Zeno-based Opto-Electronics (ZOE)

DARPA is soliciting innovative research and development (R&D) proposals in the area of Zeno-based Optoelectronics (ZOE). Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice. The goal of this program is to create materials and prototype devices that will demonstrate a new class of optoelectronics that operate with ultra-low energy dissipation (~100 aJ/operation). The vision is a class of all-optical devices whose function depends on materials exhibiting strong optically-induced absorption, where the presence of one wavelength of light (control) induces the absorption of a second wavelength (signal). Application of such materials could lead to all-optical devices such as switches, wavelength converters, pulse regenerators, add/drop multiplexers, and memory cells that dissipate extremely small amounts of energy per operation. Critical features that must be considered in the development of Zeno-based Optoelectronics include: Materials Science: Development of practical materials (gas, liquid, or solid) that exhibit strong optically-induced absorption, over a wide range of signal and control wavelengths. Ideally, except when both control and signal are present, neither should be absorbed by the material. For a given control wavelength, the range of signal wavelengths that experience absorption should be narrow, to enable wavelength division multiplexing of a device. Device Design: Design and demonstrate practical, scalable, low loss switching devices. Operating speeds should be in the 1—100 GHz range. Possible alternative all-optical devices including switches, add/drop multiplexers, low noise pulse regenerators, wavelength converters, and memory cells that achieve their function and meet the performance metrics outlined for an optical switch will be considered. Architecture: Because the control wavelength experiences only minute dissipation in the envisioned devices, it is conceivable that the control energy could be recycled and re-used. Scalable architectures need to be developed to take advantage of any possible energy savings. See Attached Full Announcement Package