Abstract: A fiber optic sensor for measuring static pressure includes a cartridge housing having an end that is exposed to the atmosphere, a thin flexible membrane covering the exposed end of the cartridge housing such that the flexible membrane has an exposed side and a protected side, and a fiber bundle disposed within the cartridge housing, the fiber bundle comprising at least one fiber having a first polished end for transmitting light toward the membrane and a second end for being coupled to a light source or a receiver, the housing arranged to maintain the membrane at a distance from the first end of the fiber in a direction along a fiber axis, with free space between the first fiber end and the protected side of the flexible membrane.

Abstract: An aromatic ether oligomer or polyaromatic ether comprising the formula: O—Arn; wherein Ar is an independently selected divalent aromatic radical; formed by reacting a dihydroxyaromatic with a dihaloaromatic; and wherein the reaction is performed in the presence of a copper compound and cesium carbonate. The polyaromatic ether is formed when neither the dihydroxyaromatic nor the dihaloaromatic is present in an excess amount. The aromatic ether oligomer is formed by using an excess of either dihydroxyaromatic or dihaloaromatic. A phthalonitrile monomer comprising the formula: formed by reacting a 3- or 4-nitrophthalonitrile with a hydroxy-terminated aromatic ether oligomer. A thermoset formed by curing the phthalonitrile monomer. Processes for forming all the above.

Abstract: A coating having an adhesive hydrophilic polymer and an amphiphilic additive. The amphiphilic additive has a hydrophilic chain, a biocidal functional group bonded to the hydrophilic chain, and a hydrophobic moiety bonded to the hydrophilic chain or to the biocidal functional group. A method of forming a biocidal surface by providing an article, and coating the article with the above coating. A compound having the formula: Y—(O—CH2—CH2)n—R—(CH2)m—CH3. Y is CH3 or H. R is X is a halogen, and m and n are independently selected positive integers.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a particle. The particle includes a first yttria core; and a fluoride salt coating on the first yttria core. The coating is sufficiently continuous to prevent a large number of sites where a second yttria core may come into contact with the first yttria core. Optionally, the particle has been heated in an oxidizing atmosphere to a temperature in the range of about 400° C. to about 750° C. Optionally, the particle is substantially free of at least one of carbon-containing species and water. Optionally, the fluoride salt is lithium fluoride. Optionally, the fluoride salt is aluminum fluoride.

Abstract: A carborane-siloxane compound is provided having the repeat unit Q contains any of —SiR2—, —SiR2—O—, —C?C—C?C—, carboranyl, and U?. Each R and R? is alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, haloalkyl, haloaryl, or mixtures thereof. Each U? is derivable from hydrosilation of an alkenyl or alkynyl group. Each T is alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, haloalkyl, haloaryl, mixtures thereof, —(O—SiR?2)xH, or the repeat unit. Each x and x? is a positive integer. The compounds may be made be reacting a carborane-siloxane precursor having unsaturated end groups with a siloxane crosslinker in the presence of a hydrosilation catalyst.

Abstract: An underwater communications system includes an antenna array, a sound transmission source for transmitting communication packets, and a receiver including a processor. The processor is programmed for receiving and detecting a Doppler-sensitive probe signal and training sequence, for estimating a channel impulse response function for correlating the received signal to yield a plurality of processed channel outputs, and for summing the channel outputs to yield a common receiver output. The common receiver output is applied to a Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) for adaptive correction of the inter-symbol interference and to retrieve the transmitted communication message.

Abstract: The invention relates to sulfur-functionalized polymer gels and carbon gels, including aerogels, and such carbon gels containing platinum or metal nanoparticles. The platinum-containing gels may be useful as fuel-cell electrodes.

Abstract: A radar receiver system includes a receiver, a processor including a Doppler Compensated Adaptive Pulse Compressor (DCAPC) algorithm, possible other intermediate processing and a target detector. The DCAPC algorithm processes samples of a radar return signal, applies Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE), or alternatively matched filtering, to the radar return signal to obtain initial radar impulse response estimates, computes power estimates, estimates a range cell Doppler shift for each range cell, computes range-dependent filters, applies the MMSE filters, and then repeats the cycle for subsequent reiterative stages until a desired length?L range window is reached, thereby resolving the scatterer from noise and other scatterers.

Abstract: A spectroscopic detector for identifying the presence of a first substance in the presence of another substance includes a laser for illuminating the substances at a plurality of wavelengths to induce the emission of radiation characteristic of the substance; a spectrometer for measuring the emitted radiation to obtain a plurality of spectral measurement data; and a processor for processing the data. An algorithm combines the data into a composite spectrum and a parameter characteristic of the first substance is identified while information in the composite spectrum contributed by emission of radiation from the other substance is removed to identify the presence of the first substance and obtain a characteristic spectral signature of the first substance. The signature is compared to signatures in a spectral library database, wherein at least some of the library signatures have spectral characteristics differentiated from each other by identifiable spectral characteristics caused by environmental factors.

Abstract: A high power diode includes a cathode for emitting a primary electron discharge, an anode, and a porous dielectric layer, e.g. a honeycomb ceramic, positioned between the cathode and the anode for receiving the primary electron discharge and emitting a secondary electron discharge. The diode can operate at voltages 50 kV and higher while generating an electron beam with a uniform current density in the range from 1 A/cm2 to >10 kA/cm2 throughout the area of the cathode. It is capable of repetitively pulsed operation at a few Hz with pulse duration from a few nanoseconds to more than a microseconds, while the total number of pulses can be >107 pulses. The diode generates minimal out-gassing or debris, i.e. with minimal ablation, providing a greater diode lifetime, and can operate in a high vacuum environment of 10?4 Torr. The high power diode is useful in many applications requiring a high current electron beam.

Abstract: A method of preparing high capacity hydrous ruthenium oxide micro-ultracapacitors. A laser direct-write process deposits a film of hydrous ruthenium oxide in sulfuric acid under ambient temperature and atmospheric conditions. A dual laser process combining infrared and ultraviolet light is used for fabricating a complete wet electrochemical cell in a single processing step. Ultraviolet laser micromachining is used to tailor the shape and size of the deposited material into planar electrodes. The micro-ultracapacitors have improved size, weight, and cost efficiency and exhibit high specific power and high specific energy.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator having a substrate, one or more optical waveguides, at least one active electrode formed on the substrate and aligned over the optical waveguide, the active electrode operating to induce a refractive index change in the optical waveguide. The active electrode has a lower surface arranged facing the substrate, an upper surface arranged away from the substrate, substantially planar side walls, and rounded corners between the side walls and the lower surface of the active electrode. The electrode can be a bridge electrode, with two lower portions and an upper portion connected to the lower portions, the lower portions spaced apart from each other, each of the two lower portions of the active electrode extending over one of the optical waveguides. Each of the lower portions has rounded convex corners. The upper surface of the electrode can also have rounded corners or a completely rounded upper surface.

Abstract: A knife comprises a handle and a blade movably attached to the handle and having a sharpened side and an unsharpened side. The sharpened side has a first sharp portion and a second sharp portion. The blade is operable to move from an engaged position to a disengaged position and to move from the disengaged position to the engaged position. When the blade is positioned in the engaged position, the first sharp portion is uncovered by the handle and the second sharp portion is covered by the handle. When the blade is positioned in the disengaged position, the first sharp portion is covered by the handle and the second sharp portion is uncovered by the handle.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a chalcogenide glass of low optical loss that can be on the order of 30 dB/km or lower, and to a process for preparing the chalcogenide glass.

Abstract: A process for producing synthetic hydrocarbons that reacts carbon dioxide, obtained from seawater of air, and hydrogen obtained from water, with a catalyst in a chemical process such as reverse water gas shift combined with Fischer Tropsch synthesis. The hydrogen is produced by nuclear reactor electricity, nuclear waste heat conversion, ocean thermal energy conversion, or any other source that is fossil fuel-free, such as wind or wave energy. The process can be either land based or sea based.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing virtual sound sources that are externally perceived and positioned at any orientation in azimuth and elevation from a listener is described. In this system, a set of speakers is mounted in a location near the temple of a listener's head. A head tracking system determines the location and orientation of the listeners head and provides the measurements to a computer which processes audio signals, from an audio source, in conjunction with a head related transfer function (HRTF) filter to produce spatialized audio. The HRTF filter maintains the virtual location of the audio signals/sound, thus allowing the listener to change locations and head orientation without degradation of the audio signal. The audio system of the present invention produces virtual sound sources that are externally perceived and positioned at any desired orientation in azimuth and elevation from the user.

Abstract: A linear polymer comprising carborane, siloxane, and acetylene units, which may be cross-linked to a cured polymer and/or pyrolyzed to a ceramic.

Abstract: A phased array antenna system includes an RF front end, a radome, and an optical calibrator embedded in the radome for enabling in-situ calibration of the RF front end. The optical calibrator employs an optical timing signal generator (OTSG), a Variable Optical Amplitude and Delay Generator array (VOADGA) for receiving the modulated optical output signal and generating a plurality of VOADGA timing signals, and an optical timing signal distributor (OTSD). The in-situ optical calibrator allows for reduced calibration time and makes it feasible to perform calibration whenever necessary.

Abstract: A thiol terminated ethylene oxide oligomer and the method of substituting the oligomer onto a gold nanocluster surface using a thiol-exchange reaction to form a charge-neutral, non-ionizable, water soluble, ethylene oxide protected gold nanocluster. The thiol terminated ethylene oxide oligomer has the formula CH3(OCH2CH2)xSH where x varies from one to ten. Also disclosed is the related method of making the thiol terminated ethylene oxide oligomer.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a scene projection system and a method for projecting a scene that can simulate light temperature of above 2000 K. The system comprises of a light source part for generating light at a lower wavelength; a means part for individually controlling dynamic range, contrast, brightness, temporal characteristics and temporal dynamics of the light; a rare earth doped fiber part that re-emits the output light at a higher wavelength; and a means part for conveying light between its parts. The method comprises steps of generating light at a lower wavelength; individually controlling temporal characteristics, temporal dynamics, brightness and contrast of the light; passing the light through a rare earth-doped fiber; and re-emitting the light at a higher wavelength.