Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring permittivity comprising: a meander-line ring resonator, which may be may be disposed on a substrate proximate to and separated from an input coupler and an output coupler thereon, the resonator ring further including a continuous conductive material having at least two turns to form a single congruent pattern, symmetrical along at least one axis.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing signal recognition in a light communication system by approximately maximizing the minimum distance between received constellation points; the method comprising identifying the constellation region containing points for transmitting symbols, identifying channel impairments, transforming the constellation region according to the channel impairments into a constellation region of potential received symbols, using signal processing circuitry to apply an algorithm that operates to maximize the minimum distance between constellation points to obtain a symbol constellation in the receiver constellation region, and inverting the transformation to obtain the designed transmitted-symbol constellation. The system comprises signal processing circuitry for performing a preferred methodology.

Abstract: Porous silicon (PS) films composed of pores with diameters less than 3 nm are fabricated using a galvanic etching approach that does not require an external power supply. A highly reactive, nanoenergetic composite is then created by impregnating the nanoscale pores with the strong oxidizer, sodium perchlorate (NaClO4). The combustion propagation velocity of the energetic composite is measured using microfabricated diagnostic devices in conjunction with high-speed optical imaging up to 930,000 frames per second. Combustion velocities averaging 3,050 m/s are observed for PS films with specific areas of ˜840 m2/g and porosities of about 65-67%. Galvanic etching may also be used to fabricate other porous silicon morphologies and also strong oxidizers other than NaClO4 could be used to create a nanoenergetic porous silicon composite.

Abstract: Provided among other things are reactive energetic material systems used for conductors in detonators for increased efficiencies. According to an embodiment, a detonator may include: a conductor including at least two constituents including (i) an electrically conductive constituent, and (ii) an electrically non-conductive constituent, that when subjected to sufficient electrical energy, result in an exothermic reaction; and a flyer plate having a non-conductive surface in contact with said conductor. When the sufficient electrical energy is supplied to said conductor, rapid heating and vaporization of at least a portion of the conductor occurs so as to explosively drive at least a portion of the flyer plate away from said conductor. In an embodiment, a multilayer conductor may be formed of alternating layers of at least one electrically conductive layer, and at least one electrically non-conductive layer, that when subjected to sufficient electrical energy, result in an exothermic reaction.