Abstract: A method of making glass tubing includes assembling together a first glass rod having at least one bore and a second glass rod having at least one bore to form a single glass unit, shaping an outer surface of the glass unit to a desired cross-section, and drawing the glass unit to form a glass tubing having a predetermined outer and inner dimension.

Abstract: A glass composition suitable for manufacturing plasma displays and large-area displays using the fusion draw process is provided. The glass composition includes 59-66 mol % SiO2, 14.5-18.0 mol % Al2O3, 8.5-12.0 mol % Na2O, 2.5-6.5 mol % K2O, 2.5-9.0 mol % CaO, 0.0-3.0 mol % MgO, 0.0-3.0 mol % SrO, 0.0-3.0 mol % BaO, and 0.0-5.0 mol % MgO+SrO+BaO.

Abstract: A method for making silica includes delivering a silica precursor comprising a pseudohalogen to a conversion site and passing the silica precursor through a flame to produce silica soot.

Abstract: A method for making silica includes delivering a silica precursor comprising a perfluorinated group to a conversion site and passing the silica precursor through a conversion flame to produce silica soot.

Abstract: A process for forming a silicon carbide structure includes molding by compression a mixture of a silicon precursor powder and a cross-linking thermoset resin to form a rigid structure, carbonizing the rigid structure, and forming a silicon carbide structure by heating the carbonized rigid structure at a temperature sufficient to allow carbon and silicon in the structure to react to form silicon carbide.

Abstract: A method for forming a pattern in a film carried on a substrate includes depositing a layer of alkyl silane on a surface of a mold having a pattern, bringing the mold in contact with the film on the substrate and pressing the mold into the film so as to emboss the pattern on the mold in the film, wherein the film comprises a thermoplastic polymer, and removing the mold from the film.

Abstract: A method for aligning optical fibers with an optical component includes making a lens on an end of each optical fiber to form a microlensed fiber and arranging the microlensed fibers such that an optical axis of each of the optical fibers is oriented along a common direction. The method further includes positioning each lens a selected distance from the optical component so as to couple light into and out of the optical component.

Abstract: A method for forming a fused silica glass includes delivering a silica precursor to a burner and passing the silica precursor through the flame of the burner to form silica particles, depositing the silica particles on a planar surface to form a flat, porous preform, dehydrating the porous preform, and consolidating the porous preform into a flat, dense glass.

Abstract: A method for patterning an optical property on a optical element that includes selectively applying an energy source to an optical element to pattern an optical property thereon. A method is disclosed where the optical element includes metal halide particles dispersed in the optical element. A method is also disclosed where localized heating includes pre-heating the optical element and heating a small region of the optical element with sufficient energy for metal halide particles to relax in shape. An additional method is disclosed for patterning an optical property on an optical element that includes fusing pieces of optical element containing the optical property with pieces of optical element without the optical property by heat treatment.

Abstract: A tapered lensed fiber includes a tapered multimode fiber having a gradient-index core and an optical fiber attached to the tapered multimode fiber. A method for forming a tapered lensed fiber includes attaching an optical fiber to a multimode fiber having a gradient-index core, applying heat to a surface of the multimode fiber, and pulling the multimode fiber into a taper. The method also allows for forming a tapered polarization-maintaining fiber while preserving stress rods and polarization isolation properties of the polarization-maintaining fiber.

Abstract: A method for producing below 200 nm transmitting optical fluoride crystals includes loading a fluoride raw material into a vertical stack having at least 6 crystal growth chambers, heating the vertical stack to a temperature sufficient to maintain the fluoride raw material in a molten condition, applying a crystal growth thermal gradient to the vertical stack to form optical fluoride crystals within the molten fluoride raw material, and cooling the crystals.

Abstract: A process for forming a porous silicon nitride-silicon carbide body, the process comprising (a) forming a plasticizable batch mixture comprising (1) powdered silicon metal; (2) a silicon-containing source selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, silicon nitride and mixtures thereof; (3) a water soluble crosslinking thermoset resin having a viscosity of about 50-300 centipoise; and, (4) a water soluble thermoplastic temporary binder; (b) shaping the plasticizable batch mixture to form a green body; (c) drying the green body; (d) firing the green body in nitrogen at a temperature of 1400° C. to 1600° C. for a time sufficient to obtain a silicon nitride-silicon carbide structure.

Abstract: A cable protector includes a housing body which is adapted to fit in a pipe connector. The housing body has a central bore and an insert body is rotatably supported in the central bore. The insert body has a groove which is adapted to receive a cable.

Abstract: An optical member includes a fused silica glass having a concentration of ≡SiH moiety below detection limit as measured by Raman spectroscopy and a concentration of molecular hydrogen of at least 1×1017 molecules/cm3. The fused silica glass exhibits an induced absorption level which quickly attains an initial peak upon exposure to irradiation and rapidly decays to a low value. The induced absorption level after decaying to the low value remains substantially unchanged by further irradiation.

Abstract: An accelerated radiation damage testing method for an optical sample includes disposing the optical sample inside or external to an optical cavity and injecting a predetermined number of light pulses into the optical cavity at a selected wavelength and at spaced intervals. Each light pulse injected into the optical cavity produces a train of pulses which are focused on the optical sample. The method further includes allowing each light pulse in the optical cavity to decay to a selected value and determining a change in a selected optical property of the optical sample after the optical sample has been exposed to a predetermined number of pulses.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission system for driving a rotatable member includes a differential having an output coupled with the rotatable member, a first hydrostatic drive having an output coupled to a first input of the differential, and a second hydrostatic drive having an output coupled to a second input of the differential. The output of the first hydrostatic drive is rotatable in a first selected direction and at a first selected speed. The output of the second hydrostatic drive is rotatable in a second selected direction and at a second selected speed. A rotational speed and direction of the output of the differential is related to the algebraic sum of the rotational speeds and directions of the outputs of the hydrostatic drives. In one embodiment, the speeds of the first and second drives are maintained above a minimum stable threshold, while operating the rotatable drive at very low or zero speed, by selecting the first direction to be opposite the second direction.

Abstract: A method for preparing high-purity, bulk fused silica includes supplying silane gas, a gaseous fuel, and oxygen gas to a combustion burner. Silica particles are formed by passing the silane gas into a flame formed by the combustion reaction of the gaseous fuel with the oxygen gas while maintaining the ratio of the flow rate of the gaseous fuel to the flow rate of the silane gas no less than twelve and the ratio of the flow rate of the gaseous fuel to the flow rate of the oxygen gas no less than three. The silica particles formed are immediately deposited onto a hot bait to form a boule.

Abstract: A tubing system for conveying a molten material through a vacuum housing includes a tubing having a plurality of convolutions which compress as the tubing expands. A plurality of projections disposed along a length of the tubing carries the electrical current which heats the tubing. A plurality of refractory insulation bricks are stacked between the projections. A first seal flange is coupled to an inlet end of the tubing, and a second seal flange is coupled to an outlet end of the tubing. Each seal flange includes a metal seal ring which is adapted to be coupled to the base of the vacuum housing so as to make a sealed contact with the base of the vacuum housing. Each seal flange also includes a refractory seal block which transfers the expansion force of the tubing to the metal seal ring and, thereby, causes the convolutions to compress.