Abstract: A dual-band, dual-orthogonally-polarized antenna element includes a dielectric substrate having a conductor layer that includes a square ring slot and a shorted square ring, with each having a pair of orthogonal feed points. The shorted square ring is fed with coaxial probe feeds, while the square ring slot feeds striplines terminated in open-circuited stubs for coupling energy to each pair of orthogonal feed points. The first and second stripline feeds are not coplanar in order that each stub terminates past a center point of the element. The square ring slot operates as a high frequency band radiator and the shorted square ring operates as a low frequency band radiator, and both bands radiate substantially simultaneous dual-orthogonally-polarized modes. The modes can be any combination of dual-Circular Polarization (CP) and dual-Linear Polarization (LP), depending on the geometry of the radiators.

Abstract: A system and methods for the quasi-remote compression and focusing of a moderate-intensity laser pulse to form a much higher intensity beam that can be directed at a target and used as a probe beam or used in a probe beam converter to generate other forms of electromagnetic radiation or energetic particles. A system for the quasi-remote propagation of high-intensity laser beams in accordance with the present invention comprises a main platform on which a first, “seed” laser pulse is generated, stretched, and amplified, and a remote platform, located at a distance from the main platform, which is configured to receive the amplified and stretched pulse and convert it into the high-intensity laser beam. The high-intensity laser beam in turn can then be converted into one or more probe beams directed at a target object.

Abstract: A double balun dipole antenna element includes a dielectric substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a pair of coplanar Marchand baluns positioned in a mutually antiphase configuration on the first and second surfaces, and at least one feed line connected to the pair of Marchand baluns. A doubly polarized antenna element includes a pair of orthogonally interleaved double balun dipole antenna elements, which can be further configured into an array of such antenna elements.

Abstract: An antenna element for fabricating into a linear or planar array includes a tapered slot along a main axis of the antenna element body that extends from a first slot end, defined by an outwardly flared opening at a second end of the antenna element, into a second meandering portion that is offset from the main axis, and then into a second slot end having a bend with respect to the main axis, and finally into a slot-line cavity proximate to the first end of the antenna element body. A feed port extends into the antenna element body from the outer surface of the first end of the antenna element body into the second slot end bend adjacent the slot-line cavity.

Abstract: A distributed time reversal mirror array (DTRMA) system includes a plurality of independent, sparsely distributed time reversal mirrors (TRMs). Each of the TRMs includes an antenna; a transceiver connected to the antenna for transmitting a signal toward a target, for receiving a return, reflected signal from the target, and for retransmitting a time-reversed signal toward the target: means for phase-locking and for maintaining spatial and temporal coherences between the TRMs; and a computer including a machine-readable storage media having programmed instructions stored thereon for computing and generating the time-reversed retransmitted signal, thereby providing a phased array functionality for the DTRMA while minimizing distortion from external sources. The DTRMA is capable of operating in an autonomous, unattended, and passive state, owing to the time-reversal's self-focusing feature. The beam may be sharply focused on the target due to the coherently synthesized extended aperture over the entire array.

Abstract: A method of flattening a deformable mirror (DM) such as a piezoelectric DM to correct for distortion includes inputting an incident light beam into a reference beam optical path while blocking the DM response, recording a flat wavefront (?n, R) as a reference wavefront from a reference mirror, blocking the reference beam to obtain a DM response, activating a close-loop mode of DM Control Software and computing iterations until a difference between the reference wavefront and the DM response is minimized, recording a wavefront created by the DM (?n, DM) and the corresponding voltage vector (Vn) applied to the DM; and applying a voltage vector to the DM to thereby flatten the DM and correct for the distortion. The method is useful in an application such as for ground-to-space links at Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) wavelengths.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented in which interactive parallel coordinates capabilities are combined with automated correlation and regression tools providing advanced visual user interface utilities to facilitate identification of associations in multivariate data.

Abstract: A method for processing three-dimensional data that defines a three-dimensional scene, and determining and displaying lines-of-sight (LOS) and viewsheds on all visible surfaces of the scene, includes: i) assigning at a user-selected location at least one viewpoint in the scene; ii) applying ray tracing from locations in the scene to the viewpoint to determine locations in the scene that are in a line of sight (LOS) and outside the LOS of the viewpoint, thus determining the viewshed relative to the viewpoint; and iii) color-coding every visible surface in the scene. The color coding then differentially indicates the locations in the line of sight (LOS) and outside the LOS of the viewpoint, producing a display of a color-coded viewshed relative to the viewpoint. Additionally ray tracing can be applied from locations above the scene to determine headroom contours for those locations in the scene.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic rail gun launcher that includes a set of spaced-apart rails defining an inside bore for slidably receiving an armature-type projectile, with the rail gun and armature configured such that when powered up the projectile is forced from a breech of the rail gun toward a muzzle of the rail gun to then launch the projectile, the improvement wherein a lubricant reconditioning pad, containing a lubricant, is secured to the projectile in a location such that it contacts the rails. As the projectile moves through the bore, the pad cleans debris from, and applies lubricant to, the rails to thereby lubricate and recondition the rails during each shot.

Abstract: A method of tuning the stopband attenuation of an absorptive bandstop filter having at least a first and second resonator, where the first resonator includes a first tuning element that exhibits a first resonant frequency, the second resonator includes a second tuning element that exhibits a second resonant frequency, and the tuning elements are used to adjust the corresponding resonant frequencies, includes 1) adjusting the first resonant frequency using the first tuning element; and 2) adjusting the second resonant frequency using the second tuning element, such that both resonant frequencies are coordinated to obtain a selected stopband attenuation level and to thus realize a frequency-selective variable attenuator.

Abstract: A membrane is disclosed made from a compound having a hydrophilic head group, an aliphatic tail group, and a polymerizable functional group. The membrane spans an aperture and may be polymerized. The membrane may be useful for DNA sequencing when the membrane includes an ion channel.

Abstract: A high power density photo-electronic and photo-voltaic material comprising a bio-inorganic nanophotoelectronic material with a photosynthetic reaction center protein encapsulated inside a multi-wall carbon nanotube or nanotube array. The array can be on an electrode. The photosynthetic reaction center protein can be immobilized on the electrode surface and the protein molecules can have the same orientation. A method of making a high power density photo-electronic and photo-voltaic material comprising the steps of immobilizing a bio-inorganic nanophotoelectronic material with a photosynthetic reaction center protein inside a carbon nanotube, wherein the immobilizing is by passive diffusion, wherein the immobilizing can include using an organic linker.

Abstract: A closed-cell foam glass structure comprising a multitude of micron-sized voids enclosed by interconnected glass membranes with sub-micron thickness wherein the voids are from about 30% to about 70% of the volume.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition having a thermoset polymer and a plurality of hollow microsphere homogenously dispersed in the composition. The polymer is a cyanate ester thermoset, a phthalonitrile thermoset, a crosslinked acetylene thermoset, or a hydrosilation thermoset. Also disclosed herein is a method of: providing a thermosetting compound; adding microspheres to the thermosetting compound; and mixing the thermosetting compound while initiating crosslinking of the thermosetting compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of: providing a mixture of a polymer or a resin and a transition metal compound, producing a fiber from the mixture, and heating the fiber under conditions effective to form a carbon nanotube-containing carbonaceous fiber. The polymer or resin is an aromatic polymer or a precursor thereof and the mixture is a neat mixture or is combined with a solvent. Also disclosed are a carbonaceous fiber or carbonaceous nanofiber sheet having at least 15 wt. % carbon nanotubes, a fiber or nanofiber sheet having the a polymer or a resin and the transition metal compound, and a fiber or nanofiber sheet having an aromatic polymer and metal nanoparticles.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a process of bonding a magnesium aluminate spinel article or articles and a germanate glass article or articles including the step of heating them together above the softening temperature of the glass.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are the compounds shown below. Each R is an organic group, Cb is a carborane group, and —C6H4— is phenylene. The value of each m is a nonnegative integer, q is 0 or 1, with the proviso that if q is 0 then m is 0 or 1, p is a positive integer, r is a positive integer, and n is an integer greater than or equal to 10. Also disclosed are methods of making and crosslinking the compounds —{SiR2—([O]q—SiR2)m-[Cb-SiR2—([O]q—SiR2)m]p—C?C—C6H4—C?C}— —{SiR2—(O—SiR2)m—C?C—C6H4—C?C}n—; —{SiR2—([O]q—SiR2)m—[C?C—C6H4—SiR2—([O]q—SiR2)m]p-Cb-[SiR2—([O]q—SiR2)m-Cb]r}-.

Abstract: A Time Transfer Time Reverse Mirror (TT TRM) method and system includes a radio transceiver for transmitting a series of short pulses repeatedly at a period T and for receiving from a remote node a return signal that is a retransmission of the original signal at the same period T: a clock circuit for inputting a clock signal to the transceiver: and a computer for (i) computing and generating an imaginary time-reversed signal version of the original signal, (ii) comparing the return signal with the imaginary version, (iii) computing a delay between the return signal and the imaginary version that is substantially equal to twice the time difference between the two nodes, and (iv) applying the computed delay to a clock input calibration for a desired signal. The system includes time transfer using the ionospheric reflection (refraction), producing precise synchronization among remote nodes beyond the line-of-sight and thus without necessitating GPS or communication satellites.

Abstract: A compound having the formula below. Each R is methyl or phenyl; R2 comprises one or more of silane, siloxane, and aromatic groups; n is a nonnegative integer; and m is 1 or 2. The dashed bond is a single bond and the double dashed bond is a double bond, or the dashed bond is a double bond and the double dashed bond is a triple bond. A polymer made by a hydrosilation reaction of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane having pendant siloxane groups with an acetylene- and silicon-containing compound having at least two vinyl or ethynyl groups, and a crosslinked polymer thereof. The reaction occurs between the pendant siloxane groups and the vinyl or ethynyl groups.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are the compounds shown below and methods of their synthesis. The value m is a positive integer. R comprises an alkyl chain or an alkoxy chain. Each X comprises a metal binding group. Each E is a methoxy group or comprises a biomolecule reactive group or a residue thereof. E optionally comprises a protecting group. The value n is a positive integer. The value p is zero or one. Y is OCH3, OH, NH2, or COOH.