N101-037 TITLE: Investigation of the Debye Effect for Submarine Detection

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Sensors, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-264, Air ASW Systems, Advanced Sensor Application Program - ACAT IV

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate and evaluate the electric and magnetic fields caused by the Debye effect as a method of submarine detection.

DESCRIPTION: The U.S. Navy makes extensive use of electric and magnetic field phenomena in the detection of submarines. Key magnetic phenomena are generated from the Ferromagnetic, Static Horizontal Electric Dipole (HED) and Alternating HED moments.

The Debye effect is an acousto-electrokinetic phenomena which has not been extensively investigated to determine its potential for the detection of submarines. The Debye effect causes the generation of electric and magnetic fields due to fluid particle acceleration in an electrolytic solution (in this case the ocean). The effect results from the separation of charges due to differences in the masses and mobilities of the ions; in a moving solution the ions are drawn along differently by the moving fluid and are displaced relative to each other. The effort in this task is to determine the magnitude of the electric and magnetic fields caused by acoustic signals as a function of distance from the source in the ocean. At least two methods of detection may be investigated; in-air detection via aircraft monitoring which is similar in concept to present day Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD); and by an insitu sensor which contains an appropriate magnetic or electric sensor. Predictions performed should be for both air and water as a function of various environmental conditions and all sources of potential interfering noise against which the signal must be detected, determined and analyzed. The type of acoustic signals investigated may include narrowband signals, broadband signals, explosive type signals (transients) and quasi periodic explosive wave trains. Parameterize the levels of the acoustic signals to determine the minimum level signal needed to achieve detection. Appropriate signal processing techniques should be addressed.

PHASE I: Determine the feasibility of the Debye effect as a method of submarine detection. Develop analytical solutions for the magnitudes of the electric and magnetic fields. Extend the theory of the Debye effect if possible to hydrodynamic signals (e.g. vortices). Provide numerical estimates of the feasibility of using the Debye effect for submarine detection.

PHASE II: Finalize and extend critical concepts developed in Phase I. Determine the "optimum" frequency for detection. Perform simulation of the detection method and validate via tank testing. Fabricate, verify and evaluate a prototype over-the-side sensor system for ocean use.

PHASE III: Finalize and validate design. Transition developed technology to appropriate platforms.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Methods and sensors investigated under this task could be used by oceanographers to measure the natural occurring electric and magnetic fields in the ocean.

REFERENCES:
1. Debye, P., "A Method for the Determination of the Mass of Electrolytic Ions", J. Chem. Phys. Vol. 1, No. 1, (1933)

2. Peddell, J. B.; Leach, P. D., "Mechanism for Acousto-Electrokinetic Coupling", IEE Colloquium on Common Modeling Techniques for Electromagnetic Waves and Acoustic Wave Propagation", Vol. Issues, 8 Mar 1996, Pages 1011-1016

KEYWORDS: Debye effect; electric field; magnetic field; acoustic; hydrodynamic; transient

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between November 12 and December 9, 2009, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting December 10, 2009, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (10.1 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 10.1 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.