DIRD_02-DIRD_Aerospace_Applications_of_Programmable_Matter.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED / ,5Q2.OEELGIdirEGE@ iii Defense Intelligence Reference Document BR Acquisition Threat Support 14 December 2009 ICOD: 1 December 2009 DIA-08-0911-016 Aerospace Applications of Programmable Matter UNCLASSIFIED / /§@R:@-E3Gihid=USE-@iiaa=

UNCLASSIFIED / @ReOPEtGRrE= Sr Ont Aerospace Applications of Programmable Matter Prepared by: (b)(3):10 USC 424 Defense Intelligence Agency Author: (b)(6) Administrative Note COPYRIGHT WARNING: Further dissemination of the photographs in this publication is not authorized. This product is one in a series of advanced technology reports produced in FY 2009 under the Defense Intelligence | cn Aerospace Weapon System Applications (AAWSA) Program. Comments or questions pertaining to this document should be addressed to ONS TO USE ONG) AAWSA Program Manager, Defense Intelligence Agency, A : {()(3):1…

UNCLASSIFIED / /SQ2. O4ELGEALASE-Oiai= Contents INtrOGUCtION ....ccccceennecenennnsene seseennane Menenananananansuesausnananszacangwensacxecoussanan a eanenenseanananenan iv Four Kinds of Atoms....... ova veeucasevasusesecevevesnsesererencsusssereuaeeseressreves ena suvarssevsvusesnseressses i Natural Atoms .....ccccccenseescnenensnenenssnenenseauenavaneneuaucususueteusnacegssanacanenanananananananenenanes 1 QUANTUM DOES 00... ccesereneseensurenececusesasscusecanavevusapsrnsucecerscarscsruessrarererursvesecaraverecer 1 Photonics and Metamaterials ....s:csccceceseuessneenncenenansucsuvusesears…

UNCLASSIFIED / }-2@-R=e@EELGEALALSEALLY. Aerospace Applications of Programmable Matter Introduction For the owners of a $100 million satellite—a TV broadcast satellite, for example—avoiding bankruptcy often depends on the spacecraft’s continued good health until its scheduled replacement is in orbit. Unfortunately, numerous failure modes are possible, including blown fuses, failed sensors, and browned-out solar arrays. The common trait of most such failures is that they cannot be repaired from the ground. In addition, it is not typically possible to repurpose a spacecraft or its components for…

UNCLASSIFIED / /POToOPPECEH-USE-ONE Four Kinds of Atoms All matter is made of atoms and derives its properties, in part, from the fact that atoms are discrete objects yet are so small and so close together that light waves cannot “see” thern individually. By extension, neither can electric and magnetic fields. To a photon, or to a large electrical current, matter appears to be made up of continuous substances rather than discrete building blocks. This fact is critically important in understanding the optical, electrical, and even thermal properties of materials. Equally important are the disco…

UNCLASSIFIED/ /FOR'OFFICTAT USE ONLY > (e") Conduction Band Conduction Band Band Gap Valence Band INCREASING ENERGY Metal Semiconductor Figure 1. Energy Levels of a Metal and a Semiconductor. In a metal, many electrons reside in the conduction band and can be pushed to neighboring atoms with only a tiny addition of thermal or electrical energy. Ina semiconductor, enough energy must first be added to excite the electron out of the valence band, across the band gap, and into the conduction band. Thus, to conduct electricity, semiconductors require much higher voltages and temperatures than do me…

UNCLASSIFIED / /EiM RaQ BELG Ddeabh tial ille ves can exert precise control over their optical, electrical, thermal, and magnetic properties rather than simply selecting these properties from the limited catalog nature has provided. Figure 2. Quantum Dot. A quantum dot confines electrons in a very small volume of space, forcing them to behave as standing waves. Their structure thus resembles the electron clouds or “orbitals” of an atom. Second, it is possible to pump electrons in and out of a quantum dot using electric fields. Thus, instead of a single designer material, it is possible to crea…

UNCLASSIFIED / APOROPPICTRE USE UNLYT (permittivity, permeability, index of refraction, and coefficients of reflection, transmission, and absorption) do not necessarily match those of any natural material. Photonic crystals exploit this principle by varying the density or refractive index of a material in a regular, periodic way. Just as light is affected by the spacing of atoms ina natural crystal, it can be affected by the (much larger) spacing of sub-wavelength features in a photonic crystal. Thus, photonic crystals can efficiently reflect some wavelengths of light while absorbing, transmit…