Abstract: A laser architecture for selectively producing short high-energy laser pulses having octave-spanning, continuous tunability. Two oppositely chirped pulses are used in combination with a pair of tunable pulse stretcher/compressors to produce a short, high-energy, tunable, broadband pulse.

Abstract: A dual phase high entropy boride-carbide composite for extreme environments, comprising dual phases of high entropy boride (HEB) and high entropy carbide (HEC), wherein the high entropy boride comprises (Zr—Hf—Ti—V)B2 and wherein the high entropy carbide comprises (Zr—Hf—Ti—V)C. A method of making a dual phase high entropy boride-carbide composite for extreme environments, comprising the steps of utilizing a pressureless reactive sintering process, providing a Zr—Hf—Ti—V—B4C powder blend, maintaining a low sintering temperature, allowing the Zr—Hf—Ti—V—B4C powder blend to result in HE-Alloy powder and B4C, allowing the B4C to result in 4B and C and heat, reacting the HE-Alloy powder with the B and the C, and forming a HE-boride composite and a HE-carbide composite, wherein the HE-boride composite and HE-carbide composite comprise (Zr—Hf—Ti—V)B2+(Zr—Hf—Ti—V)C.

Abstract: Provided are apparatus and methods for sensing material degradation through sensing of mass accumulation. In some aspects, the apparatus and methods employ a material such as aerogel in conjunction with a force-sensing device such as a piezoelectric sensor placed in contact with or in proximity to a material under test. Degradation of the material under test is sensed by sensing a change in mass of the aerogel absorbing parts or particles of material lost by the unit under test that, in turn, acts to further place force on or deform the piezoelectric sensor enabling real time measurement of degradation by sensing changes in the output voltage of the piezoelectric sensor. These changes in output voltage may then be correlated to the mass degradation of the unit under test.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of discharging a battery by providing a composition having a solution of a crosslinked or crosslinkable polymer and a solvent and conductive carbon particles; and applying the composition to a battery in contact with an anode and a cathode to form an electrical connection from the anode to the cathode.

Abstract: A method of making an electrode by providing a mixture of first particles of silver or silver oxide and second particles of an inorganic porogen, molding the mixture, cohering the mixture to form a green body, demolding the green body, heating the green body to form a monolith, to convert any silver oxide to silver, and to fuse the first particles together, and submerging the monolith in a liquid that removes the second particles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cyclic peptide polymer having the below structure. Each R1 and each R2 is an organic group. Each R3 is a covalent bond or methylene. The values m and n are nonnegative integers having a sum of at least 1. Each X is —NH—CO— or —CO—N—. The value p is an integer greater than 1. The cyclic peptide polymer may be made by providing a cyclic peptide having two side chains having terminal amino groups or carboxylic acid groups, and reacting the amino groups with an azobenzene or the carboxylic acid groups with an azodianiline.

Abstract: Provided is a weatherproof enclosure for an electro-optic infrared camera core with male lens threads and exposed electronics. The enclosure includes a lens cover with female threads, a front and rear main body, a first and second gasket, a cable gland opening in the rear main body, and mounting holes. The female threads attach to the male threads to secure the lens cover to the front main body. The gaskets create a weatherproof seal, and the cable gland opening enables power and data cabling to pass to the exterior of the enclosure. The mounting holes permit attachment to a variety of surfaces. An alternative internal compression bracket can be used to secure a variety of OEM camera modules that all utilize the same bolt pattern. The enclosure provides superior protection from water intrusion and impact forces, permitting camera use in austere environments.

Abstract: A method of thermally protecting a leading edge of a hypersonic system includes saturating an annular primary wick in contact with an evaporator and having a first pore size with a phase change material by means of an annularly-inward secondary wick having a second pore size and being coupled to a liquid line, the second pore size being larger than the first, where a first end of the secondary wick extends into a reservoir and a second end of the secondary wick extends into the evaporator, the second end of the secondary wick having a terminal end. The method includes terminating the liquid line inside of the evaporator, transferring thermal energy from the leading edge into the phase change material, raising the temperature of the phase change material to a phase-change temperature, changing phase of the phase change material, and carrying away heat from the leading edge.

Abstract: A backpackable electronic warfare system includes a backplane, one or more radioheads, one or more systems on a chip, a single board computer, a position, navigation, and timing module, a power management device, a thermal management device, and one or more batteries.

Abstract: A rotary pump is provided for fluid transfer. The pump includes a planar housing, an elongated rotor, a pair of double-concave blades, fore and aft cover plates, and a gear box. The housing has a circular center cavity, and a pair of circular lateral cavities overlapping the center cavity and disposed along a longitudinal axis. The rotor is disposed on a rotor shaft along a rotation axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis within the center cavity. The blades flank the rotor and are disposed within their corresponding lateral cavity and turn on corresponding blade shafts parallel to the rotor shaft. The fore and aft cover plates flank the housing along the rotation axis to cover the center and lateral cavities. The blades turn opposite from the rotor.

Abstract: A pressure locking clamp includes a base, a hook arm, and a clasp arm. An imaginary central plane divides the base into a first and second half. The hook arm pivots on the first half of the base around a first axis parallel to the imaginary central plane. The clasp arm pivots on the second half of the base around a second axis parallel to the imaginary central plane. The hook and clasp arms each includes a lock contact area. In a closed state of the pressure locking clamp, the hook and clasp arms and the base together form an eye enclosure. In the closed state, pressure inside the eye enclosure presses the lock contact area of the clasp arm against the lock contact area of the hook arm, and this inhibits the hook and clasp arms from pivoting away from each other, reinforcing the eye enclosure.

Abstract: A mechanical assembly to precisely position large objects and align them to be joined with other objects with precision. The assembly does not require power to operate and can therefore be used in a variety of remote and harsh locations.

Abstract: High entropy alloys (HEAs) are provided, which exhibit hard magnetic properties, including increased saturation magnetization, improved coercivity, and thermal stability at temperatures exceeding about 200° C. Methods of making the HEAs are also provided, as well as methods for using the HEAs, particularly in extreme environments.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an article used as a foam nozzle spreader tip. The article is brass or stainless steel and has a first surface, a hollow space removed from the first surface, first and second screw holes through the article and the first surface but not touching the hollow space, and a third screw hole through the article touching the hollow space. The hollow space has a half-cylinder region and a rounded trapezoidal prism region.

Abstract: A multi-mode, mode-matched, mems-based Coriolis vibratory gyroscope. A vibratory gyroscope apparatus, comprising a resonating proof mass having a top surface and a plurality of side surfaces substantially perpendicular to the top surface, wherein the proof mass is configured to facilitate in-plane motion at a mode-matched frequency, a plurality of comb capacitors, each coupled to one of the plurality of side surfaces, and configured to provide an in-plane sense metric while operating at the mode-matched frequency, and a plurality of serpentine springs configured to facilitate translational motion of the proof mass in directions substantially perpendicular to the top surface. Additionally, the apparatus may further comprise a gyroscope controller configured to receive, measure, and/or adjust the control signal for a plurality of sense modes, an actuator electrically coupled to the proof mass, and a plurality of electrodes each electrically coupled to each of the plurality of comb capacitors.

Abstract: An electro-optical liquid crystal cell comprising a first substrate, a first layer of chromium (Cr), a first layer of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VA-CNT) capped with nickel nanoparticles, and a layer of liquid crystal. Furthermore, the electro-optical liquid crystal cell can comprise a second layer of VA-CNT capped with nickel nanoparticles, a second layer of Cr, and a second substrate. This electro-optic VA-CNT-based liquid crystal cell exhibits the required electro-optic effect needed for a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems are provided for treating oil-in-water emulsions by in situ production of magnetic FeOx nanoparticles.

Abstract: The invention is a high strength austenitic steel composition having increased strength and toughness characteristics, applicable for use in a seawater environment. The high strength austenitic steel may include nanometer-scale carbides, carbonitrides of vanadium, and carbides and carbonitrides having molybdenum, titanium, and niobium. The austenitic steel includes, 0.15-0.5 wt. % of carbon, 0-0.8 wt. % of silicon 6-14 wt. % of manganese, 9-13.5 wt. % of nickel, 0-3 wt. % of copper; 0.8-2.2 wt. % of vanadium, 0-4 wt. % of molybdenum, 0-4 wt. % of chromium; 0-0.9 wt. % of aluminum, 0-0.1 wt. % of calcium, 0-0.3 wt. % of titanium, 0-0.6 wt. % of niobium, 0-0.2 wt. % of tungsten, 0-0.2 wt. % of nitrogen, 0-0.1 wt. % of cerium, 0-0.1 wt. % of lanthanum, 0-0.05 wt. % of sulfur, and 0-0.05 wt. % of phosphorus.

Abstract: An integrator for use with a current sensor provides a feedback loop using a frequency discriminator, reducing drift while maintaining wide bandwidth.

Abstract: A pneumatic cryocooler using a pneumatic motor for use in cryogenically cooling superconductors, which pneumatic cryocooler is capable of operation in strong magnetic fields.