Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing the terahertz power output of a terahertz beam while increasing its stability and its beam polarity by implementing a pair of pinched ripple electrodes and a small flat section in the middle of each electrode. By using tight control over the design parameters and by exploiting the plasmonic effect and the superradiance effect, systems and methods according to embodiments of the present disclosure can achieve a dramatic improvement in the terahertz output power and beam quality as well as the beam stability.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing error in data compression and decompression when data is transmitted over low bandwidth communication links, such as satellite links. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for variable block size compression for gridded data, efficiently storing null values in gridded data, and eliminating growth of error in compressed time series data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cyclic peptide polymer. R1, R2, and R3 are organic groups. Each R4 is a covalent bond, methylene, ethylene, n-propylene, or n-butylene. Each X is —NH—, —O—, or —O—CO—. The values m and n are nonnegative integers having a sum of at least 1. The value p is an integer greater than 1. The cyclic peptide polymer may be made by providing a first cyclic peptide monomer having a protecting group on the X group, covalently binding the —CO—OH group of the first cyclic peptide monomer to a solid support having a carboxylic acid-reactive group, converting the protecting group to —XH, reacting the —XH group with the —CO—OH group of an additional cyclic peptide monomer, optionally repeating the converting and reacting steps with further additional cyclic peptide monomers, and cleaving the cyclic peptide polymer from the solid support.

Abstract: A lightweight armor system providing blast protection and ballistic protection against small arms fire, suitable for use in helmets, personnel or vehicle protection, and other armor systems. A hard substrate is coated on the front surface with a thin elastomeric polymer layer, in which hollow ceramic or metal spheres are encapsulated. The coating layer having a thin elastomeric polymer layer with encapsulated metal or ceramic hollow spheres can be stand-alone blast protection, or can be added to an underlying structure. The glass transition temperature of the polymer is preferably between negative fifty Celsius and zero Celsius.

Abstract: Systems and methods for growth of silicon carbide over a layer comprising graphene and/or hexagonal boron nitride, and related articles, are generally described. In some embodiments, a SiC film is fabricated over a layer comprising graphene and/or hexagonal boron nitride, which in turn is disposed over a substrate. The layer and/or the substrate may be lattice-matched with the SiC film to reduce defect density in the SiC film. The fabricated SiC film may then be removed from the substrate via, for example, a stressor attached to the SiC film. In certain cases, the layer serves as a reusable platform for growing SiC films and also serves a release layer that allows fast, precise, and repeatable release at the layer surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for autonomous airborne vehicle control using a millimeter-wave (MMW) radar. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable a MMW radar system to support an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in accomplishing missions involving interacting with peers. In an embodiment, a MMW radar module of a UAV in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure enables the UAV to take a measurement (e.g., regarding the location of another UAV) using the MMW radar, classify a return (e.g., a MMW radar return), determine whether the detected object is a peer, and update the vehicle velocity accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention provides for synthesizing high optical quality multicomponent chalcogenide glasses without refractive index perturbations due to striae, phase separation or crystal formation using a two-zone furnace and multiple fining steps. The top and bottom zones are initially heated to the same temperature, and then a temperature gradient is created between the top zone and the bottom zone. The fining and cooling phase is divided into multiple steps with multiple temperature holds.

Abstract: A method for non-invasively imaging plasma parameters has been invented. Crossed dipole pairs are used to differentiate changes in the measured complex self- and mutual impedances due to plasma density and magnetic field. Measurements of the complex self-impedance and mutual impedance between pairs of antennas over a wide range of frequencies provide spatial information to create an image of the plasma density and magnetic field. The spectral information is acquired simultaneously using a Gaussian monopulse as the driver signal.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for mixed-mode signal processing that achieves unprecedented levels of out-of-band and in-band interference suppression. Embodiments of the present disclosure mitigate the effects of blockers and jammers, which have surfaced as issues in emerging cognitive radio systems as those networks struggle to co-exist with licensed and unlicensed users.

Abstract: A nano-indent process for creating a single photon emitter in a two-dimensional materials platform comprising the steps of providing a substrate, providing a layer of polymer, providing a layer of two-dimensional material, utilizing a proximal probe, applying mechanical stress to the layer of two-dimensional material and to the layer of polymer, deforming the layer of two-dimensional material and the layer of polymer, and forming a nano-indent in the two-dimensional material. A single photon emitter in a two-dimensional materials platform comprising a substrate, a deformable polymer film, a two-dimensional material, and a nano-indent in the two-dimensional material.

Abstract: A device for directly electrically generating and detecting the current-generated spin polarization in topological insulators, comprising a first and fourth contact on a layer of Bi2Se3 and a second contact comprising a ferromagnet/oxide tunnel barrier contact as a detector, and a third contact comprising nonmagnetic metal as a reference contact, a current to the first and fourth contact to produce a net spin polarization, and the spin polarization manifesting as a voltage between the second (magnetic) and third (reference) contacts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition having nanoparticles or particles of a refractory metal, a refractory metal hydride, a refractory metal carbide, a refractory metal nitride, or a refractory metal boride, an organic compound consisting of carbon and hydrogen, and a nitrogenous compound consisting of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen. The composition, optionally containing the nitrogenous compound, is milled, cured to form a thermoset, compacted into a geometric shape, and heated in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature that forms a nanoparticle composition comprising nanoparticles of metal nitride and optionally metal carbide. The nanoparticles have a uniform distribution of the nitride or carbide.

Abstract: A method for making high optical quality multicomponent chalcogenide glasses without refractive index perturbations due to striae, phase separation or crystal formation using a sealed ampoule with chemical components enclosed inside, a two-zone furnace, a convection heating/mixing step, and multiple fining steps. Initially, the sealed ampoule is oriented vertically within the two-zone furnace and heated to melt the chemical components contained within, and a temperature gradient is created between the top zone and the bottom zone such that the bottom zone has a higher temperature. This temperature gradient causes convection currents within the viscous liquid until it is sufficiently mixed due to the convective flow. Then the temperature gradient is reversed such that the top zone now has a higher temperature and the convective flow ceases. The furnace temperatures are then reduced over a period of time, with holds at multiple temperatures for fining and cooling to form a solid glass.

Abstract: A sensitive and selective, in-line method to measure and validate the sulfur content at ppb levels in both the liquid and gas phase of fuel. The method includes etching graphene, for example to form a mesa structure comprising horizontal or vertical lines or an array of multidentate star features; functionalizing the etched graphene and attaching metal oxide nanoparticles to the functionalized graphene to form a device; exposing the device to a fuel in the gas or liquid phase; detecting a change in conductivity when sulfur is present in the fuel; and recovering the device for future use. Also disclosed is the related in-line graphene-based ppb level sulfur detector for fuels.

Abstract: An alloy having the formula Ti1-xMx. M is Co, Sn, Cr, or a combination. The value x is from 0.001 to 0.02. A method of combining titanium metal and a dopant metal to form the alloy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of: providing a fiber having propylene oxide adsorbed thereon; exposing the fiber to a gaseous sample; allowing the propylene oxide to react with any chlorine in the sample to form chloro-2-propanol. The method can be used to detect potassium chlorate.

Abstract: A microwave photonic filter is provided. The filter includes an optical source, an electro-optic modulator, a single mode optical fiber, a few-mode optical fiber, and a photodiode. The electro-optic modulator is configured to receive an optical carrier from the optical source and an input electrical signal. The electro-optic modulator modulates the optical carrier based on the input electrical signal. The single mode optical fiber is configured to receive the modulated optical carrier from the electro-optic modulator. The few-mode optical fiber is configured to receive the modulated optical carrier from the single mode optical fiber. The filter includes one of a plurality of methods for causing higher order mode excitation in the few-mode fiber. The photodiode is configured to receive an output from the few-mode optical fiber.

Abstract: A copper-doped glass formed by placing a target glass in a container, surrounding the target glass with a powder mixture comprised of SiO2 powder and Cu2S powder, wherein the SiO2 powder and the Cu2S powder are mixed according to the formula (SiO2)(1-x)(Cu2S)x, where 0.01<x<0.1, and heated to a temperature of between 800° C. and 1150° C. for a duration of between 1 and 10 hours.

Abstract: A nanoparticle of a decomposition product of a transition metal aluminum hydride compound, a transition metal borohydride compound, or a transition metal gallium hydride compound. A process of: reacting a transition metal salt with an aluminum hydride compound, a borohydride compound, or a gallium hydride compound to produce one or more of the nanoparticles. The reaction occurs in solution while being sonicated at a temperature at which the metal hydride compound decomposes. A process of: reacting a nanoparticle with a compound containing at least two hydroxyl groups to form a coating having multi-dentate metal-alkoxides.

Abstract: Acoustic wave devices based on epitaxially grown heterostructures comprising appropriate combinations of epitaxially grown metallic transition metal nitride (TMN) layers, epitaxially grown Group III-nitride (III-N) piezoelectric semiconductor thin film layers, and epitaxially grown perovskite oxide (PO) layers. The devices can include bulk acoustic wave (BAW) devices, surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, high overtone bulk acoustic resonator (HBAR) devices, and composite devices comprising HBAR devices integrated with high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs).