (RDS)

Verus Research and Professor Macheret from Purdue University are pleased to respond to the Navy Phase I SBIR solicitation N202-143 titled “Plasma Switches and Antennas for Contested Electromagnetic Environments.” The Verus Research led team proposes to develop a Compact Plasma Discharge Cell (CPDC) for High Power Electromagnetic (EM) Wave Switching. The CPDC brings on-demand shielding from hostile, disruptive, and damaging RF to the warfighter in contested EM environments. These CPDC capabilities fall under 4 operational categories: (1) switch mode, (2) limiter mode, (3) tuner mode, and (4) protection against EM pulses with nanosecond and sub-nanosecond rise time. Verus Research is currently developing several advanced technologies that will be leveraged to support development of CPDC: Phase II SBIR High Power Pulse Shortening (plasma switching for high power microwave pulse shortening), Phase III SBIR Sealed Switch (compact sealed spark gap switch), Phase II SBIR Ferengi (ultra-wide band high power microwave antenna), and WASP (Wide Angle Scanning Plasma-array).  In Phase I, Verus Research will design, build, and demonstrate a high power CPDC operating in switch mode.  Experimental transmission data gathered in the experimental demonstration will be used to design and model an optimized antenna.