Abstract: The invention relates to particle sensors that are capable of passively cooling high-powered optical sources within the sensor, thereby extending the optical source lifetime without requiring additional power. The sensor detects particles within a sample fluid by optical interaction of the optical source with flowing sample fluid in the sample chamber. Sample fluid that exits the sample chamber is directed into thermal contact with the optical source, thereby cooling the optical source. Sample fluid that has come into thermal contact with the optical source is continuously removed from the sensor to ensure the optical source is adequately cooled. A variety of elements are used to facilitate thermal contact between the optical source and sample fluid including plenums, heat sinks, and airflow cavities. Provided are related methods for cooling a one or more heat-producing device within a particle sensor.

Abstract: A braking system includes a brake actuator which is moveable by pressurised hydraulic fluid fed to the actuator along a transmission line, in a first direction, to move a brake applying member to apply a braking force to a member to be braked, a master valve including an operating piston which upon operation of a brake operating member, moves in an operating cylinder, to direct the hydraulic fluid under pressure to the transmission line to apply the brake, the system further including a charging valve, the charging valve being operable when activated, to deliver a predetermined volume of pressurised hydraulic fluid to the master valve to move the brake applying member in the first direction towards the member to be braked to reduce the clearance between them, and the operating piston, when the charging valve is deactivated, being moveable in the operating cylinder to allow hydraulic fluid to pass from the transmission line thus to permit the brake actuator to move in a second direction opposite to the first d

Abstract: A method of extracting fullerenes from a carbon matrix in which they are produced. The method is applicable to both fullerenes that exhibit greater than 0.1 mg/ml solubility in toluene and to fullerenes that are essentially insoluble in toluene, i.e., those exhibiting less than or equal to 0.1 mg/ml solubility. The method disclosed herein extracts more of the soluble fullerenes from the carbon matrix than extraction conducted by solely contacting with solvent. A method is also provided for creating salts of the extracted fullerenes.

Abstract: The invention provides fluorinated multi-layered carbon nanomaterials and methods for their production. In one aspect of the invention, the carbon nanomaterials are partially fluorinated and retain some unreacted carbon. The invention also provides electrodes and electrochemical devices incorporating the fluorinated carbon nanomaterials of the invention. In one aspect of the invention, the electrochemical has a first electrode including the at least partially fluorinated carbon materials of the invention and a second electrode including a source of lithium ions.

Abstract: The present invention provides optical configurations, including resonant cavity and laser configurations, and related methods providing deterministic control of the polarization characteristics and frequencies of the radiant output of multi-longitudinal mode lasers, including multi-longitudinal mode gas phase lasers. Polarization control provided by the present invention includes preselection and stabilization of the angular orientations of the polarization planes of electromagnetic radiation generated by a multi-longitudinal mode laser, including preselection and stabilization of orthogonal linear polarization states generated by a dual-longitudinal mode gas phase laser.

Abstract: Electrodes comprising an alkali metal, for example, lithium, alloyed with nanostructured materials of formula SizGe(z-1), where 0<z?1; formula SizGe(z-1), where 0<z<1; and/or germanium exhibit a combination of improved capacities, cycle lives, and/or cycling rates compared with similar electrodes made from graphite. These electrodes are useful as anodes for secondary electrochemical cells, for example, batteries and electrochemical supercapacitors.