A.1. ENGINEERING AND COMPLEX SYSTEMS (RTA1)

The Engineering and Complex Systems team within the Engineering and Information Science Branch leads the discovery and development of the fundamental and integrated science that advances future air and space flight. The broad goal of the team is to discover and exploit the critical fundamental science and knowledge that will shape the future of aerospace sciences. A key emphasis is the establishment of the foundations necessary to advance the integration or convergence of the scientific disciplines critical to maintaining technological superiority. A wide range of fundamental research addressing electronics, fluid dynamics, materials, propulsion, and structural mechanics are brought together in an effort to increase performance and achieve unprecedented operational capability.

• Energetic Solid-State Physics and Mechanochemistry
• GHz-THz Electronics
• Energy, Combustion, and Non- Equilibrium Thermodynamics
• Aerodynamic Sciences
• High-Speed Aerodynamics
• Aerospace Composite Materials
• Multiscale Multifunctional Structures and Systems
• Propulsion and Power
• Agile Science for Test and Evaluation (T&E)

A.2. INFORMATION AND NETWORKS (RTA2)

The Information and Networks Team within the Engineering and Information Science Branch is organized to support many U.S. Air Force and Space Force priority areas including autonomy, space situational awareness, and cyber security. The research programs within this team lead the discovery and development of foundational issues in mathematical, information and network-oriented sciences. They are organized along three (3) themes: Information, Decision Making, and Networks.

• Computational Cognition and Machine Intelligence
• Computational Mathematics
• Dynamical Systems and Control Theory
• Dynamic Data and Information Processing
• Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
• Mathematical Optimization
• Science of Information, Computation, Learning, and Fusion
• Trust and Influence

A.3. PHYSICAL SCIENCES (RTB1)

The Physical Sciences Team leads the discovery and transition of foundational physical science to enable air, space, and cyber power. Research in physics generates the fundamental knowledge needed to advance U.S. Air and Space Force operations, from the perspective of sensing, characterizing, and managing the operational environment as well as developing advanced devices that exploit novel physical principles to bring new capabilities to the warfighter. Research directions are categorized in the following four broad areas, with the focus on advancing our basic understanding of the physical world: (1) Quantum matter and devices; (2) plasma and high-energy-density physics; (3) optics, photonics, and electromagnetics; and (4) aerospace materials.

• Aerospace Materials for Extreme Environments
• Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Electromagnetics
• Optoelectronics and Photonics
• High-Energy Radiation-Matter Systems
• Quantum Information Sciences
• Physics of Sensing
• Space Physics
• Ultrashort Pulse Laser-Matter Interactions
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Astrodynamics

A.4. CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (RTB2)

This research effort will endeavor to identify chemical and biological mechanisms, structures, and systems with the potential to inspire future technology in all Air and Space Force systems. Understanding these mechanisms, structures and systems at a fundamental level will accelerate advances in energy technology, control of complex systems, sensors and sensory systems, and materials engineering. The focus is on complex materials, microsystems and structures and well as systems of a biological natural by incorporating hierarchical design of mechanical and functional properties from the nanoscale through the mesoscale, ultimately leading to controlled well- understood chemistry/biochemistry, and material or structural behavior capable of dynamic functionality and/or performance characteristics to enhance mission versatility. In addition to research into underlying materials/biomaterials and fundamental physical/biophysical processes, this area considers how they might be integrated into new classes of devices and pursues a fundamental understanding of materials that are not amenable to conventional computational means. Finally, the energy extraction and storage efforts address the characterization, synthesis, and utilization of fundamental energy sources, ranging from novel molecular configurations to photoelectric stimulated mitochondria and solid rocket motor propellants infused with performance improving nano-energetic particles.

• Biophysics
• Human Performance and Biosystems
• Molecular Dynamics and Theoretical Chemistry
• Natural Materials and Systems
• Organic Materials Chemistry
• Space Biosciences

A.6. OTHER INNOVATIVE RESEARCH CONCEPTS

If you have an exciting idea that doesn't seem to fit within one of the more specific topic descriptions of this Broad Agency Announcements (BAA) detailing our current technical programs, you may submit it under this section of the BAA.