Abstract: This disclosure involves a new spinel and glass micro-composite material and process for making such. The composite has excellent transmission in the 0.5-5.0 ?m wavelength region suitable for various visible and mid IR applications utilizing windows, domes and other geometric shapes. The composite can be made at a temperature about 40% lower than the glass melting temperature and about 50% lower than the spinel sintering temperature. The composite material has high modulus and fracture toughness which are important for impact resistance in armor and other practical applications.

Abstract: A fiber-end surface structuring chamber or system having a main body with multiple ports including a fiber-holder port, a process port that is either a stamp/shim holder port or a plasma etching enabler port, an evacuation port, a gas delivery port, and one or more observation ports, where the fiber-end surface structuring system forms structures directly into the end of the fiber to enhance transmission of light over a wide range of wavelengths and increase the laser damage threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a thin film of a copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS)-type material are disclosed. The method includes providing first and second targets in a common sputtering chamber. The first target includes a source of CIGS material, such as an approximately stoichiometric polycrystalline CIGS material, and the second target includes a chalcogen, such as selenium, sulfur, tellurium, or a combination of these elements. The second target provides an excess of chalcogen in the chamber. This can compensate, at least in part, for the loss of chalcogen from the CIGS-source in the first target, resulting in a thin film with a controlled stoichiometry which provides effective light absorption when used in a solar cell.

Abstract: An N port fiber optical switch includes a movable housing having a perimeter and N corners; a plurality N of optical fibers positioned within the housing and inside the perimeter; and a plurality N of actuators, wherein each actuator is positioned on a corresponding corner such that when selectively activated one or more of the actuators urges the movable housing and the plurality of optical fibers to a selected switch position. The switch provides short switching times and high power handling while allowing for a large number of ports and provides the capability of interfacing with and switching between a variable number of ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a thin film of a copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS)-type material are disclosed. The method includes providing first and second targets in a common sputtering chamber. The first target includes a source of CIGS material, such as an approximately stoichiometric polycrystalline CIGS material, and the second target includes a chalcogen, such as selenium, sulfur, tellurium, or a combination of these elements. The second target provides an excess of chalcogen in the chamber. This can compensate, at least in part, for the loss of chalcogen from the CIGS-source in the first target, resulting in a thin film with a controlled stoichiometry which provides effective light absorption when used in a solar cell.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing Cu(InxGa1-x)S2 and Cu(InxGa1-x)Se2 nanopowders using flame spray pyrolysis to form solar cell absorber materials. The flame spray product is the oxide nanoparticles of the absorber materials (copper indium gallium oxide). The oxide nanoparticles may be deposited directly onto glass substrates. The oxide nanoparticles are then sulfurdized or selenized with a post deposition anneal directly on the substrate to form the absorber layer for a solar cell device.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a method of making chalcogenide glasses including holding the melt in a vertical furnace to promote homogenization and mixing; slow cooling the melt at less than 10° C. per minute; and sequentially quenching the melt from the top down in a controlled manner. Additionally, the present invention provides for the materials produced by such method. The present invention is also directed to a process for removing oxygen and hydrogen impurities from chalcogenide glass components using dynamic distillation.

Abstract: This disclosure involves a new spinel and glass micro-composite material and process for making such. The composite has excellent transmission in the 0.5-5.0 ?m wavelength region suitable for various visible and mid IR applications utilizing windows, domes and other geometric shapes. The composite can be made at a temperature about 40% lower than the glass melting temperature and about 50% lower than the spinel sintering temperature. The composite material has high modulus and fracture toughness which are important for impact resistance in armor and other practical applications.

Abstract: A p-type transparent conductive material can comprise a thin film of BCSF on a substrate where the film has a conductivity of at least 1 S/cm. The substrate may be a plastic substrate, such as a polyethersulfone, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, or some other suitable plastic or polymeric substrate.

Abstract: A bulk barium copper sulfur fluoride (BCSF) material can be made by combining Cu2S, BaS and BaF2, heating the ampoule between 400 and 550° C. for at least two hours, and then heating the ampoule at a temperature between 550 and 950° C. for at least two hours. The BCSF material may be doped with potassium, rubidium, or sodium. Additionally, a p-type transparent conductive material can comprise a thin film of BCSF on a substrate where the film has a conductivity of at least 1 S/cm. The substrate may be a plastic substrate, such as a polyethersulfone, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, or some other suitable plastic or polymeric substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a method of making chalcogenide glasses including holding the melt in a vertical furnace to promote homogenization and mixing; slow cooling the melt at less than 10° C. per minute; and sequentially quenching the melt from the top down in a controlled manner. Additionally, the present invention provides for the materials produced by such method. The present invention is also directed to a process for removing oxygen and hydrogen impurities from chalcogenide glass components using dynamic distillation.

Abstract: An infrared laser source system that combines laser emitters through an optical waveguide. Each emitter is coupled to a port of the optical waveguide and the waveguided signal is combined to provide a spatially combined laser source with a single common exit aperture. The materials used for waveguiding allow the propagation of wavelengths in the infrared. The system can be used for combining multiple laser emitters to increase the total output power and/or for combination of multiple emitters with different wavelength for increased spectral coverage out of the laser system.

Abstract: A method for making a rare earth doped polycrystalline ceramic laser gain medium by hot pressing a rare earth doped polycrystalline powder where the doping concentration is greater than 2% and up to 10% and where the grain size of the final ceramic is greater than 2 ?m. The polycrystalline powder can be Lu2O3, Y2O3, or Sc2O3, and the rare earth dopant can be Yb3+, Er3+, Tm3+, or Ho3+. Also disclosed is the related rare earth doped polycrystalline ceramic laser gain medium prepared by this method.

Abstract: A spinel ceramic made from the process comprising the steps of polishing one edge of a first spinel part to a surface roughness of less than 1 nm, polishing one edge of a second spinel part to a surface roughness of less than 1 nm, joining the polished edge of the first spinel part to the polished edge of the second spinel part, heating the first and second spinel parts to about 1000-1200° C., and maintaining said heating for about 3-6 hours resulting in bonded spinel parts.

Abstract: A method for forming a photovoltaic device by depositing at least one wetting layer onto a substrate where the wetting layer is ?100 nm and sputtering a photovoltaic material onto the wetting layer where the wetting layer interacts with the photovoltaic material. Also disclosed is the related photovoltaic device made by this method. The wetting layer may comprise any combination of In2Se3, CuSe2, Cu2Se, Ga2Se3, In2S3, CuS2, Cu2S, Ga2S3, CuInSe2, CuGaSe2, InxGa2-xSe3 where 0?x?2, CuInS2, CuGaS2, InxGa2-xS3 where 0?x?2, In2Se3-xSx where 0?x?3, CuSe2-xSx where 0?x?2, Cu2Se1-xSx, (0?x?1), Ga2Se3-xSx where 0?x?3, and InxGa2-xS3-ySy where 0?x?2, 0?y?3. The photovoltaic material may be a CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) material or a variation of a CIGS material where a CIGS component is replaced or supplemented with any combination of sulfur, tellurium, aluminum, and silver.

Abstract: A laser apparatus uses a dysprosium doped chalcogenide glass fiber. The glass fiber has a laser pump operatively connected to it. The chalcogenide glass fiber is located in a laser cavity including one or more reflective elements such as a Bragg grating, a Bragg minor, a grating, and a non-doped fiber end face. The apparatus provides laser light output at a wavelength of about 4.3 ?m to about 5.0 ?m at a useful power level using laser light input at a wavelength of from about 1.7 ?m to about 1.8 ?m. Also disclosed is a method for providing laser light output at a wavelength of about 4.3 ?m to about 5.0 ?m using the apparatus of the invention.

Abstract: This disclosure involves a new spinel and glass micro-composite material and process for making such. The composite has excellent transmission in the 0.5-5.0 ?m wavelength region suitable for various visible and mid IR applications utilizing windows, domes and other geometric shapes. The composite can be made at a temperature about 40% lower than the glass melting temperature and about 50% lower than the spinel sintering temperature. The composite material has high modulus and fracture toughness which are important for impact resistance in armor and other practical applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for making transparent ceramic spinel windows, domes and other complex shapes via edge bonding.

Abstract: Monodisperse metal oxide nanopowders are prepared by treating a dispersion of crude metal oxide nanopowder with ultrasonication, allowing the dispersion to settle, and subjecting the remaining suspended portion to centrifugation to obtain a supernatant comprising metal oxide nanopowder.

Abstract: An infrared laser source system that combines laser emitters through an optical waveguide. Each emitter is coupled to a port of the optical waveguide and the waveguided signal is combined to provide a spatially combined laser source with a single common exit aperture. The materials used for waveguiding allow the propagation of wavelengths in the infrared. The system can be used for combining multiple laser emitters to increase the total output power and/or for combination of multiple emitters with different wavelength for increased spectral coverage out of the laser system.