Abstract: The present invention relates to a doped cubic bismuth oxide that is phase stable in a temperature range of from about 550° C. to about 700° C. The doped cubic bismuth oxide comprises a mixture of a first dopant and a second dopant.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for tracking weak signal traces under severe noise and/or distortions. A method may include tracking at least one candidate frequency trace from a time-frequency representation of a signal. The method may also include identifying a frequency trace of the signal based on tracking results. In addition, the method may include outputting an estimated frequency vector related to the frequency trace. Further, the tracking may be performed under a noisy condition environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to rhomboidal phase bismuth oxide that maintains electric conductivity of at least about 1×10?2 S/cm at temperature of about 500° C. for at least about 100 hours. In particular, the bismuth oxides of the invention have stable conductivity at a temperature range from about 500° C. to about 550° C.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe techniques for controlling coherent crosstalk errors that occur in multi-channel acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) by applying cancellation tones to reduce or eliminate the crosstalk errors. For example, a method and systems are described that include applying a first radio frequency (RF) tone to generate a first acoustic wave in a first channel of the multi-channel AOM, wherein a portion of the first acoustic wave interacts with a second channel to cause a crosstalk effect, and applying a second RF tone to generate a second acoustic wave in the second channel, wherein the second acoustic wave reduces or eliminates the crosstalk effect caused by the portion of the first acoustic wave.

Abstract: A system for noise-resistant quantum communication using hyperentanglement includes a quantum system that includes a plurality of qubits, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, cause the quantum system to access a signal of a quantum system that includes a plurality of qubits and obtain hyperentanglement of the plurality of qubits via an entanglement source. The hyperentanglement of the plurality of qubits is in at least two dimensions, including a first dimension and a second dimension. The instructions, when executed, further cause the quantum system to transmit the hyperentangled plurality of qubits via a communication channel; perform a communication of the signal with the first dimension of the at least two dimensions; and filter results of the communicated signal based on the second dimension of the at least two dimensions.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe techniques for controlling coherent crosstalk errors that occur in multi-channel acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) by applying cancellation tones to reduce or eliminate the crosstalk errors. For example, a method and systems are described that include applying a first radio frequency (RF) tone to generate a first acoustic wave in a first channel of the multi-channel AOM, wherein a portion of the first acoustic wave interacts with a second channel to cause a crosstalk effect, and applying a second RF tone to generate a second acoustic wave in the second channel, wherein the second acoustic wave reduces or eliminates the crosstalk effect caused by the portion of the first acoustic wave.

Abstract: The problem of lost circulation is pertinent to the oil industry. To prevent fluid loss, a lost circulation material (LCM), or more generally, a plugging material, can be used to effectively plug the fractures in the rock formation. If the fractures are in the production zone, it is also ideal to unplug them when the drilling operation is complete. Therefore, a material engineered to degrade after a desired period would be useful. In examples, a plugging material has been developed by gelling an oil-based fluid using a low molecular weight gelator, dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS). DBS gels are robust and show plugging behavior. DBS is shown to chemically degrade in presence of an acid. Hence, a self-degrading gel can be synthesized by incorporating an acid into the system. Further, by varying the type and concentration of the acid, the degradation time of the gel can be controlled.

Abstract: Electrodes for a solid-state lithium-ion battery are provided. The electrodes have an active material layer containing or coated with electrolytes of lithium phosphate derivative compounds which contain an anionic framework capable of conducting lithium ions. Materials of specific formulae are provided and methods to alter the composite materials with inclusion of aliovalent ions shown. Lithium batteries containing the electrodes are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are single atom dispersions and multi-atom dispersions, and systems and methods for synthesizing the atomic dispersions. An exemplary method of synthesizing atomic dispersions includes: positioning a loaded substrate which includes a substrate which is loaded with at least one of: a precursor of an element or a cluster of an element, applying one or more temperature pulses to the loaded substrate where a pulse of the temperature pulse(s) applies a target temperature for a duration, maintaining a cooling period after the pulse, and providing single atoms of the element dispersed on the substrate after the one or more temperature pulses. The target temperature applied by the pulse is between 500 K and 4000 K, inclusive, and the duration is between 1 millisecond and 1 minute, inclusive.

Abstract: A monitoring device for a battery pack, which includes a plurality of battery cells, has at least one ultrasound source and at least one ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound source can be configured to generate and direct ultrasound at one or more battery cells of the battery pack. The ultrasound sensor can be configured to detect ultrasound reflected from or transmitted through one or more cells of the battery pack. A battery management unit receives one or more signals from the ultrasound sensor responsive to the detected ultrasound. The battery management unit can be configured to determine a state of the battery pack based at least in part on the detected ultrasound.

Abstract: A converging thermal lens is transiently formed by directing a shaped pulsed light beam having at least a first wavelength to a thermo-optic material, whereby the thermo-optic material absorbs the light beam and experiences local heating in response thereto. The heating induces a refractive index profile in the thermo-optic material that temporarily forms the converging thermal lens. In some embodiments, the refractive index of the thermo-optic material has a negative temperature dependence, and the pulsed light beam is shaped to have an inverted light pattern with a maximum intensity in an outer region of the beam cross-section. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the refractive index of the thermo-optic material has a positive temperature dependence, and the pulsed light beam is shaped to have a radially-varying light pattern with a maximum intensity in a central region of the beam cross-section.

Abstract: The disclosure describes aspects of using multiple species in trapped-ion nodes for quantum networking. In an aspect, a quantum networking node is described that includes multiple memory qubits, each memory qubit being based on a 171Yb+ atomic ion, and one or more communication qubits, each communication qubit being based on a 138Ba+ atomic ion. The memory and communication qubits are part of a lattice in an atomic ion trap. In another aspect, a quantum computing system having a modular optical architecture is described that includes multiple quantum networking nodes, each quantum networking node including multiple memory qubits (e.g., based on a 171Yb+ atomic ion) and one or more communication qubits (e.g., based on a 138Ba+ atomic ion). The memory and communication qubits are part of a lattice in an atomic ion trap. The system further includes a photonic entangler coupled to each of the multiple quantum networking nodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cellular foam composition, a method for producing and using the same. One particular aspect of the disclosure provides a cellular foam composition comprising a plurality of foam layers, where each foam layer is made from a hollow microstructure material. In particular, the density of the hollow microstructure material in each foam layer is different from the density of the hollow microstructure material that forms the adjacent foam layer. In some embodiments, cellular foam compositions of the disclosure further include an interfacial layer comprising interfacial voids in between adjacent layers.

Abstract: A circulator includes a central circuit having a first superconducting island, a second superconducting island, a third superconducting island, and a central island, each in electrical communication with each other via a plurality of Josephson junctions.

Abstract: Highly transparent (up to 92% light transmittance) wood composites have been developed. The process of fabricating the transparent wood composites includes lignin removal followed by index-matching polymer infiltration resulted in fabrication of the transparent wood composites with preserved naturally aligned nanoscale fibers. The thickness of the transparent wood composite can be tailored by controlling the thickness of the initial wood substrate. The optical transmittance can be tailored by selecting infiltrating polymers with different refractive indices. The transparent wood composites have a range of applications in biodegradable electronics, optoelectronics, as well as structural and energy efficient building materials. By coating the transparent wood composite layer on the surface of GaAs thin film solar cell, an 18% enhancement in the overall energy conversion efficiency has been attained.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides aqueous electrolytes with a lower salt concentration and wider electrochemical stability window compared to water-in-salt electrolytes. The aqueous electrolyte composition of the disclosure comprises an anti-solvent, which reduces the H2O activity and the amount of H2O in the Li-ion solvation sheath. In one particular embodiment of the disclosure provides a nonflammable aqueous electrolyte composition for a lithium-ion battery, wherein the aqueous electrolyte composition comprises: an electrolyte salt comprising a lithium salt; water; and an organic component that is miscible with water. In some embodiments, the electrochemical stability window of the aqueous electrolyte composition is greater than 3.0 V and a molality of an electrolyte salt in said aqueous electrolyte composition is about 5 m or less.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides rechargeable divalent metal batteries comprising a multidentate compound. In particular, the presence of a multidentate compound in the electrolyte of the rechargeable divalent metal batteries significantly increases the interfacial charge transfer kinetics and/or suppresses undesired side reactions on both cathodes and metal anodes. It is believed that these effects are at least in part due to solvation sheath reorganization by the multidentate compound. Other aspects of the disclosure include methods for reducing a charge transfer overpotential and methods for increasing a charge transfer kinetics in rechargeable divalent metal batteries.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for controlling an articulating member including a tool. The method includes determining a first confidence indicator based on a manual control mode for the articulating member, determining a second confidence indicator based on an autonomous control mode for the articulating member, generating an allocation function based on the first confidence indicator and the second confidence indicator, and generating a control command for the articulating member based on the allocation function.

Abstract: A Brillouin modality can be supplemented by an auxiliary modality, such as an optical imaging modality or a spectroscopy modality. In some embodiments, the auxiliary modality can be used to guide the Brillouin measurement to a desired region of interest, so that acquisition times for the Brillouin measurement can be reduced as compared to interrogating the entire sample. The auxiliary modality may have an acquisition speed faster than that of the Brillouin modality. In some embodiment, the auxiliary modality determines a composition of materials within a voxel in the sample interrogated by the Brillouin modality. Using the information provided by the auxiliary modality, the Brillouin signatures corresponding to the materials within the voxel can be unmixed, thereby providing a more accurate measurement of the sample.

Abstract: A flexible structure is formed by subjecting cellulose-based natural wood material to a chemical treatment that partially removes hemicellulose and lignin therefrom. The treated wood has a unique 3-D porous structure with numerous channels, excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, and improved flexibility as compared to the natural wood. By further modifying the treated wood, the structure can be adapted to particular applications. For example, nanoparticles, nanowires, carbon nanotubes, or any other coating or material can be added to the treated wood to form a hybrid structure. In some embodiments, open lumina within the structure can be at least partially filled with a non-wood substance, such as a flexible polymer, or with entangled cellulose nanofibers.