Fundamental Research in Atomic, Molecular and Quantum Physics

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) Atomic, Molecular and Quantum (AMQ) Physics Program seeks proposals with the aim of advancing fundamental science and technology for future naval applications in the areas of navigation, timekeeping and sensing. ONR has a long history of investing in atomic physics. Atomic clocks, found in large number in DOD and commercial systems today, have fundamental underpinnings that can be traced back to investments made by ONR over 60 years ago. Fundamental work in laser cooling and trapping made over the past 30 years along with subsequent, applied research investments contributed to the first DOD application of laser cooled atomic systems. The rubidium fountain clocks at United States Naval Observatory (USNO) enable the DOD master clock to meet the most stringent Navy and DOD timing requirements. The core motivation for the AMQ program stems from the fact that atomic and molecular systems make exceptional sensors and the belief that further developments in these areas will yield future technological benefits in sensing and other areas. The toolbox provided by laser cooling and trapping allows control of internal and external degrees of freedom down to the single atom level. This control will provide useful classical and quantum states that reduce noise, add robustness to environmental effects, and give insight into various complex physical phenomena. ONR expects that new developments in atomic, molecular and quantum physics will make contributions to future naval applications that include inertial sensing, earth and material science, low-noise and high resolution electromagnetic field sensing, and future high-performance, set-and-forget atomic clocks. The fundamental research ONR seeks to support under this BAA will continue to push the boundaries of science and technology in the area of atomic, molecular, and quantum physics. We encourage innovative proposals, both theoretical and experimental, addressing the following areas: - I. Cooling and Trapping Techniques Techniques for cooling and trapping that enable compact and robust systems with the potential for low size, weight and power in future deployable systems. Development of techniques that allow for the exploration of new phenomena such as the manipulation of new cold atom or molecular systems or through improved diagnostic capability and access. Techniques leading to improved, useful atomic flux in sensor-relevant geometries. Techniques aimed at achieving the temperatures needed to access useful regimes for quantum simulation and other applications. - II. - II. Fundamental Developments in Atomic Clocks and Inertial Sensors Improved local oscillators for optical clocks, either in terms of potential portability/robustness or in terms of absolute performance. Development of new octave spanning frequency comb sources focused on achieving low SWaP-C such as compact fiber-based and whispering-gallery mode-based devices. New, resource-minimizing approaches to optical clocks. New ideas with the potential to provide practical atomic inertial sensors. - III. Metrologically Relevant Quantum States Identification and quantification of useful systems, states, and applications of quantum effects in atoms or molecules or hybrid atomic systems (e.g. atomic/mechanical systems). Robust, metrologically-useful quantum state preparation in sensor-relevant configurations. Demonstrations of quantum enhanced measurements using atoms, molecules or other atom-like systems (e.g. defects in solids).