Dr. John Burke

Defense Advanced Research Projects AgencyStaff

Microsystems Technology Office (MTO)

Program Manager

Dr. John Burke joined DARPA as a program manager in the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) in August 2017. His research interests include the development of high-stability, low-noise sensors and frequency synthesis to enable new positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) and remote detection capabilities. He is particularly interested in integration of quantum and photonic sensors into form factors for practical use outside of a laboratory and new capabilities created by these devices.

Burke came to DARPA from the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico where he was a senior research physicist. Burke led a research team developing atomic clocks, frequency combs, optical time transfer, and cold atom measurement techniques for use in space applications such as the Global Positioning System (GPS). Burke also led the Air Force’s contribution to the NASA Cold Atom Laboratory for the International Space Station (ISS) and the timing science plan for Navigation Technology Satellite 3. He won the AFRL Early Career Award, Senior Leadership Award, and Rotary National Award for Space Achievement.

Burke received his Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Centre College and his Doctorate of Philosophy degree in physics from the University of Virginia. His thesis work was on atom interferometry with guided matter waves sourced from a Bose Einstein Condensate (BEC), which won the University of Virginia Award for Excellence in Scholarship in Science and Engineering.

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Programs

Atomic-Photonic Integration (A-PhI)

Atom-based devices have proven to be the most accurate means of measuring the physical world. Two areas of great promise are the ability to measure frequency with optically probed trapped atom clocks as well as optically cooled atom interferometer inertial sensors. Together, they could form the basis of a fully autonomous navigation and timing system, free from GPS. Integration of these laboratory based quantum devices into a practical size, weight, and power has proven challenging. Furthermore, replicating these devices at laboratory scale is still resource intensive.

Atomic Clock with Enhanced Stability (ACES)

Precise timing is essential across DoD systems, including communications, navigation, electronic warfare, intelligence systems reconnaissance, and system-of-systems platform coordination, as well as in national infrastructure applications in commerce and banking, telecommunications, and power distribution. Improved clock performance throughout the timing network, particularly at point-of-use, would enable advanced collaborative capabilities and provide greater resilience to disruptions of timing synchronization networks, notably by reducing reliance on satellite-based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) timing signals.

Atomic Magnetometer for Biological Imaging In Earth’s Native Terrain (AMBIIENT)

State-of-the-art magnetometers are used for diverse civilian and DoD applications, among them biomedical imaging, navigation, and detecting unexploded ordnance and underwater and underground anomalies. Commercially available magnetometers range from inexpensive Hall probes to highly sensitive fluxgate and atomic magnetometers to high-precision Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) and Spin Exchange Relaxation Free (SERF) magnetometers.

Quantum Imaging of Vector Electromagnetic Radiation (QuIVER)

The goal of magnetic sensors is almost always to deduce the location of magnetic objects, however, a single magnetometer measurement is not capable of locating an object because many combinations of magnet locations and strengths will produce the same sensor reading. Furthermore, a magnet's observed field decreases rapidly with distance to the third power while the Earth's large magnetic field obfuscates weaker fields. The combination requires magnetic sensing to operate from close range. Finding magnetic objects must be done by methodically surveying an area at close range over long times. For example, treasure hunting on a beach with a metal detector is a time consuming hobby.

Topological Excitations in Electronics (TEE)

The Topological Excitations in Electronics program aims to demonstrate the utility of topological excitations in various applications including memory, logic, sensors, and quantum information processing. Developing the ability to design materials with new controllable functionalities is crucial for the future of the Nation’s economic, energy, and defense security.

Dr. John Burke

Microsystems Technology Office (MTO)

Program Manager

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Selected DARPA Achievements

Dr. John Burke

Microsystems Technology Office (MTO)

Program Manager

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Selected DARPA Achievements