Program in Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering (PULSE) | Apply Online

FAQs: DARPA PULSE (Program in Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering) - DARPA BAA 12-63

1) What is the PULSE program?

PULSE (Program in Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering) is a DARPA Defense Sciences Office research effort focused on turning ultrafast laser technology into practical tools that can generate and control radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from microwaves through optical and into ultrashort, high-energy light.

2) What is the central technical idea behind PULSE?

The core idea is to use the extremely precise timing and stability of ultrafast lasers as a backbone for producing other kinds of signals and radiation. By linking broad parts of the spectrum to an ultrafast laser output, the program aims to improve how efficiently, quickly, and flexibly systems can access and tune different parts of the spectrum for defense-relevant needs.

3) What kinds of outcomes is DARPA expecting?

DARPA emphasizes new radiation sources that outperform current state-of-the-art systems while also improving SWaP (size, weight, and power). The program is not only about demonstrating peak performance in a laboratory; it also aims to move toward devices and techniques that are practical, compact, and robust enough to matter for real-world deployment.

4) What does SWaP mean in this announcement?

SWaP stands for size, weight, and power. In this program context, improving SWaP means reducing how large, heavy, and power-hungry a system is, because those factors can be major barriers to fieldable technology.

5) What application areas does PULSE relate to?

The announcement ties ultrafast-laser-based precision and short-time-scale control to usable capabilities in timing, sensing, communications, and other domains where spectral purity, stability, and extreme temporal resolution are important.

6) What are the specific technical targets DARPA highlights?

The opportunity highlights several targets, including:

• Low phase-noise microwave oscillators
• Practical optical time and frequency transfer
• Tabletop sources of high-quality secondary radiation
• High-flux isolated attosecond pulses

7) What are low phase-noise microwave oscillators, as described here?

They are microwave sources with exceptionally clean spectral characteristics and minimal timing jitter. The announcement notes these can translate into better radar performance, improved communications links, and higher-quality reference signals for electronic systems.

8) What does "practical optical time and frequency transfer" mean in this program?

It refers to methods for distributing precise time and frequency references using optical techniques, potentially enabling synchronization over distance at levels that conventional approaches have difficulty matching.

9) What are "tabletop sources of high-quality secondary radiation"?

These are compact systems that can generate useful radiation types or wavelengths as secondary outputs derived from the laser, without requiring large-scale facilities.

10) What are "high-flux isolated attosecond pulses"?

They are extremely brief bursts of light on the attosecond timescale (10^-18 seconds). The announcement specifically calls for high-flux (high brightness) isolated pulses that are bright enough to be useful, enabling the study or exploitation of ultrafast electron dynamics and other rapid physical processes.

11) What is the BAA number for this opportunity?

This announcement was issued as DARPA BAA 12-63.

12) What is the CFDA number listed for the program?

The CFDA number provided is 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).

13) What is the opportunity category?

The opportunity category is listed as discretionary.

14) What funding instruments might DARPA use under this announcement?

DARPA indicated multiple possible funding instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions or procurement approaches, and contracts. The specific instrument may depend on the nature of the proposed work and DARPA's needs.

15) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed in the information provided.

16) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning proposals could be submitted by a wide range of entity types (for example, universities, companies, nonprofits, and other organizations), subject to any additional eligibility details contained in the full announcement.

17) Which agency is sponsoring the opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is DARPA within the Department of Defense, specifically the Defense Sciences Office.

18) When was the opportunity posted?

It was posted and created on August 8, 2012.

19) What was the closing date?

The original and current closing date shown is November 6, 2012.

20) When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date listed is January 8, 2013.

21) Who should be contacted for access issues with the full announcement?

For access issues with the full announcement, the contact point listed is the BAA Coordinator associated with DARPA BAA 12-63.

22) What is PULSE trying to improve about spectrum access?

The program aims to make spectrum access more efficient, more agile, and more tunable by linking broad portions of the electromagnetic spectrum to an ultrafast laser output.

23) Does the program focus only on laboratory demonstrations?

No. The expected outcomes emphasize progress toward practical, compact, and robust devices and techniques, not just raw lab performance.

24) Why does the program emphasize timing and stability?

Because the program concept depends on using ultrafast lasers as a precision timing and stability backbone to generate or control other signals and radiation types across the spectrum.