Abstract: The invention provides a device containing a low .kappa., hydrogen-free a-C:F layer with good adhesion and thermal stability. It was found that the combination of desirable properties was attainable by a relatively easy process, as compared to processes that utilize gaseous sources, such as CVD. Specifically, the a-C:F layer is formed by sputter deposition, using only solid sources for the fluorine and carbon, and in the absence of any intentionally-added hydrogen-containing source. The sputtering is performed such that the layer contains 20 to 60 at. % fluorine, and also, advantageously, such that the a-C:F exhibits a bandgap of about 2.0 eV or greater. The a-C:F layer formed by the process of the invention exhibits a dielectric constant, at 1 MHz and room temperature, of 3.0 or less, advantageously 2.5 or less, and more advantageously 2.1 or less, along with being thermally stable up to at least 350.degree. C., advantageously 450.degree. C.

Abstract: The deposition rate of MCVD processes is enhanced by applying at least a first and a second independently controlled heat source to a plurality of reactants which are used to form deposited particulate matter. The first heat source is adjusted so as to provide at least a specified rate of reaction for the reactants, and the second source is adjusted so as to provide at least a specified deposition rate for the particulate matter.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of silica particles is mixed with a dialkyldialkoxysilane monomer, e.g., dimethyldiethoxysilane (DMDES), typically under basic conditions. Optionally, the monomer, or a portion thereof, is partially reacted prior to mixing, such that it is possible for a polydialkylsiloxane oligomer, e.g., polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), to be added either with or instead of the monomer. The addition of the monomer (or oligomer) induces gelation of the silica. The contemplated mechanism is that the silanol groups on the growing polydialkylsiloxane chains are able to condense with silanol groups found on the silica particle surfaces, thereby anchoring the chains to the particles. These chains appear to have the ability to form bridges between particles and/or loops on individual particles. Such bridges appear to initiate formation of a silica particle network, and both the bridges and loops increase the silica particles' hydrophobicity.

Abstract: A process for determining at least one dynamic of a vehicle, particularly slip angle, during travel. The process involves optically monitoring, in real time and from the vehicle itself, the movement in one or more camera images of surface features as the vehicle passes over the surface. The direction in which the surface features are moving at any given time indicates the actual direction of vehicle movement with respect to the orientation of the optical monitoring equipment. From this actual direction of movement, in combination with the known orientation of the optical monitoring equipment and the direction in which the vehicle is being steered, it is possible to calculate the slip angle in real time.

Abstract: The invention relates to use of a material containing a polymerizable monomer or oligomer, the material exhibiting desirable shrinkage compensation upon polymerization. The material contains an expansion agent having a cleaving moiety with the capacity to be cleaved or fragmented by a catalytic reaction, e.g., acid catalysis. The cleavage, by increasing the number of molecules in the material, causes expansion that compensates, at least in part, for shrinkage induced by polymerization of the monomer or oligomer. The expansion agent is capable of providing compensation such that no more than 0.4%, advantageously no more than 0.2%, volume shrinkage per molar concentration of polymerized monomer functional groups occurs, where such compensation is performed at relatively low temperatures of less than 40.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved process for determining the characteristics of dispersed particles. The process involves directing waves (acoustic or light) into a dispersion, and measuring the attenuation of the waves for particular frequencies to provide an attenuation spectrum. The measured attenuation spectrum is then compared to a set of theory-based calculated attenuation spectra to determine the particle size distribution corresponding to the measured attenuation spectrum. Unlike previous processes, the particle size distribution is capable of being accurately determined by a single inversion algorithm, thus eliminating burdensome steps of previous methods.

Abstract: Substituted styrenes are synthesized by a simple, low temperature technique. A protected phenol styrene is reacted with an acid anhydride, dicarbonate, a halogen substituted alkyl, or an acid chloride in the presence of base to form a carbonyl substituted styrene. Unexpected yield decrease due to distillation is avoided because the product is sufficiently pure to be used without such distillation.

Abstract: The photorecording medium of the invention is formed by mixing a matrix precursor and a photoactive monomer, and curing the mixture to form the matrix in situ. The reaction by which the matrix precursor is polymerized during the cure is independent from the reaction by which the photoactive monomer is polymerized during writing of data. In addition, the matrix polymer and the polymer resulting from polymerization of the photoactive monomer are compatible with each other. Use of a matrix precursor and photoactive monomer that polymerize by independent reactions substantially prevents cross-reaction between the photoactive monomer and the matrix precursor during the cure and inhibition of subsequent monomer polymerization. Use of a matrix precursor and photoactive monomer that result in compatible polymers substantially avoids phase separation. And in situ formation allows fabrication of media with desirable thicknesses.

Abstract: The invention is a sol-gel extrusion process which allows fabrication of both thick and thin wall tubes. For example, the process is capable of preparing silica overcladding tubes in a manner easier than sol-gel casting processes, and also capable of preparing relatively thin substrate tubes, which are difficult to cast. According to the invention, a silica dispersion containing a stabilizing agent is provided, a gelling agent is added to the dispersion to induce gellation, and the resultant gel is extruded into a silica body, in the substantial absence of polymeric material from the gel. Substantially avoiding the inclusion of such polymeric material in overcladding and substrate tubes offers significant commercial advantages by reducing the time and energy required to remove organic materials from the tube bodies, by reducing environmental impact, and by reducing the amount of impurities introduced in the tubes.

Abstract: A system, e.g., a wavelength division multiplexed optical network, having a tunable add/drop filter is provided. The filter of the invention contains a substrate having a waveguide capable of guiding both optical waves and acoustic waves. An interdigital transducer induces one or more acoustic waves of desired wavelengths in the waveguide, along the same direction as the optical waves, such that one or more desired optical wavelength channels are reversed in direction, i.e., reflected back in the direction from which the light entered the waveguide. The filter of the invention thus provides reversal of direction of selected optical wavelengths in a manner similar to that of a fiber grating, but, unlike a fiber grating, the filter of the invention is also capable of being tuned in real-time to reflect light of selected wavelength bands, by adjusting the frequency of the voltage applied to the interdigital transducer.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved process for fabricating masks suitable for use in SCALPEL and similar electron-based or ion-based lithographic processes. Specifically, the process allows use of commercially-available (100) oriented silicon substrates, and better control over the profiles of mask struts. Specifically, the struts of the mask are formed by plasma etching, using a fluorine-based gas, and a unique multilayer mask blank is fabricated to promote successful use of the plasma etch. According to an embodiment of the process, an etch stop layer is deposited onto the front surface of a silicon substrate, and a membrane layer is deposited over the etch stop layer. A scattering layer, typically tungsten, is deposited over the membrane layer. A patterning layer is deposited on the back surface of the substrate, and the desired grillage pattern for the struts is patterned into the patterning layer.

Abstract: The smoothness of refractory dielectric bodies, particularly silica sol-gel bodies, is substantially improved by a relatively straightforward treatment. In particular, the surface of the body is treated with a plasma fireball, such as induced by a plasma torch. The treatment is able to reduce the roughness, as measured by RA, in overcladding tubes formed by a sol-gel process by at least a factor of 2, typically at least a factor of 5. It is also possible to improve the smoothness of silica tubes that are drawn from a billet. Typically, the process reduces the roughness of silica bodies to an RA of about 1 microinch or less.

Abstract: It has been found that in sol-gel processes utilizing TMAH, it is possible to treat a trimethylamine (TRIMA)-containing solution with hydrogen peroxide to form trimethylamine oxide--(CH.sub.3).sub.3 N.sup.+ --O.sup.- (TRIMAO), a water soluble compound which is less volatile and less odorous than TRIMA, and which is capable of being sent to a standard wastewater treatment plant. The hydrogen peroxide is generally added to the TRIMA-containing solution in a H.sub.2 O.sub.2 :TRIMA ratio of at least 3:1, advantageously at least 10:1. Because of the resultant TRIMAO solution's ability to be sent to a standard wastewater treatment facility, improved productivity and lowered expense of the overall fiber fabrication process are obtained. The invention is also suitable for treatment of triethylamine.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved process for fabricating devices containing metallized magnetic ceramic material, such as inductors, transformers, and magnetic substrates. In particular, the unique vias utilized in the process of the invention allow fabrication of devices from multiple unfired ferrite layers with only a single via-coating step, thereby avoiding the need numerous punching steps. Moreover, there is no need for expanding the dimensions of the vias and thus no need for internal metallization. The invention therefore provides for green tape-type fabrication of devices such as inductors, transformers, and magnetic substrates in a manner faster, less complex, and more reliable than current methods. The invention also relates to use of an improved conductive material in such a process, the conductive material containing silver/palladium particles, ferrite particles, a cellulose-based or other organic binder, and a solvent.

Abstract: A refractory dielectric body is heated with a plasma fireball at conditions which do not result in substantial removal of a surface portion of the body, yet which are sufficient to reduce both surface and bulk impurities. Typically, the body is treated with the plasma in the absence of simultaneous deposition of material onto the body. Advantageously, an isothermal, oxygen or oxygen-containing plasma is utilized. The invention is useful for reducing chlorine impurities by at least about 30% to a depth of at least about 10 .mu.m, with accompanying reduction of hydroxyl impurities. The invention thus provides a useful method for reducing the concentration of impurities that contribute to imperfections during the process of drawing fiber from an optical fiber preform, without requiring substantial removal of the surface of the preform.

Abstract: Improved diamond particle emitters, useful for flat panel displays, are fabricated by suspending nanometer-sized ultra-fine particles in a solution, applying the suspension as a coating onto a conducting substrate such as n-type Si or metal, subjecting the coated substrate to a plasma of hydrogen, and applying a thin, conformal diamond overcoating layer onto the particles. The resulting emitters show excellent emission properties, such as extremely low turn-on voltage, good uniformity and high current densities. In particular, the electron emitters are capable of producing electron emission current densities of at least 0.1 mA/,mm.sup.2 at extremely low vacuum electric fields of 0.2-3.0 V/.mu.m V/.mu.m. These field values are about an order of magnitude lower than exhibited by the best defective CVD diamond and almost two orders of magnitude lower than p-type semiconducting diamond.

Abstract: A device having a composite interconnection medium that reduces or avoids long-term reliability problems exhibited by current media, containing a first component and a second component, e.g., circuit boards, and an intermediate area between the first component and the second component. The intermediate area contains electrically conductive particles in a non-conductive matrix and compression-limiting bodies that are either located within the matrix or separately attached to one of the components. The conductive particles are arranged in chains of two or more particles across the thickness of the matrix to provide electrical connection between the first component and second component. The compression-limiting bodies substantially reduce the likelihood that dimensional changes in the components, e.g., due to warping or servicing, will stress or deform the matrix to an extent that unacceptably affects the electrical conductivity through the intermediate area.

Abstract: New solder compositions having enhanced mechanical properties are disclosed. Relatively inert particles having a diameter of 2000 nm or less are dispersed in a solder material having an average grain size of 500 nm or less to produce such solder compositions. The dispersed particles act as physical barriers substantially impeding the motion of grain boundaries and inhibiting grain growth during thermal and stress cycling which substantially inhibits coarsening. As a consequence, the solder composition exhibits an advantageous level of superplasticity that is substantially resistant to joint failure. Methods for forming articles using such solder compositions is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for coating an article with a siloxane-based coating composition that results in a coating with high thermal mechanical stability, the method also allowing commercially acceptable speeds to be employed while inhibiting beading of the coating prior to cure. In one embodiment, an article is coated with a composition containing a first methylsilsequioxane oligomer having an initial viscosity of about 2000 cp or less, a second methylsilsequioxane oligomer having an initial viscosity of about 40,000 to about 90,000 cp, a viscosity-lowering additive of a lower aliphatic ketone, and a catalyst. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for coating an article with a modified methylsilsequioxane coating suitable for higher temperature applications than an all-methyl coating.

Abstract: The invention provides an alternative to conventional sol-gel methods that utilize undesirably high amounts of a stabilizing agent such as TMAH and a gelling agent such as methyl formate. The method involves the steps of (a) providing a colloidal silica dispersion containing a stabilizing/gelling agent, where only a portion of the molecules of the agent ionize, and (b) subsequently adding to the silica dispersion a pH-reducing additive. The stabilizing/gelling agent has a dual function. The agent, e.g., an amine, initially acts as a stabilizer in the silica dispersion in that a portion of its molecules ionize, while an appreciable amount of the agent remains non-ionized. The agent later transforms in situ to a gelling agent upon addition of a pH-reducing additive. Specifically, as the pH-reducing additive lowers the pH to values at or around the pK.sub.