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   COLLOQUIUM OF THE LABORATORY FOR COMPUTER DESIGN OF MATERIALS
                   School of Computational Sciences
                           (CSI 898-Sec 001)
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 Terahertz-Frequency Sensing Science & Electronic Technology for Defense

                        Dwight Woolard
Army Research Laboratory, U.S. Army Research Office,Research Triangle Park, NC

During the last few years, new research programs have emerged within the U.S.
Army and the Department of Defense (DoD) that have been
focused on advancing the state-of-the-art in terahertz (THz) frequency
electronic technology and on investigating novel applications of THz frequency
sensing. This last research frontier in high-frequency electronics, which lies
in the terahertz (or submillimeter-wave) regime between microwaves and the
infrared (i.e., ~ 0.3 - 3.0 THz), has always offered many technical
advantages (e.g., wider bandwidth, improved spatial resolution, compactness)
and applications with relevance to basic science and national defense appear
to be emerging. A noteworthy application is the use of fundamental
interactions of THz radiation at the molecular level for sensing and
characterizing chemical and biological (CB) systems. Of course, such
applications have broad ramifications to such areas as CB defense, bio-medical
and molecular science. This presentation will focus on the main science and
technology issues that are relevant for assessing the future utility of THz
sensing for national defense. In particular, this talk will overview the
current progress of basic research programs in THz sensing and technology that
are under joint support of the U.S. Army, DTRA and DARPA, and elaborate on
future directions of the programs that will seek to investigate novel
methodologies (e.g., integrated molecular-level sensor platforms) that have
the potential for point and remote detection of biological warfare agents.

Short Bio: Dwight Woolard manages the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
- U.S. Army Research Office (ARO) Research Program on Solid-State &
  High-Frequency Electronics which emphasizes: (1) THz-Frequency and
Ultra-Fast Electronics, (2) Nanoelectronic Engineering Science, and (3)
Advanced Solid-State Device Concepts. Dr. Woolard presently leads one the
largest U.S. Research Program in THz-Frequency Science & Technology and
pioneered the development of THz Spectroscopy for biological agent sensing.
Dr. Woolard has been active in the research areas of THz-Frequency Bio-Sensing
Science and THz-Frequency Oscillations in Solid-State Tunneling Devices since
joining the ARL in 1993. Dr. Woolard is a graduate of North Carolina State
University at Raleigh and was elected to IEEE Fellow in 2004 "for
leadership in the discovery and development of novel sensing methodologies and
advanced electronic devices at terahertz frequencies"

                         February 13, 4:30 pm
               Room 206, Science & Tech. I, Fairfax Campus

Refreshments will be served at 4:15 PM.
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Find the schedule at http://www.scs.gmu.edu/lcdm/seminar/schedule.html
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