Proposals are sought for foundational research in superconducting electronics (SCE). SCE is a promising technology for high-speed and energy-efficient digital circuits, but scaling towards denser and more reliable systems has been slow. The goal of the Foundations of Superconducting Digital Logic (FSDL) program is to uncover foundational issues limiting the progress of this technology and to pursue innovative research into overcoming these issues across topics such as materials, Josephson junctions, flux trapping, and architecture. FSDL aims to provide the foundation to enable breakthroughs in circuit density and reliability for future SCE-based systems.
Proposals are to address stated research challenges within the following research areas:
- Novel materials and processing techniques
- Josephson junction research
- Flux trapping research
- Improvements in logic and architecture
Two categories of proposals are sought:
- Exploratory Projects – up to USD$9.5M over 4 years; proof-of-concept
- Integration Projects – up to USD$24M over 5 years; incorporation of novel approaches (for which proof-of-concept has been demonstrated)
For Exploratory Projects, the FSDL program intends to provide access to an established multi-layer fabrication process when appropriate.
White papers due 15 August 2023 (not compulsory, but strongly encouraged).
Full applications due 31 October 2023.
Documentation
Broad Agency Announcement – W911NF-23-S-0012
