The objective of this project is to address key challenges in existing chemical standoff sensing techniques through an integrated metamaterial-based solution for ultra-sensitive, ultra-fast, and…

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency awarded Carnegie Mellon University $701,966 on November 10, 2025, under the Scientific Research – Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction program (CFDA 12.351) to develop an integrated metamaterial-based infrared standoff detection system for ultra-sensitive, ultra-fast, and multispectral chemical sensing. The award funds demonstration of a revolutionary integrated system combining a large-aperture, wide field-of-view broadband achromatic hybrid metalens, a high-efficiency multi-wavelength meta-splitter array, and an on-chip meta-optic microbolometer array optimized for broadband (8–14 micrometers) infrared responses. Work is performed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a period of performance through November 9, 2030.

Carnegie Mellon passes funding to two sub-recipients. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, awarded March 2, 2026, develops optical metamaterials—planar arrays of subwavelength light scatterers and antennas—to improve chemical standoff detection through reduced size, weight, power, and cost. New York University School of Medicine, awarded February 17, 2026, develops meta-optics for a high-efficiency infrared hyperspectral imaging system that integrates with Carnegie Mellon's microbolometer arrays to form the complete integrated hyperspectral imaging system for standoff chemical sensing.

The objective of this project is to address key challenges in existing chemical standoff sensing techniques through an integrated metamaterial-based solution for ultra-sensitive, ultra-fast, and multispectral (or hyperspectral) chemical standoff sensing. In this project, CMU will demonstrate a revolutionary integrated metamaterial-based IR standoff detection system with broadband (8-14 ?M), rapid, and highly sensitive IR responses by combining (1) a large aperture, wide field-of-view (FOV), broadband achromatic hybrid metalens, (2) a high-efficiency multi-wavelength meta-splitter array, (3) an on-chip meta-optic microbolometer array.