Abstract: A method for forming a silicon carbide material with a plurality of negatively charged silicon mono-vacancy defects includes irradiating a silicon carbide sample, annealing the irradiated silicon carbide sample in an annealing operation, and quenching the annealed silicon carbide sample. Quenching may include heating the annealed silicon carbide sample to a maximum temperature and quenching the annealed silicon carbide sample to form the silicon carbide sample with the plurality of negatively charged silicon mono-vacancy defects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of passive infrared imaging and dynamic infrared imaging of a tumor or lesion (“DIR”) where multiple images are taken before, during and after heating or cooling the tumor or lesion. Patterns of intensity of infrared emission in the infrared image(s) are related to the level of vascularity or metabolic activity of the tumor or lesion, and are used to identify size and shape of the tumor or lesion. The patterns can also be used to determine whether Kaposi's sarcoma lesions, skin cancer lesions and melanomas are active or inactive. Changes in the patterns of infrared emission determined by comparing images taken before, during and after the onset of drug or radiation therapy, are used to assess efficacy of the therapy. The methods can also be used to study tissue affected by angiogenic diseases.

Abstract: Thermal interfaces and methods include an array of carbon nanotubes aligned substantively perpendicularly from a substrate. One method includes arranging metal catalyst particles with a particular ligand on a fluid surface of a Langmuir-Blodgett trough. This forms uniformly spaced particles with spacing based on the particular ligand. The uniformly spaced metal catalyst particles are deposited on a substrate and carbon nanotubes are grown on the particles using chemical vapor deposition. A thermal interface can be produced with a carbon nanotube packing ratio greater than fifty percent and used in a thermal switch or other device. In some methods, commercially available nanotubes are condensed on a substrate using carbon nanotubes with terminal carboxylic acids in solution and an amine monolayer on the substrate. Pretreatment of the nanotubes in a switch by applying heavy pressure between two surfaces results in good thermal conductivity between those surfaces at smaller operating pressures.

Abstract: A scalable architecture based in silicon on sapphire (SOS) CMOS for building an interferometric optical detection system to sense the motion of a resonating MEMS device or to detect the motion of any object to which the system is packaged. The SOS CMOS device is packaged with both vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and MEMS devices. The optical transparency of the sapphire substrate together with the ultra thin silicon PIN photodiodes available in the SOS process allows for the design of both a Michelson-type and Fabry-Perot-type interferometer. The detectors, signal processing electronics and VCSEL drivers are built on the SOS CMOS for a complete system.

Abstract: The use of TRIR as an inspection method in composite manufacture and in embedded-sensor concepts is disclosed. Detection methods using time-resolved microwave thermoreflectometry and time-resolved shearography with TRIR are also disclosed.

Abstract: Thermal interfaces and methods include an array of carbon nanotubes aligned substantively perpendicularly from a substrate. One method includes arranging metal catalyst particles with a particular ligand on a fluid surface of a Langmuir-Blodgett trough. This forms uniformly spaced particles with spacing based on the particular ligand. The uniformly spaced metal catalyst particles are deposited on a substrate and carbon nanotubes are grown on the particles using chemical vapor deposition. A highly efficient thermal interface can be produced with a carbon nanotube packing ratio greater than fifty percent and used in a thermal switch or other device. In some methods, commercially available nanotubes are condensed on a substrate using carbon nanotubes with terminal carboxylic acids in solution and an amine monolayer on the substrate. Pretreatment of the nanotubes in a switch by applying heavy pressure between two surfaces results in good thermal conductivity between those surfaces at smaller operating pressures.

Abstract: A Lorentz force-driven mechanical resonator apparatus that utilizes a high-Q resonant structure as both a mixing device and a high-Q bandpass filter. Specifically, an external time varying, but quasistatic, magnetic field is applied to the resonating device while simultaneously running a time varying electrical current through the device. The resulting Lorentz force (I×B) is proportional to the vector product of the electrical current in the bar (I) and the external magnetic field (B). Integrating such a resonant device with a magnetic field coil produces the functionality of an ideal radio frequency (RF) mixer coupled with a high-Q intermediate frequency (IF) filter. Wide tunability provides the capability to scan, or even step, an array of filters having very narrow bandwidths via a common local oscillator to a desired frequency range.

Abstract: A multi-functional sensor system for simultaneously monitoring various parameters such as the structural, chemical and environmental conditions associated with a medium to be monitored, e.g., bridges, high-rise buildings, pollution zones, is provided wherein the system includes at least a plurality of wireless multi-functional sensor platforms embedded in the medium in which an interrogation unit transmits power and receives responses. Each wireless multi-functional sensor platform includes multiple channels for accommodating a plurality of sensor types to simultaneously monitor the parameters associated with the medium. Thus, the wireless sensor platforms are formed to include those sensor types which are considered germane to the intended medium to be monitored.

Abstract: A Lorentz force-driven mechanical resonator apparatus that utilizes a high-Q resonant structure as both a mixing device and a high-Q bandpass filter. Specifically, an external time varying, but quasistatic, magnetic field is applied to the resonating device while simultaneously running a time varying electrical current through the device. The resulting Lorentz force (I×B) is proportional to the vector product of the electrical current in the bar (I) and the external magnetic field (B). Integrating such a resonant device with a magnetic field coil produces the functionality of an ideal radio frequency (RF) mixer coupled with a high-Q intermediate frequency (IF) filter. Wide tunability provides the capability to scan, or even step, an array of filters having very narrow bandwidths via a common local oscillator to a desired frequency range.

Abstract: A multi-functional sensor system for simultaneously monitoring various parameters such as the structural, chemical and environmental conditions associated with a medium to be monitored, e.g., bridges, high-rise buildings, pollution zones, is provided wherein the system includes at least a plurality of wireless multi-functional sensor platforms embedded in the medium in which an interrogation unit transmits power and receives responses. Each wireless multi-functional sensor platform includes multiple channels for accommodating a plurality of sensor types to simultaneously monitor the parameters associated with the medium. Thus, the wireless sensor platforms are formed to include those sensor types which are considered germane to the intended medium to be monitored.

Abstract: A method for detecting the onset of and/or monitoring the progress of localized corrosion of one or more locations on the surface of a corrodible metal article in a corrosive environment is provided which comprises the step of placing one or more magnetic field corrosion sensing devices, e.g., a magnetometer, in juxtaposition with the corrosive metal article, e.g., a steel rebar in concrete, such that the magnetic field corrosion sensing devices can effectively measure the magnetic fields associated with the localized corrosion of the locations on the surface of the corrodible metal article and determine the degree of localized corrosion occurring at the locations on the surface of the corrodible metal article being monitored.

Abstract: Sensors and/or taggants feature high optical gain materials which are disposed in a high scattering environment. These materials, when adequately excited, emit intense and spectrally narrow light that is dependent on the chemical environment in which high gain materials are dispersed. When two materials are placed in the same high scattering environment, the spectal emission properties of each emitter will depend on the chemical composition of the surrounding medium. The switching or transferring of energy from one emitter to the other when the chemical environment is changed in a specific manner is enabled and a shift in the spectral emissions can be detected and/or predicted.

Abstract: Sensors and/or taggants feature high optical gain materials which are disposed in a high scattering environment. These materials, when adequately excited, emit intense and spectrally narrow light that is dependent on the chemical environment in which high gain materials are dispersed. When two materials are placed in the same high scattering environment, the spectal emission properties of each emitter will depend on the chemical composition of the surrounding medium. The switching or transferring of energy from one emitter to the other when the chemical environment is changed in a specific manner is enabled and a shift in the spectral emissions can be detected and/or predicted.

Abstract: Nondestructive/noncontact evaluation of a material for electrical and magnetic property discontinuities, e.g., a dielectric loss or the presence of a conducting contaminant, is accomplished by using microwaves to heat microwave-absorbing regions of the material caused by such discontinuities; monitoring the change in temperature of the material's surface due to the heating of the microwave-absorbing region as a function of time; and detecting the electrical and magnetic property discontinuities, e.g., the dielectric loss or the conducting contaminant, using the change in the material's surface temperature.

Abstract: The use of TRIR as an inspection method in composite manufacture and in embedded-sensor concepts is disclosed. Detection methods using time-resolved microwave thermoreflectometry and time-resolved shearography with TRIR are also disclosed.

Abstract: Nondestructive/noncontact evaluation of a material for electrical and magnetic property discontinuities, e.g., a dielectric loss or the presence of a conducting contaminant, is accomplished by using microwaves to heat microwave-absorbing regions of the material caused by such discontinuities; monitoring the change in temperature of the material's surface due to the heating of the microwave-absorbing region as a function of time; and detecting the electrical and magnetic property discontinuities, e.g., the dielectric loss or the conducting contaminant, using the change in the material's surface temperature.

Abstract: Nondestructive/noncontact evaluation of a material for electrical and magnetic property discontinuities, e.g., a dielectric loss or the presence of a conducting contaminant, is accomplished by using microwaves to heat microwave-absorbing regions of the material caused by such discontinuities; monitoring the change in temperature of the material's surface due to the heating of the microwave-absorbing region as a function of time; and detecting the electrical and magnetic property discontinuities, e.g., the dielectric loss or the conducting contaminant, using the change in the material's surface temperature.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical-based magnetostrictive magnetometer that uses, as an active element, a commercial (001) silicon microcantilever coated with an amorphous thin film of the giant magnetostrictive alloy Terfenol-D and a compact optical beam deflection transduction scheme. A set of Helmholtz coils is used to create an ac magnetic excitation field for driving the mechanical resonance of the coated microcantilever. When the coated microcantilever is placed in a dc magnetic field, the dc field will change the amplitude at the mechanical resonance of the coated microcantilever thereby causing a deflection that can be measured. The magnetometer has been demonstrated with a sensitivity near 1 .mu.T.

Abstract: The invention consists, in one embodiment, of a resonator such as a conductive bar supported by two wires placed at the nodal points of the fundamental resonance frequency. The wires also supply current of this frequency to the resonator. In the presence of a magnetic field, the Lorentz force causes the resonator to vibrate. The amplitude of this vibration is proportional to a vector component of the magnetic field. The motion of the resonator is detected using one of a number of possible methods including optical beam deflection. The invention has a sensitivity of at least 1 nT, comparable to that of a commercial fluxgate magnetometer, and a dynamic range exceeding 80 dB.