Abstract: A compact, low-cost system for the detection of counterfeit or sub-potency pharmaceuticals is implemented by use of a low power X-ray source, an incident collimator containing a series of concentric, non-parallel slits, receiving collimators containing a series of concentric, non-parallel slits, additional collimators to limit tangential divergence and a single, near room temperature energy dispersive detector that sums the plurality of diffracted x-ray beams. In this system, the tradeoff between spectral resolving power and the diffracted intensity is eliminated. Also provided are methods to determine the optimal diffraction angle for a given test material, determine the instrument geometry and design parameters, and assess the system performance and sensitivity to alignment errors.

Abstract: A compact, low-cost system for the detection of counterfeit or sub-potency pharmaceuticals is implemented by use of a low power X-ray source, an incident collimator containing a series of concentric, non-parallel slits, receiving collimators containing a series of concentric, non-parallel slits, additional collimators to limit tangential divergence and a single, near room temperature energy dispersive detector that sums the plurality of diffracted x-ray beams. In this system, the tradeoff between spectral resolving power and the diffracted intensity is eliminated. Also provided are methods to determine the optimal diffraction angle for a given test material, determine the instrument geometry and design parameters, and assess the system performance and sensitivity to alignment errors.

Abstract: A composite ceramic including a first phase of ceramic material and a second phase of ceramic material, the first and second phases forming three dimensional interconnected networks of each phase and having a nano-scaled grain size. The composite ceramic is produced in a method which utilizes rapid solidification at cooling rates of at least ˜104° K/sec to produce a metastable material formed by a solid solution of a two immiscible ceramic material phases, and which also utilizes relatively high pressure/low temperature consolidation to complete densification of the metastable material, while simultaneously generating a composite structure with nano-scale grain dimensions through a controlled phase transformation.

Abstract: A hot pressing method involves the simultaneous application of high pressure (1.5-8 GPa) at a relatively low temperature (0.2-0.6 Tm) High compaction pressure causes particle deformation, such that the green density increases with pressure up to a maximum at about 8 GPa. Low sintering temperature mitigates grain growth during the consolidation process. Another factor that promotes densification is the occurrence of a pressure-induced phase transformation (typically from a metastable structure to a more stable structure), accompanied by a significant reduction in free volume for example greater than about 1 to about 2 vol. %. Such transformation-assisted consolidation has been successfully applied to produce sintered oxide and non-oxide bulk nanocrystalline ceramics having a grain size less than 100 nm, starting with even finer-scale ceramic nanopowders. Under appropriate high pressure conditions, a sintered grain size can be realized that is actually smaller than the original powder particle size.

Abstract: Energy dispersive x-ray diffraction spectra are obtained from numerous volume elements within an object. A feature set such as a set of cepstrum coefficients is extracted from each spectrum and classified by a trained classifier such as a neural network to provide an indication of whether or not contraband such as explosives is present in the volume element. Indications for adjacent volume elements are evaluated in conjunction with one another, as by an erosion process, to suppress isolated indications and thereby suppress false alarms.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes the unique addition of yttrium to aluminum base alloys to either enhance the conductivity of such alloys when compared to commercial conductor grade material or provide equivalent conductivity when utilizing grades of aluminum containing higher normal impurity levels. Various processing procedures can be utilized for this material, depending upon the desired final properties.