Abstract: A reflective polarzier for visible light wavelengths formed of a plurality of polarizer units. Each polarizer unit having a transparent, inorganic substrate with first and second opposing surfaces. The first surface is coated with a single layer of a dielectric material, and the second surface is coated with a layer of a highly reflective metal film or a dielectric material. The polarizer is configured to produce a “quasi-straight path,” such that a light ray exiting the substrate is substantially parallel with a corresponding, incident light ray entering the substrate. The polarizer exhibits polarization over the entire visible spectrum.

Abstract: A burner nozzle having a hot face, side surfaces, and a plurality of internal gas flow passages and comprising a plurality of slits oriented in at least two different directions, wherein a selected number of the slits are formed in the hot face and/or side surfaces. The optimized location and depth of the slits relieve stresses that arise from temperature differences within the burner nozzle, caused by operation in high temperature furnaces, thereby extending the life (time to failure by fracture) of the burner nozzle.

Abstract: A glass-ceramic which is substantially and desirably totally transparent, and which contains a predominant crystal phase of forsterite. The glass-ceramic is formed from precursor glasses having the following compositions, in weight percent on an oxide basis: SiO2 30-60; Al2O3 10-25; MgO 13-30; K2O 8-20; TiO2 0-10; and GeO2 0-25. The glass-ceramic may be doped with up to 1 wt. % chromium oxide to impart optical activity thereto.

Abstract: A two-part reagent method for polishing an inorganic silicate substrate is provided. The method comprises: providing a silicate substrate; providing a reagent comprising: a first part consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of at least one metal oxide abrasive selected from the group consisting of titania, zirconia, germania, and germania-doped silica; and a second part consisting essentially of an alkali aqueous solution of colloidal silica having a buffered pH value of at least about 10; polishing a surface of said substrate with the metal oxide abrasive aqueous solution to a surface roughness (Ra) ranging from about 6 Å to about 10 Å; and further polishing the surface with said alkali aqueous solution of colloidal silica to a roughness of less than or equal to about 5 Å.

Abstract: A discharge lamp (20), such as a neon lamp, comprising a laminated envelope having a gas-discharge channel and at least one external electrode (44) in communication with the gas-discharge channel (20), the laminated envelope having a front surface (32) and a back surface (28) integrated together to form a unitary envelope body essentially free of any sealing materials. The external electrode (44) comprises an electrode surface integral with the laminated envelope and a conductive medium disposed on the electrode surface. The conductive medium may be conductive tape, conductive ink, conductive coatings, frit with conductive filler or conductive epoxies. The discharge lamp may comprise a laminated envelope including a plurality of separate gas-discharge channels and external electrodes in communication with the gas-discharge channels, whereby the discharge is driven in parallel.

Abstract: An article of manufacture that has a component capable of being sealed with a copper aluminosilicate glass. The sealing glass has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTEs) of in the range between 20-82×10-7/° C., over a range of 25-500° C.) and a softening points in the range of 660-1000° C. The glass has a composition consisting essentially, in terms of weight percent on an oxide basis, of 35-68 SiO2, 3-25 Al2O3, 2-26 B2O3, 0-20 R2O, 0-30 RO, 2-33 CuO, 0-4 F, 0-10 MxOy, where R2O is an alkali oxide selected from the group consisting of Li2O, Na2O, and K2O, and RO is an alkaline earth oxide selected from the group consisting of CaO, MgO, ZnO, SrO, and BaO, and MxOy is a transition metal oxide selected from the group consisting of Co2O3, TiO2, NiO, MnO2, and Fe2O3. The present invention also pertains to a method of sealing the article.

Abstract: A method for the detection and analysis of genetic polymorphisms using arrays that do not require labeling of a target nucleic acid sequence. Hybridization of a perfectly complementary nucleic acid target sequence to an oligonucleotide probe sequence results in a displacement and complete removal of a hybridized probe sequence from the same oligonucleotide probe sequence by means of a thermo-kinetic reaction. The removal of the hybridized probe sequence, having a quencher element, increases the intensity of emission by an emitter element on the oligonucleotide probe sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for depositing a nucleic acid on a solid support. The method comprises contacting a solid support with a solution of nucleic acid, the solution comprising about 30% to about 80% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) by volume, sodium chloride and sodium citrate salt containing buffer (SSC) at a final concentration of from about 0.1× (15 mM sodium chloride+1.5 mM sodium citrate) to about 0.8× (120 mM sodium chloride+12 mM sodium citrate). The composition includes a nucleic acid at a concentration ranging from 0.01 mg/ml to 0.50 mg/ml. Preferably, the solution comprises about 40% to about 80% DMSO by volume and SSC at a final concentration from about 0.1× to about 0.5×. More preferably, the solution comprises about 40% to about 60% DMSO by volume and SSC at final concentration from about 0.25× to about 0.5×. Most preferably, the solution comprises about 50% DMSO by volume and SSC at a final concentration of about 0.25×.

Abstract: A method for en masse cleaning of thin polarizing glass devices involving the steps of using a cleaning vessel possessing a vertical side wall, and a porous shelf attached to the vertical side wall to form an annular cavity for receiving a plurality of the thin polarizing glass devices and, exposing the cleaning vessel containing the thin polarizing glass devices to washing, rinsing, drying steps to remove organic and inorganic matter from the surfaces of the polarizing glass devices.

Abstract: A method of producing a polarizing glass article that exhibits a broad band of high contrast polarizing properties in the infrared region of the radiation spectrum. The polarizing glass is phase-separated or exhibits photochromic properties based on silver, copper, or copper-cadmium halide crystals or a combination thereof, which are precipitated in the glass and having a size in the range of 200-5000 Å. The glass has a surface layer containing elongated silver, copper, or copper cadmium metal particles, or a mixture thereof. The method comprises subjecting the glass article to a time-temperature cycle in which the temperature is at least about 76° C. or greater above the glass softening point, in a step to thermally form and precipitate large halide crystals, and elongated metallic particles under a stress of not over about 3000 psi, preferably not over about 2675 psi.

Abstract: A fiber-optic polarizer made by a process comprised of providing a substrate, coupling or embedding an optical single mode fiber to the substrate, making a narrow trench across the fiber at an angle, thereby bifurcating the fiber core into a first fiber core end and a second fiber core end, inserting and securing a thin polarizing material of a monolithic, non-laminated structure into the narrow trench, such that a light spot size emitted from a first fiber core is completely encompassed by the polarizing material, and the light spot size emerging from the polarizing material is substantially collected within the mode field diameter of a second fiber core. The narrow trench having a width of about 30-50 &mgr;m, and the polarizing material having a thickness of about 15-50 &mgr;m. The polarizing material having a monolithic composition.

Abstract: A glass-ceramic which is substantially and desirably totally transparent, and which contains a predominant, orthosilicate crystal phase whose composition lies within the ternary Mg2SiO4—Zn2SiO4—Li4SiO4 system. The glass-ceramic is formed from precursor glasses having the following compositions, in weight percent on an oxide basis: 35-72 SiO2, 0-20 Al2O3, 0-40 ZnO, 0-18 MgO, 1-15 Li2O, 0-18 K2O, 0-8 Na2O, 0-8 P2O5, with the condition that &Sgr;ZnO+MgO≧7. The glass-ceramic may be doped with up to 1 wt. % chromium, oxide to impart optical activity thereto.

Abstract: A reusable pipette-tip holder that doubles the density of the number of pipette tips able to be stored within a single container, while conserving the total amount of material, packaging and storage space. The invention creates a rigid box by the joining, bottom to bottom, of two pipette-racks each having a standard matrix of pipette-receiving holes. The new design permits pipettes to be inserted from both the top and bottom of the box, because the centerline spacing of the rows of pipette-receiving holes on the top and bottom surfaces is offset with respect to each other. Rows of pipette tips from one side of the container nest between the free space in adjacent rows of tips inserted from the other side of the container.

Abstract: The invention resides in a molecular, inorganic glass and a method of making the glass, the glass being vitreous and resistant to devitrification, that is composed, in substantial part at least, of thermally-stable, zero-dimensional clusters or molecules, composed of four atoms of arsenic and three atoms of sulfur, the glass further containing up to 12 atomic percent of germanium, adjoining clusters being bonded to each other primarily by van der Waals forces, and at least 95% of the glass composition consisting of 42-60% arsenic, 37-48% sulfur plus selenium, the selenium being 0-14%.

Abstract: A substrate for use in supporting high density biological or chemical arrays that is made from borosilicate or boroaluminosilicate glass. It has been demonstrated that a functionalized coating used to immobilize oligonucleotides for example, retains its functionality when exposed to environmental stresses when it is applied to a slide composed of a glass material having a low sodium oxide content.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a leaded copper boroaluminosilicate glass, having coefficients of thermal expansion (CTES) of between 25-55×10−7/°C. (over a range of 25-300° C.) and a softening point in the range of 550-725° C., being suitable for use as a sealing glass, especially for borosilicate glasses, and having a composition consisting essentially, in terms of weight percent on an oxide basis, of 27-60 SiO2, 3-14 Al2O3, 9-28 B2O3, 0.0-10 R2O, 0.1-40 PbO, 0.1-11 CuO, where R2O is an alkali oxide selected from the group consisting of Li2O, Na2O, K2O, Rb2O and Cs2O.

Abstract: Glassy coatings that isolate metal surfaces from carbon particles, and a method of applying the coatings. The coatings composed of essentially K2O, SiO2, and Al2O3, and has a CTE of at least 80×10−7/° C. These glassy coatings, which adhere well to metals, employ a potassium-silicate glass composition in three forms: a pure glass, a glass loaded with inert filler having a CTE higher than the glass itself, and a precursor frit that when “reactive-cerammed” produces a predominantly leucite crystalline phase and forms the glassy coating in-situ on the metal surface, creating a protective layer between the exposed metal surface and corrosive chemical-processing environments.

Abstract: A method that provides a new way to embed rare earth fluorides into silicate (or germania-doped silica) glasses by means of solution chemistry. Embedding rare earth fluorides into a silicate (or germania-doped silica) glass comprises the following steps. First, form a porous silicate core preform. Second, submerge the preform into an aqueous solution of rare earth ions. Third, remove the preform from the solution and wash the outside surfaces of the preform. Fourth, submerge the preform into an aqueous solution of a fluorinating agent to precipitate rare earth trifluorides from the solution and deposit in the pores or on the wall of the preform. This is followed by drying.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a copper aluminosilicate glass, having coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of between 20-82×10−7/° C. (over a range of 25-500° C.) and a softening points in the range of 660-1000° C., being suitable for use as a sealing glass, especially for borosilicate glass, and having a composition consisting essentially, in terms of weight percent on an oxide basis, of 35-68 SiO2, 3-25 Al2O3, 2-26 B2O3, 0-20 R2O, 1-30 RO, 2-33 CuO, 0-4 F, 0-10 MxOy, where R2O is an alkali oxide selected from the group consisting of Li2O, Na2O, and K2O, and RO is an alkaline earth oxide selected from the group consisting of CaO, MgO, ZnO, SrO, and BaO, and MxOy is a transition metal oxide selected from the group consisting of Co2O3, TiO2, NiO, MnO2, and Fe2O3.

Abstract: A non-porous, transparent glass-ceramic body that is consolidated from a predominately silica-based preform (SiO2+GeO2 85-99.0 wt. %) containing rare earth fluoride crystals embedded within by solution chemistry. The glass ceramic body is suited for making fibers for optical amplifiers.