Featured Facilities

Many Science and Technolgy activities depend on specialized laboratories. MERC has many such facilities organized into laboratories for executing research programs. Aside from enabling testing, development, and prototyping, these facilities allow current and potential sponsors to observe demonstrations. Many of these facilities are in open areas, some are in closed areas, and some are in limited access areas, allowing work at all classification levels.

Nanotechnology Laboratory
The nanotechnology lab supports nanomaterials and nanodevice research and development including growth, synthesis, fabrication, functionalization, and characterization.

Microbiological Analysis Laboratory
The Microbiological Analysis Laboratory supports research in detection of pathogens and biological agents. It also supports research in host response to toxins and pathogens. Several Homeland Protection, rapid diagnosis and response, and health risk assessment programs benefit from this laboratory.

Quantum Optics Laboratory
Basic research and development efforts in nonlinear optics, for quantum cryptography, quantum computing, and other applications of the nonclassical effects in quantum optics are conducted in the Quantum Optics Laboratory

RTDC Agile Sensing and Control Laboratory (RASCL)
The MERC Agile Sensing and Control Laboratory is used in the investigation of a variety of  sensor and control technologies. Some examples are:  miniaturized radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver development; programmable, agile, wireless network hardware and firmware development; and unattended aerial sensor (UAS) payloads and autonomy development.

Tactical Biometrics Lab
The Tactical Biometrics Lab is designed for applied research and the development of sensor systems for the measurement of biologically based human characteristics for identification of and detection of intent in non-cooperative subjects.

Mass Spectrometry Development Laboratory
This  laboratory is used to conduct  research in the development of field portable mass spectrometers and to use them in specialized research.

MEMS Laboratory
Basic research and development on the design, processing, and characterization of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor components and sub-systems are carried out in the MEMS Laboratory.

Micropropulsion Laboratory
The micropropulsion laboratory is equipped for the assembly, inspection, testing, and evaluation of various miniature propulsion technologies for atmospheric or space applications.

Terahertz Laboratory
The TeraHertz (THz) Laboratory provides imaging and spectroscopy capabilities with electromagnetic waves between roughly 100 GHz and 20 THz (20000 GHz).