Abstract: A method for constructing an image of a macromolecular crystal includes steps of providing an envelope which defines the region of a unit cell occupied by the macromolecule; distributing a collection of scattering bodies within the envelope; condensing the collection of scattering bodies to an arrangement that maximizes the correlation between the diffraction pattern of the crystal and a pattern of Fourier amplitudes for the collection of scattering bodies; determining the phase associated with at least one of the Fourier amplitudes of the condensed collection of scattering bodies; calculating an electron density distribution of the crystal from the phase information; and defining an image of the macromolecule in the electron density distribution.

Abstract: A Brillouin fiber optic gyroscope having a feedback system which monitors the difference between counterpropagating Brillouin intensities and utilizes this difference in the form of a correction signal to control one of the circulating pump intensities so as to equalize the circulating pump intensities. The Brillouin fiber optic gyroscope further includes a second feedback system which detects electrical signals proportional to the phase-modulated, counterpropagating intensities in the gyroscope, and utilizes a combination of the electrical signals as an error signal to stabilize the resonant cavity at a length substantially equal to a length midway between the resonant lengths of the counterpropagating pump signals. The Brillouin fiber optic gyroscope of the present invention also provides a dynamic range of the gyroscope rotation rate that is twice the dynamic range of existing gyroscopes.

Abstract: An interferometer used as a rotation sensor is constructed using a strand of optical fiber, a portion of which is formed into a sensing loop. A pair of light waves are caused to counterpropagate in the sensing loop and are combined to form an optical output signal that has an intensity that varies in accordance with the difference in the phases of the two counterpropagating light waves. A phase modulator is positioned on the optical fiber in the sensing loop at a location such that the two counterpropagating light waves are modulated approximately 180 degrees out of phase. The time-varying phase modulation causes a time-varying phase difference that is combined with a rotationally-induced Sagnac effect phase to provide a total phase difference that is detected by a photodetector. The photodetector provides an electrical output signal this is processed to determine the Sagnac phase difference. The rotation rate is then calculated from the Sagnac phase difference.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for determining neutrophil activation in a mammalian host by detecting the presence of shed LECAM-1 in the blood. By employing a monoclonal antibody which binds to a common epitope of lymphocyte and neutrophil LECAM-1 and a monoclonal antibody which binds to a sialylated Lewis X epitope which distinguishes between neutrophil and lymphocyte LECAM-1, the level of neutrophil activation can be determined. Various immunoassay protocols may be employed which detect the binding of the two antibodies to a common antigen.

Abstract: A integrated mass memory device is formed by combining a piezoelectric bimorph cantilever (214) with a recording surface (212) having a number of storage locations to and from which digital information is transferred using a scanning tunneling microscope or an atomic force microscope mode of operation. Controls circuits (240) are provided for controlling the scanning of the recording surface (212) and for writing and reading information into and from the recording surface. An image storage system stores images captured from an optical sensor using piezoelectric bimorph cantilevers for reading and writing digital information on recording surfaces.

Abstract: An optical mode coupling apparatus includes an Erbium-doped optical waveguide in which an optical signal at a signal wavelength propagates in a first spatial propagation mode and a second spatial propagation mode of the waveguide. The optical signal propagating in the waveguide has a beat length. The coupling apparatus includes a pump source of perturbational light signal at a perturbational wavelength that propagates in the waveguide in the first spatial propagation mode. The perturbational signal has a sufficient intensity distribution in the waveguide that it causes a perturbation of the effective refractive index of the first spatial propagation mode of the waveguide in accordance with the optical Kerr effect. The perturbation of the effective refractive index of the first spatial propagation mode of the optical waveguide causes a change in the differential phase delay in the optical signal propagating in the first and second spatial propagation modes.

Abstract: A high bandwidth RF sampler using equivalent time sampling comprising an RF coplanar waveguide integrated with sampling diodes on a gallium arsenide substrate. A monolithic, integrated nonlinear transmission line is integrated on the same substrate to receive sample pulses. These pulses are reshaped by the nonlinear transmission line to have a very fast edge. This edge is differentiated by a shunt inductance of a short circuit termination of a slot line portion of the RF signal coplanar waveguide. The resulting delta function sample pulses cause the sample diodes and integrated capacitors to develop an intermediate output frequency which is a replica of the RF signal at a lower frequency and no voltage conversion loss. RF signals of up to 300 Ghz can be sampled using this circuit.

Abstract: A laser source comprises an optical fiber doped with a homogeneously broadened lasing medium, preferably with Erbium, pumped by a laser pump source and an intracavity acousto-optic modulator. When the acousto-optic modulator is driven by a variable frequency source, the Erbium fluorescence line emitted by the Erbium-doped optical fiber can be electronically tuned. In another embodiment, an electronic sweep waveform is used to frequency modulate the acoustic signal produced by the acousto-optic modulator. Without the low-rate frequency modulation, Erbium in a silica optical fiber is a mostly homogeneously broadened gain medium with a narrow laser linewidth. When measured on a long time scale, low-rate frequency modulation provides a broader spectral width, on the order of 19 nm, which makes such a source an ideal source for certain optical applications such as fiber optic gyroscopes.

Abstract: MOS transistors are formed in thin films of Ge/Si alloys (Ge.sub.x Si.sub.1-x). According to the process of the present invention, polycrystalline films of Ge/Si are deposited using commercially-available LPCVD equipment, which in the preferred process uses silane and germane as the sources of Ge and Si. The deposited Ge.sub.x Si.sub.1-x films are polycrystalline at temperatures for processing down to as below 400.degree. C., and the films can be doped heavily by ion implantation and annealing at temperatures as low as 600.degree. C. to give high mobility and dopant activation yielding very low resistivity. By carrying out the annealing step in the formation of the thin film transistors in the temperature range of 400.degree. to 500.degree. C., the films provide very large grain size, minimizing the impact of grain boundaries in the polycrystalline films where the thin film transistors are to be formed. As a result, thin film MOS transistors are fabricated at temperatures below 500.degree. C.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an integrated scanning tunneling microscope and an integrated piezoelectric transducer and methods for making both. The device consists of one or two arm piezoelectric bimorph cantilevers formed by micromachining using standard integrated circuit processing steps. These cantilevers are attached to the substrate at one area and are free to move under the influence of piezoelectric forces which are caused by the application of appropriate voltages generated by control circuitry and applied to pairs of electrodes formed as an integral part of the bimorph cantilever structure. The electric fields caused by the control voltages cause the piezoelectric bimorphs to move in any desired fashion within ranges determined by the design. The bimorph cantilevers have tips with very sharp points formed thereon which are moved by the action of the control circuit and the piezoelectric bimorphs so to stay within a very small distance of a conducting surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the packing conformation of amino acid side chains on a fixed peptide backbone. Using a steric interaction potential, the side chain atoms are rotated about carbon-carbon bonds such that the side chains preferably settle in a low energy packing conformation. Rotational moves are continued according to a simulated annealing procedure until a set of low energy conformations are identified. These conformations represent the structure of the actual peptide. The method may be employed to identify the packing configuration of mutant peptides.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring nonreciprocal optical effects contemplates directing two circularly polarized optical beams having a known phase relation to each other at a sample, and detecting the difference in phase between the two beams after they have encountered the sample. In a transmission measurement the two circularly polarized beams have the same handedness, but pass through the sample in opposite directions. In a reflection measurement, the two circularly polarized beams have opposite handedness, but encounter the sample in the same direction. In a particular embodiment of the invention a linearly polarized beam is introduced into a Sagnac interferometer and split into two linearly polarized beams which are ultimately recombined.

Abstract: A method for modelling the electron density distribution of a macromolecule in a defined asymmetric unit of a crystal lattice having locations of uniformly diffracting electron density includes the steps of: producing an initial distribution of scattering bodies within a asymmetric unit having the same dimensions as the defined asymmetric unit; calculating scattering amplitudes of the initial distribution and determining the correlation between the calculated scattering amplitudes and the normalized amplitudes; moving at least one of the scattering bodies within the asymmetric unit to create a modified distribution; calculating scattering amplitudes and phases of the modified distribution and determining the correlation between the calculated amplitudes and the normalized values; and producing a final distribution of scattering bodies by repeating moving and calculating steps until the correlation between the calculated scattering amplitudes and the normalized amplitudes is effectively maximized, the final di

Abstract: A method of growing a single crystal rod with regions of reversed dominant ferroelectric polarities (poling the same) is described. It is a variation of laser-heated pedestal growth. The microscopic growth rate of the crystal is modulated to incorporate into the rod, the compositional melt gradient which is formed at the freezing interface. When this gradient is of the proper sign and the poling action due to it is of sufficient strength to overcome the normal poling action with which the rod would otherwise grow, it defines a reversed domain region. This region is reduced in temperature to below the Curie temperature before the gradient responsible for the same can diffuse. A method of clarifying a single crystal to make the same transparent to optical radiation of interest is also described.

Abstract: A floating sampler and directional bridge for use in characterizing the impedance of an integrated device under test from D.C. up to frequencies above 100 GHz. The directional bridge has the structure of a Wheatstone bridge with resistor values selected such that when the input impedance of the device under test matches the output impedance of the source, no voltage develops across two nodes of the bridge. When no impedance match exists, a floating diode/capacitor sampler comprised of two diode/capacitor pairs driven by local oscillator strobe pulses samples the voltage difference between the two nodes of the bridge and outputs an IF signal proportional to the difference. Another pair of diode/capacitor samplers outputs an IF signal proportional to the amplitude of the RF excitation waveform.

Abstract: A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic material. The bioconversion reactor comprises a shell enclosing a predetermined volume, an inlet port through which a liquid stream containing organic materials enters the shell, and an outlet port through which the stream exits the shell. A series of vertical and spaced-apart baffles are positioned within the shell to force the stream to flow under and over them as it passes from the inlet to the outlet port. The baffles present a barrier to the microorganisms within the shell causing them to rise and fall within the reactor but to move horizontally at a very slow rate. Treatment detention times of one day or less are possible.

Abstract: A variable focal length lens integrated onto a silicon wafer. A light transmitting material such as gas or liquid is entrapped in a cavity in the wafer. The cavity has a flexible, light transmitting wall. The wall provides one surface of the lens. When the material inside the cavity is heated or cooled, the wall flexes and the focal length of the lens changes. The lens is suitable for use in temperature and pressure sensors, fiber optic communication networks, optical computers, and other applications.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a waveguide is described minimizing to a desired degree the effect of minor variations caused, for example, during manufacture from an ideal dimension to obtain a coupling of energy between two different frequencies of optical radiation propagated in the waveguide.

Abstract: A high power injection-locked laser system (10) is disclosed which includes master and slave lasers (12, 14) both of which are solid state lasers having continuous wave outputs. The slave laser has an output power at least ten times greater than the master laser. In the preferred embodiment, the slave laser is at least one-hundred times as powerful as the master laser. In accordance with the subject invention, a servo-loop control system is used to maintain the injection locked condition. A discriminant signal is generated that is indicative of drift in the slave laser cavity. The discriminant signal is used adjust the length of the slave laser cavity to maintain the locked condition.

Abstract: A closed loop optical fiber interferometer is used in sensing a quantity, Q, by applying a time varying or modulated measure of, Q, asymmetrically to the closed loop (24) and detecting phase shift between two counterpropagating optical signals in the closed loop. The closed loop (24) can be used in the sensing element or a separate sensor (68, 70) can develop a time varying signal which is then applied to the closed loop interferometer.