Abstract: A method of forming a superconducting structure is provided that includes forming a superconducting element in a first dielectric layer, forming a protective pad formed from a resistive material over at least a portion of the superconducting element, forming a second dielectric layer overlying the first dielectric layer, and etching an opening through the second dielectric layer to the protective pad, such that no portion of the superconducting element is exposed in the opening. A cleaning process is performed on the superconducting structure, and a contact material fill with a resistive material is performed to fill the opening and form a resistive element in contact with the superconducting element through the protective pad.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of stretch-forming material are provided. In one example embodiment, a variable material stretch-forming apparatus comprises a stretch-forming assembly configured to stretch-form at least one section of a sheet of material to a longer length than at least one other section of the sheet of material before the sheet of material is applied to a tool.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with a first layer having a first layer conductive contact and being doped at a first concentration of a first dopant type. The first dopant type being a P type dopant. A second layer is on top the first layer and being doped at a second concentration of the first dopant type. The second concentration being less than the first concentration. A third layer is on top of the second layer and having a third layer conductive contact and being doped with a second dopant type, the second dopant type being an N type dopant. A fourth layer is on top of the third layer and having a fourth layer conductive contact and being doped with the first dopant type, wherein at least one of the first and second layers is a boron arsenide (BAs) layer.

Abstract: A preceramic resin formulation comprising a polycarbosilane preceramic polymer, an organically modified silicon dioxide preceramic polymer, and, optionally, at least one filler. The preceramic resin formulation is formulated to exhibit a viscosity of from about 1,000 cP at about 25° C. to about 5,000 cP at a temperature of about 25° C. The at least one filler comprises first particles having an average mean diameter of less than about 1.0 ?m and second particles having an average mean diameter of from about 1.5 ?m to about 5 ?m. Impregnated fibers comprising the preceramic resin formulation are also disclosed, as is a composite material comprising a reaction product of the polycarbosilane preceramic polymer, organically modified silicon dioxide preceramic polymer, and the at least one filler. Methods of forming a ceramic matrix composite are also disclosed.

Abstract: One example includes a power supply system. The system includes a voltage-limit power regulator to generate an output voltage and an instantaneous overvoltage sensor configured to detect an overvoltage condition associated with the output voltage. The system further includes an overvoltage latch-off timer system configured to initiate a latch-off timer in response to detecting the overvoltage condition. The latch-off timer can be uninterrupted by an amplitude of the output voltage. The overvoltage latch-off timer system can further be configured to detect a persistent overvoltage fault in response to detecting the overvoltage condition after expiration of the latch-off timer. The overvoltage latch-off timer system can be configured to generate a fault signal to disable the voltage-limit power regulator in response to detecting the persistent overvoltage fault.

Abstract: Heat exchangers include a first heat exchange section joined to a second heat exchange section. In some embodiments, channels of one or more of the heat exchange sections may be positioned such that adjacent channels are collinear in at least one direction. In some embodiments, sidewalls of one or more of the heat exchange sections may exhibit a substantially constant thickness along a section of the heat exchanger that includes the channels.

Abstract: A WDM seed beam source for a fiber laser amplifier system that includes a number of master oscillators that generate seed beams at different wavelengths and a spectral multiplexer that multiplexes all of the seed beams onto a single fiber. An EOM modulates the combined seed beams on the single fiber and a spectral demultiplexer then separates the modulated seed beams into their constituent wavelengths on separate fibers before the seed beams are amplified and spectrally combined. The fiber laser amplifier system includes a separate fiber amplifier that amplifies the separated seed beams, an emitter array that directs the amplified beams into free space, beam collimating optics that focuses the uncombined beams, and an SBC grating responsive to the collimated uncombined beams that spatially combines the collimated uncombined beams.

Abstract: One example includes an acoustic resonator filter system. The system includes a plurality of filter blocks. Each of the filter blocks can include a plurality of tunable filter elements. Each of the tunable filter elements can include an acoustic resonator. The system also includes a switching network that receives a radio frequency (RF) input signal and provides a filtered RF output signal. The switching network can be configured to selectively switch at least one of the filter blocks in a signal path of the RF input signal to provide the RF output signal.

Abstract: One example includes an acoustic resonator filter system. The system includes a filter element arranged between a low-voltage rail and a filter-path node through which an RF input signal propagates to provide a filtered RF output signal. The filter element includes an acoustic resonator and a capacitive network arranged in parallel with the acoustic resonator.

Abstract: One example includes an acoustic resonator filter bank system. The system includes a multiplex passive filter that is configured to provide a plurality of filtered versions of a radio frequency (RF) input signal. The system also includes a filter bank that comprises a plurality of filter blocks that are each configured to provide a plurality of pass-bands across a frequency spectrum. Each of the filter blocks includes an acoustic resonator. The system further includes a switch matrix that is configured to provide one of the filtered versions of the RF input signal to one of the filter blocks in the filter bank to provide an RF output signal having a frequency band corresponding to a respective one of the pass-bands.

Abstract: A system for detecting threats using an overt threat detector, the system includes a computer-readable memory configured to store computer executable instructions; a processor configured to execute the computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions comprising receiving historical data regarding vessel patterns in a geographic area; generating, using a computer processor, at least one overt threat model based on the received historical data; receiving tracking data of vessels currently in the geographic area; analyzing, using the computer processor, the tracking data of vessels using the at least one overt threat model; and modifying, using the computer processor, the tracking data of vessels based on the results of the analyzing step; and an output device configured to output the modified tracking data of vessels is disclosed.

Abstract: A superconducting DC switch system is provided. The superconducting DC switch system comprises one or more Josephson junctions (JJs), and a magnetic field generator that is configured to switch from inducing a magnetic field in a plane of the one or more JJs, and providing no magnetic field in the plane of the one or more JJs. A DC input signal applied at an input of the one or more JJs is passed through to an output the one or more JJs in the absence of an induced magnetic field, and the DC input signal is substantially suppressed at the output of the one or more JJs in the presence of the magnetic field.

Abstract: Edge-sensitive, state-based single flux quantum (SFQ) based circuitry and related methods convert return-to-zero (RZ) or non-return-to-zero (NRZ) encoded SFQ-pulse-based signals to bilevel NRZ phase signals that can subsequently be converted to bilevel voltage signals by an output amplifier (OA). The SFQ-based circuitry can be integrated with a current amplification stage of a driver that can be coupled to a stage of the OA. The SFQ-based circuitry can be made to be compatible with RQL-encoded input signals that can be either RZ or NRZ. The SFQ-based circuitry can thus be compatible with both wave-pipelined (WPL) and phase-mode (PML) RQL circuitry. Because the SFQ-based circuitry and related methods are edge-sensitive and state-based, they can function at system clock rates in excess of 1 GHz with reduced glitches and improved bit error rates as compared to other superconducting RZ-NRZ conversion circuitry and methods.

Abstract: An insulation material includes a matrix comprising a reaction product formed from a silicon carbide precursor resin and a silicon dioxide precursor resin. At least one filler, such as hollow glass microspheres and/or carbon fiber is dispersed within the matrix. A rocket motor includes a case, the insulation material within and bonded to the case, and a solid propellant within the case. An insulation precursor includes a silicon carbide precursor resin, a silicon dioxide precursor resin, and the at least one filler. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some examples, an isolation transformer can include a first wire having a first insulation thickness and a second wire having a second insulation thickness that is different than the first insulation thickness. The isolation transformer can further include a plurality of magnetic cores of magnetic material that can be configured to surround portions of each of the first and second wires along respective circumferences of the first and second wires to provide the isolation transformer.

Abstract: An in-flight refueling assembly for an aircraft to be refueled by a fuel dispensing aircraft includes a refueling probe extending from the aircraft and having an electromagnet with an energized condition and a non-energized condition. A refueling probe receptacle is connected to the fuel dispensing aircraft. A superconductor is connected to the receptacle such that the refueling probe becomes aligned with the receptacle when the electromagnet is placed in the energized condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for particle collection is provided. The apparatus includes a magnetic element configured to generate a tapered magnetic ion transport tunnel that collects particles from a local environment, a detector configured to perform one or more measurements of the collected particles, and ion optics configured to transport the collected particles to the detector.

Abstract: A method, implemented by a computing system on-board a vehicle, differentiates whether an anomaly originating from a hardware component of the vehicle is caused by a cybersecurity threat, by a degradation of the performance of the hardware component, or by both. States of the respective nodes in a first group of nodes of the first hardware component are compared with a stored table of sets of states of nodes in the first group. A determination is made of whether the anomaly associated with the first hardware component is caused by a cybersecurity threat or by health degradation of the first hardware component based on the comparison of the states of the nodes of the first group with the sets of possible states of the respective nodes where each set is associated with one of a cybersecurity threat and health degradation.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle includes a body and an antenna assembly mounted to the body. The antenna assembly includes a fairing component comprising a hollow body, a conductive coating formed on at least an inner surface of the fairing component, a plurality of antenna elements formed in the conductive coating, each antenna element including a first slot line defining a first transmission line and a second slot line defining a second transmission line, an insulator sleeve disposed within the fairing component, wherein an outer surface of the insulator sleeve at least substantially matches an inner surface of the fairing component, and a plurality of cable assemblies operably coupled to the plurality of antenna elements, wherein each cable assembly is coupled to a respective antenna element.

Abstract: One example includes an optical element. The optical element includes a first optical material structure comprising a first index of refraction across a frequency spectrum. The optical element also includes a second optical material structure configured to exhibit an index anomaly corresponding to a change in index of refraction from the first index of refraction to a second index of refraction across a portion of the frequency spectrum and a change from the second index of refraction to the first index of refraction along the frequency spectrum. The optical element further includes a diffractive interface corresponding to a non-planar material contact junction between the first optical material structure and the second optical material structure. The diffractive interface can be configured to manipulate in a predetermined manner an optical beam having an optical path through the diffractive interface and having a frequency in the portion of the frequency spectrum.