Arizona-based Applied Energetics received the one-year follow-on phase II contract, worth more than $350,000, from the Army for continued work on light filament sensors. Officials say the sensors are being designed to detect explosive and chemical threats through identification of targeted chemicals in spectral signatures.

The light filament sensors, with applications for both homeland security authorities and the military, are "based on the unique ability of ultra-short pulse lasers to generate persistent optical filaments of ionized air and to elicit unique spectral signatures in the targeted chemicals," the release said.

The phase II contract is part of the Department of Defense's Small Business Technology Transfer Program, which aims to fund the development of new technologies for the military or homeland security, among other government applications, and then shift them to the open market.