Abstract: An apparatus and method to enhance the performance of rockets engines which utilize liquid methane/oxygen propellants by injecting optimized amounts of pressurized hot helium gas into the combustion chamber with the propellants. In one embodiment, the pressurized helium gas is stored at low temperatures near those of the cryogenic propellants and is used for regenerative cooling of the combustion chamber and nozzle during rocket operation in order to raise the temperature of the helium gas before being injected into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Devices and methods for the detection of magnetic fields, strain, and temperature using the spin states of a VSi? monovacancy defect in silicon carbide, as well as quantum memory devices and methods for creation of quantum memory using the spin states of a VSi? monovacancy defect in silicon carbide.

Abstract: Processes for fabricating multi- and monolayer silicene on catalyst metal surfaces by means of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Silicene is grown by means of PECVD from a starting mixture of H2 and SiH4 having an H2:SiH4 ratio of 100 to 400 on an Ag(111) substrate having a substrate temperature between 20° C. and 290° C., with the deposition being performed for about 10-25 minutes at an RF power between 10 W and 500 W and under a chamber pressure between about 100 mTorr and 1300 mTorr. In most cases, the substrate will be in the form of an Ag(111) film sputtered on a fused silica substrate. A multi-layer silicene film can be formed by extending the deposition time past 25 minutes.

Abstract: Devices and methods for the detection of magnetic fields, strain, and temperature using the spin states of a VSi? monovacancy defect in silicon carbide, as well as quantum memory devices and methods for creation of quantum memory using the spin states of a VSi? monovacancy defect in silicon carbide.

Abstract: Electromechanical device structures are provided, as well as methods for forming them. The device structures incorporate at least a first and second substrate separated by an interface material layer, where the first substrate comprises an anchor material structure and at least one suspended material structure, optionally a spring material structure, and optionally an electrostatic sense electrode. The device structures may be formed by methods that include providing an interface material layer on one or both of the first and second substrates, bonding the interface materials to the opposing first or second substrate or to the other interface material layer, followed by forming the suspended material structure by etching.

Abstract: A method for making an ultra-thin, flexible crystalline silicon solar cell from thick, inflexible cells. A thick, inflexible cell having a plurality of electrical contacts on the back side thereof is adhered to a mount by means of a temporary bonding adhesive tape and a thickness of the mounted stack. A thickness of the bonding tape and the back-side contacts is determined and compared to a desired thickness of the final cell. Excess material is ground from the front side of the stack to obtain a thinned stack having the desired thickness and the thinned stack is removed from the mount to produce an ultra-thin, flexible rear-contact Si solar cell having a total thickness of less than 80 ?m and a bending radius of less than 20 mm. The front surface can be textured, with a passivation layer and/or a dielectric layer being deposited thereon.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to estimating river discharge and depth. Initially, observed velocities are used to generate a maximum velocity streamline for a river section, which is then used with an observed shoreline to construct a streamline curvilinear grid. The grid is used to interpolate scattered velocity data points, which are used with a bottom friction of the river section to approximate mean total head slope values. A least squares minimization scheme is applied to a velocity-slope relationship to estimate a bottom friction and discharge coefficient by fitting a difference in the predicted mean total head elevation values between upstream and downstream ends of the river section to a respective ?-average of the measured total head values of the river section. Discharge of the river section is determined based on the coefficient and a velocity-depth relationship and then used to generate a river forecast.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for determining the distance between two positions are disclosed. The system includes a correlator, a first receiver, and a second receiver. The first and second receivers each include: an antenna, a steering mechanism, and a processor. The steering mechanism steers the antenna in an azimuthal direction and an elevation direction. The processor is configured to (i) control the steering mechanism, (ii) receive data recorded by the antenna from a plurality of sources, (iii) time-stamp the data recorded by the antenna, and (iv) control the transmission of the time-stamped data to the correlator. The correlator is configured to receive the time-stamped recorded data from the first receiver and the second receiver, and calculate a distance between the first receiver and the second receiver based thereon.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a fully integrated broadband interconnect. The system comprises a first integrated circuit, a second integrated circuit, and a coupler structure to connect the first and second integrated circuits, where the coupler structure includes a base portion and a top portion that are connected by two vertical walls. The top portion has a gap that increases a strength of a transverse electric field across the gap when the coupler structure is operating in an odd higher order mode that is horizontally polarized, where the coupler structure is full of a dielectric material, and where the cross-sectional width of the coupler structure is tapered in a direction of wave propagation. The system further comprises a dielectric waveguide attached to the top portion of the coupler structure, where the dielectric waveguide supports the odd higher order mode and an even higher order mode.

Abstract: A nucleic acid encodes a single-domain antibody (sdAb) is produced by causing a bacteria to express the sdAb into cytoplasm of the bacteria, wherein the sdAb is expressed as a fusion protein with the acid tail of ?-synuclein. In embodiments, the protein is free of a periplasmic location tag. Such antibodies have the unexpected ability to refold after thermal denaturation.

Abstract: A graphene and liquid crystal device comprising a substrate, a layer of graphene on the substrate, and a layer of liquid crystal on the layer of graphene. A method of making a graphene and liquid crystal device comprising the steps of providing a substrate, depositing a layer of graphene on the substrate, and depositing a layer of liquid crystals on the layer of graphene.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus having: a pressure chamber and a gas-producing microorganism within the chamber. The pressure chamber is capable of maintaining a gas pressure of at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes a first graphene layer, a second graphene layer over the first graphene layer, the second graphene layer oriented at a first interlayer twist angle with respect to the first graphene layer and bonded by interlayer covalent bonds to the first graphene layer, and a third graphene layer over the second graphene layer, the third graphene layer oriented at a second interlayer twist angle with respect to the second graphene layer and bonded by interlayer covalent bonds to the second graphene layer. A multi-layer graphene article includes at least three graphene layers, each graphene layer being oriented at an interlayer twist angle with respect to an adjacent graphene layer and bonded by interlayer covalent bonds to the adjacent graphene layer.

Abstract: A process for producing metastable nanocrystalline alpha-alumina (?-Al2O3) having particle sizes smaller than 12 nm. Starting crystallites of ?-Al2O3 having a particle size larger than 12 nm, typically on the order of about 50 nm, are ball-milled at low temperatures to produce a nanocrystalline ?-Al2O3 powder having a particle size of less than 12 nm, i.e., below the theoretical room temperature thermodynamic size limit at which ?-Al2O3 changes phase to ?-Al2O3, wherein the powder remains in the ?-Al2O3 phase at all times.

Abstract: A method of interferometric optical sensing via spatial demodulation includes emitting a laser beam; splitting the laser beam into a reference beam and an interrogation beam; converting a desired signal into a change in the optical path of the interrogation beam via an optical sensor; and capturing the reference beam and the interrogation beam via a camera, wherein the interrogation beam is incident to the camera at a first angle and the reference beam is incident to the camera at a second angle different from the first angle, thereby causing an interference pattern at the camera.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for forming pellets in a non-ambient environment such as a strong magnetic field. The apparatus includes a die body, a die bottom, a short push pin, a long push pin, a press tube, and an extended push pin. A powder is loaded into the die body, which is then positioned in the non-ambient environment, and the powder allowed to equilibrate. A pellet is then formed by pressing on the extended push pin while the powder is in the non-ambient environment.

Abstract: Resonant-cavity infrared photodetector (RCID) devices that include a thin absorber layer contained entirely within the resonant cavity. In some embodiments, the absorber is a single type-II InAs—GaSb interface situated between an AlSb/InAs superlattice n-type region and a p-type AlSb/GaSb region. In other embodiments, the absorber region comprises quantum wells formed on an upper surface of the n-type region. In other embodiments, the absorber region comprises a “W”-structured quantum well situated between two barrier layers, the “W”-structured quantum well comprising a hole quantum well sandwiched between two electron quantum wells. In other embodiments, the RCID includes a thin absorber region and an nBn or pBp active core within a resonant cavity. In some embodiments, the RCID is configured to absorb incident light propagating in the direction of the epitaxial growth of the RCID structure, while in other embodiments, it absorbs light propagating in the epitaxial plane of the structure.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for transmitting (electromagnetic or acoustic) wave-based signals towards a target includes a plurality of transceivers and a controller. Each transceiver transmits a probe signal towards the target and receives an associated backscatter signal corresponding to reflection of the probe signals from the target. The controller determines, for each transceiver, a Doppler frequency shift and a time delay, modifies each associated backscatter signal based on the corresponding Doppler frequency shift and time delay to generate an associated motion-compensated backscatter signal, and applies time reversal (TR) processing to each motion-compensated backscatter signal to generate an associated motion-compensated TR signal. Each transceiver transmits towards the target a transmission signal based the associated motion-compensated TR signal. In communications systems, the transmission signals are data-modulated versions of the motion-compensated TR signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating or masking an object and a method of using same. The apparatus includes a spatial light modulator transmitting, a structured pulsed laser beam from a pupil plane to at least one image plane in a field of view. The apparatus further includes a lidar detector receiving reflected laser beam reflected from the at least one image plane. For example, the lidar detector detects range, position, and/or time data for at least one object of interest or at least one object of disinterest. Using the detected data, the spatial light modulator illuminates object of interest or masks an object of disinterest, depending on a user's application.

Abstract: A thermionic dispenser cathode having a refractory metal matrix with scandium and barium compounds in contact with the metal matrix and methods for forming the same. The invention utilizes atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a nanoscale, uniform, conformal distribution of a scandium compound on tungsten surfaces and further utilizes in situ high pressure consolidation/impregnation to enhance impregnation of a BaO—CaO—Al2O3 based emissive mixture into the scandate-coated tungsten matrix or to sinter a tungsten/scandate/barium composite structure. The result is a tungsten-scandate thermionic cathode having improved emission.