Multi Modal Materials Analysis (MMoMA)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative solutions in the technical area of materials analysis, including surface and bulk analysis of molecular structure, elemental composition, trace elements, and isotope ratios in samples, to be conducted under ambient conditions, without the need for special sample preparation. The Multi Modal Materials Analysis (MMoMA) program aims to explore innovative methods to combine a single excitation source of continuously variable intensity with multiple detection methods and in-situ data fusion for assessing features such as a sample’s composition, origin, production method, processing location, and/or other signatures of interest. The program’s goal is to maximize information extraction from a sample by developing analytical capabilities that use a single configurable excitation source to generate and detect multiple surface and bulk material signatures in parallel under ambient conditions. Some key requirements of the MMoMA program include: • Ambient Conditions: Sample analysis is to be conducted under ambient conditions of pressure and temperature in a laboratory or natural environment, not requiring samples to be placed into a vacuum chamber. • Sample: A sample may be any material in a solid or liquid state, with gaseous samples being optional, and sample size can be assumed to be ~0.1 mm to 10 cm-scale. • Sample Preparation: No sample preparation shall be necessary before analysis, with chemical purification, polishing, or coating being out of scope. • Excitation source: A configurable and continuously tunable source of photons, electrons, ions for generation of signatures in materials analysis. • Surface Analysis: Analysis of the top few microns of samples, analysis of molecular structure, elemental composition, and isotope content. • Bulk Analysis: Determination of elemental composition, trace element, and isotope content in cm-scale and larger specimens to a depth of 10 cm of steel, with an approach for radiography with penetrating radiation. • Detectors: The program is not prescriptive regarding detectors, spectrometers, and mass analyzers, with detectors covering signatures across a broad range. • Data Fusion: Multimodal data fusion combines information from multiple detectors and spectrometers to provide in-situ feedback during analysis scans and to create N-dimensional data landscapes for correlation analysis. The MMoMA program is a 36-month effort structured into two initial phases with four complementary Focus Areas. Proposers must address both phases and all four Focus Areas in their abstract.