Award Title: High-Power Pulse System for Testing EMP and Microwave Weapons Effects Recipient: SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS & RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. Funding Agency: Department of Defense (Defense Threat Reduction Agency) Phase: Phase I Amount: $148,931 Start Date: September 7, 2016 (9/7/16) End Date: April 6, 2017 (4/6/17) Award Year: 2016 Status: Closed (100.0% Complete) Topic Tags: defense, electromagnetic, pulsed power, testing, military electronics, directed energy, hardware A modular, potentially more affordable system that may generate powerful electromagnetic pulses and microwave radiation to test how military equipment withstands EMP and HPM attacks. This technology appears to create a system that mimics electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and high-power microwave (HPM) attacks—the kind of weapons that can disable electronics from a distance. Rather than building one massive, expensive testing machine, this approach uses modular antenna arrays that could be scaled up or down as needed. The system works by rapidly charging a capacitor to 100,000 volts in less than 10 microseconds (millionths of a second), then using a specialized laser to trigger semiconductor switches (electronic gates that control the flow of electricity) that release this energy through antennas. The laser uses a crystal called chromium-doped lithium strontium aluminum fluoride (Cr:LiSAF)—a light-generating material engineered to emit specific wavelengths—to produce precisely controlled light pulses at 840 nanometers (billionths of a meter), a frequency that may reliably activate the switches without damaging them. Currently, testing equipment for EMP and HPM vulnerability requires either extremely expensive, large-scale facilities or less realistic laboratory simulations. Existing solutions appear inflexible—typically built for one specific test scenario and difficult to adapt to different power levels or target sizes. This matters because as adversaries develop more sophisticated electromagnetic weapons, the U.S. military may need faster, cheaper ways to verify that critical systems won't fail in combat. A modular, more affordable system could enable more equipment testing more frequently, and potentially allow defense manufacturers to iterate on designs more rapidly without waiting months for access to specialized facilities. Military engineers appear positioned to use this system to test whether radar systems, communications equipment, and weapons platforms could survive EMP or HPM attacks. A defense contractor might place a sensitive avionics system in front of the antenna array and gradually increase the power to identify the threshold where equipment fails, potentially informing better shielding design. The system could potentially be deployed at test ranges to help certify that newly manufactured military vehicles meet hardness standards before delivery. Additionally, government laboratories studying directed-energy weapons effects might use this modular setup to conduct controlled experiments on how different materials and electronics respond to electromagnetic stress. For Taxpayers: This research may reduce the cost of testing military equipment for electromagnetic hardness, potentially saving millions in facility construction and operation. By potentially enabling faster, more accessible testing, it could accelerate the development of more resilient military systems and improve the effectiveness of defense investments. Small and medium-sized defense contractors might gain affordable access to vulnerability testing that was previously available only to large corporations with access to expensive government facilities. For Science: The work appears to advance understanding of how to reliably trigger high-power semiconductor switches using optical methods, a technique potentially applicable to other pulsed-power research areas. The modular architecture and use of Cr:LiSAF crystals for laser generation at 840 nm may establish design patterns that researchers could adapt for different high-energy applications. For Humanity: More resilient military electronics could reduce the risk of catastrophic failures in conflict, potentially helping prevent accidental escalation or loss of life. As critical civilian infrastructure becomes increasingly dependent on electronics, the hardening techniques developed here might eventually inform civilian protection standards for power grids, hospitals, and communications networks against both intentional attacks and natural electromagnetic phenomena. Scientific Applications & Research Associates (SARA), Inc. is a 100% employee-owned small business based in Cypress, California, founded in 1989. The company specializes in technology solutions in areas such as RF, EMP, Pulsed Power, Acoustics, and Threat Warning, primarily serving the defense and aerospace sectors. With a workforce of approximately 157-206 employees, SARA focuses on developing customized technologies for U.S. military and commercial applications, emphasizing innovation and rapid development. SARA designs and manufactures a range of products, including measurement and analysis systems, RF shielding solutions, and advanced threat detection systems. Their offerings include the Artificial Perception and Threat Awareness (APTA) Group, which provides compact systems for RF geolocation and acoustic-based threat detection. The company supports various government agencies, including the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the Department of Defense (DOD), in testing and standards development. SARA is committed to delivering cost-effective solutions and maintaining high standards in research, design, and production. Founded: 1989 Employees: 210 Revenue: 27.2M Address: 6300 Gateway Drive, Cypress, CA 90630, US Website: http://www.sara.com Contract: HDTRA1-16-P-0055 Agency Tracking #: T16A-004-0031 Solicitation #: 2016.0 Topic Code: DTRA16A-004 DUNS: 614108918 Branch: Defense Threat Reduction Agency For effective protection against EMP and HPM threats, it is important to understand the physics of the threats, and also to quantify the effects they have on electrical systems. EMP and HPM vulnerability testing requires delivery of high peak power and electric fields to distant targets. The most practical solution to simulate such environments is to develop a modular, optically-isolated MV-antenna array. This proposal presents an inexpensive 100 kV pulse charger and a low-jitter laser system capable of driving gallium arsenide (GaAs) photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS)-driven antenna modules. To prevent damaging the PCSS, the primary charge storage capacitor (1 nF) must be pulse charged within <10 us, therefore limiting the voltage seen by the switch. The initial simulations of the proposed pulse charger architecture is capable of delivering 5 J of energy within 7 us with a regulated output voltage of up to 100 kV. The optical parameters required to trigger the PCSSs are 300 uJ of ~840 nm light uniformly distributed on a 3 cm2 area. We have identified the Chromium (Cr) Colquiriite crystal, specifically Cr:LiSAF, supporting optics and electronics to meet the required output wavelength requirement of 840 nm and power necessary to reliably turn-on the GaAs PCSSs. • Charcoal-Powered Fuel Cell for Rural Biomass Energy Generation ($74,590 | Phase I | Same Company) • RF Plasma Method May Improve Iodine-Based Laser Weapon Efficiency ($749,983 | Phase II | Same Company) • Acoustic Sensor System for Detecting Multiple Moving Vehicles ($119,987 | Phase I | Same Company) • Self-Networking Sensor Arrays for Detecting Underground Weapons Facilities ($99,995 | Phase I | Same Company) • High-Power Acoustic Weapon System for Helicopter Non-Lethal Defense ($598,201 | Phase II | Same Company) • Tracking System for Cargo Containers Without Line-of-Sight Requirements ($99,997 | Phase I | Same Company)