Abstract: A device which is attachable to a fastener stack, the device comprising: an attachment element made of shape memory material; and a cap comprising a base having an aperture and a shell having an interior space in fluid communication with the opening, wherein the base supports the shell and is coupled to the attachment element.

Abstract: An atomic-beam source device is configured to provide a collimated beam of atoms, wherein solid-state electrochemistry is employed to recirculate atoms that are caught on collimation channel walls. The use of solid-state electrochemistry to recirculate atoms enables a chip-scale, dark-wall, high-quality collimated beam source that does not clog over time. Some variations provide an atomic-beam source device comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode that is electrically isolated from the first electrode; a first ion conductor interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first ion conductor is capable of transporting metal ions, and wherein the first ion conductor is in contact with the first electrode and with the second electrode; and one or more collimation channels disposed outwardly from the first ion conductor. Methods of using the atomic-beam source device are disclosed, including methods to recirculate and reuse metal atoms adsorbed on collimation channel walls.

Abstract: Some variations provide an atomic instrument configured with an optically transparent and electrochemically cleanable window, comprising: a transparent first electrode; a second electrode with an atom reservoir for first metal ions; an ion conductor interposed between the first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the ion conductor is capable of transporting second metal ions, wherein the ion conductor is in contact with the first electrode and with the second electrode, and wherein the ion conductor is optically transparent; and a transparent window support in contact with the ion conductor, wherein the electrochemically cleanable window is optically transparent, wherein the transparent window support, the ion conductor, and the first electrode collectively form a transparent and electrochemically cleanable window.

Abstract: An ignition-suppressing device (100) for shielding fasteners (106) comprises a ribbon (102) and receptacles (104) that are spaced apart from one another along the ribbon (102).

Abstract: Some variations provide an atomic instrument configured with an optically transparent and electrochemically cleanable window, comprising: a transparent first electrode; a second electrode with an atom reservoir for first metal ions; an ion conductor interposed between the first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the ion conductor is capable of transporting second metal ions, wherein the ion conductor is in contact with the first electrode and with the second electrode, and wherein the ion conductor is optically transparent; and a transparent window support in contact with the ion conductor, wherein the electrochemically cleanable window is optically transparent, wherein the transparent window support, the ion conductor, and the first electrode collectively form a transparent and electrochemically cleanable window.

Abstract: Disclosed are hierarchical buoyant materials comprising porous components having multiple length scales that provide reduced density, higher strength, and improved buoyancy. The hierarchical buoyant materials include components having at least two length scales including a first porous material having elements characterized by a first linear length scale and a second porous material having elements characterized by a second linear length scale. The first porous material includes hollow microspheres, and the second porous material provides low effective density via geometrical arrangements. The second linear length scale is substantially different than the first linear length scale in terms of size, e.g., diameter, length, or distance.

Abstract: Some variations provide an interspersed assembly of nanoparticles, the assembly comprising a first phase containing first nanoparticles and a second phase containing second nanoparticles, wherein the second phase is interspersed with the first phase, and wherein the first nanoparticles are compositionally different than the second nanoparticles. The interspersed assembly may be a semi-ordered assembly comprising discrete first-phase particles surrounded by a continuous second phase. Other variations provide a core-shell assembly of nanoparticles, the assembly comprising a first phase containing first nanoparticles and a second phase containing compositionally distinct second nanoparticles, wherein the second phase forms a shell surrounding a core of the first phase. The disclosed assemblies may have a volume from 1 ?m3 to 1 mm3, a packing fraction from 20% to 100%, and an average relative surface roughness less than 5%, for example.

Abstract: Some variations provide an atom vapor-density control system, the system comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode that is electrically isolated from the first electrode; an ion-conducting layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the ion-conducting layer is in ionic communication with the second electrode; at least one atom reservoir in contact with the second electrode or with an additional electrode, wherein the atom reservoir is electrochemically configured to controllably supply or receive atoms; a heater in thermal communication with a heated region comprising the first electrode; and one or more thermal isolation structures configured to minimize heat loss out of the heated region into a cold region. Several exemplary system configurations are presented in the drawings. The disclosed atom vapor-density control systems are capable of controlling the vapor pressure of metal atoms (such as alkali atoms) at low electrical power input.

Abstract: Some variations provide a leading-edge heat pipe comprising: (a) an envelope fabricated from a shell material, wherein the envelope includes at least one edge with a radius of curvature of less than 3 mm, and wherein the envelope includes, or is in thermal communication with, at least one heat-rejection surface; (b) a porous wick fabricated from a ceramic or metallic wick material, wherein the porous wick is configured within a first portion of the interior cavity, wherein at least a portion of the porous wick is adjacent to the inner surface, and wherein the porous wick has a bimodal pore distribution comprising an average capillary-pore size from 0.2 microns to 200 microns and an average high-flow pore size from 100 microns to 2 millimeters (the average high-flow pore size is greater than the average capillary-pore size); and (c) a phase-change heat-transfer material contained within the porous wick.

Abstract: A photonic module and a method of making same, the module having one or more optoelectronic chips, such as a laser diode typically having six sides, with each optoelectronic chip having two opposing sides (a first side and a second side) abutting and electrically connected to metal regions (preferably electro-formed), the two metal regions are physically distinct and electrically separate from each other, the two electro-formed metal regions serving, in use, as heat spreaders for conducting heat away from the optoelectronic chip.

Abstract: Some variations provide an atomic vapor-cell system comprising: a vapor-cell region configured with vapor-cell walls for containing an atomic vapor; and a coating disposed on at least some interior surfaces of the walls, wherein the coating comprises magnesium oxide, a rare earth metal oxide, or a combination thereof. The atomic vapor-cell system may be configured to allow at least one optical path through the vapor-cell region. In some embodiments, the coating comprises or consists essentially of magnesium oxide and/or a rare earth metal oxide. When the coating contains a rare earth metal oxide, it may be a lanthanoid oxide, such as lanthanum oxide. The atomic vapor-cell system preferably further comprises a device to adjust vapor pressure of the atomic vapor within the vapor-cell region. Preferably, the device is a solid-state electrochemical device configured to convey the atomic vapor into or out of the vapor-cell region.

Abstract: An energy conversion device disposed in series with an RF driver circuit and an RF antenna, the energy conversion device being arranged to convert a portion of available RF power from the RF driver circuit into a different form of energy (direct current, thermal, or higher frequency electromagnetic waves such as light) which is converted, if needed, to DC and stored in an energy storage device coupled with the RF driver circuit for supplying recycled electrical energy thereto. The RF antenna may be an electrically small antenna and thus a antenna matching network may be provided between the RF driver circuit and the RF antenna. The energy conversion device may comprise, for example, (i) a transformer in combination with a rectifying circuit, (ii) a full wave rectifier, (iii) a half wave rectifier, (iv) a heat and/or light producing device, an energy converter (such as a generator) or a combination of the foregoing.

Abstract: Some variations provide a leading-edge heat pipe comprising: (a) an envelope fabricated from a shell material, wherein the envelope includes at least one edge with a radius of curvature of less than 3 mm, and wherein the envelope includes, or is in thermal communication with, at least one heat-rejection surface; (b) a porous wick fabricated from a ceramic or metallic wick material, wherein the porous wick is configured within a first portion of the interior cavity, wherein at least a portion of the porous wick is adjacent to the inner surface, and wherein the porous wick has a bimodal pore distribution comprising an average capillary-pore size from 0.2 microns to 200 microns and an average high-flow pore size from 100 microns to 2 millimeters (the average high-flow pore size is greater than the average capillary-pore size); and (c) a phase-change heat-transfer material contained within the porous wick.

Abstract: Disclosed are electrochemically tunable metamaterials which are capable of complete reversibility such that the metamaterial itself can physically disappear (out of the active region) and reappear later, in a controllable manner. Some variations provide an electrochemically tunable, solid-state metamaterial-based device comprising a plurality of metamaterial unit cells, wherein each of the metamaterial unit cells comprises: an ion conductor containing mobile metal ions; a first electrode in contact with the ion conductor, wherein the first electrode is contained in a metasurface negative space disposed on the ion conductor; a second electrode in contact with the ion conductor, wherein the second electrode is electrically isolated from the first electrode; and a metal-containing region containing one or more metals, wherein the metal-containing region is contained within a metasurface positive space disposed on the ion conductor.

Abstract: An ignition-suppressing device (100) for shielding fasteners (106) comprises a ribbon (102) and receptacles (104) that are spaced apart from one another along the ribbon (102).

Abstract: A device which is attachable to a fastener stack, the device comprising: an attachment element made of shape memory material; and a cap comprising a base having an aperture and a shell having an interior space in fluid communication with the opening, wherein the base supports the shell and is coupled to the attachment element.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sandwich structure having an open cellular core and a fluid-tight seal surrounding the core includes coupling a mold to a first facesheet to define a reservoir. The method also includes irradiating a volume of photo-monomer in the reservoir with a series of vertical collimated light beams to form a cured, solid polymer border extending around a periphery of the first facesheet. The method also includes irradiating a remaining volume of photo-monomer in the reservoir with a series of collimated light beams to form an ordered three-dimensional polymer microstructure core defined by a plurality of interconnected polymer optical waveguides coupled to the first facesheet and surrounded by the cured, solid polymer border. The method further includes coupling a second facesheet to the ordered three-dimensional microstructure core and the cured, solid polymer border to form the sandwich structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a part includes additively manufacturing, with an additive manufacturing machine, at least one wall of the part having a first thickness from powder in a powder bed, and peening, with a peening system, at least a portion of the wall of the part. The peening induces plastic deformation in the portion of the wall. The portion of the wall that is peened has a second thickness less than the first thickness of the wall prior to peening. The second thickness of the portion of the wall may be less than a minimum thickness limit achievable by the additive manufacturing machine.

Abstract: An ignition-suppressing tape for sealing cut edges of polymer panels, the tape having a backing strip and a sealant strip that is disposed on a portion of a surface of the backing strip, and a pressure sensitive adhesive is disposed on other portions of the same surface of the backing strip.