Abstract: The present invention provides an optical detector device, including: a metal absorber layer; and a dielectric cover layer coupled to the metal absorber layer, wherein the dielectric cover layer includes one or more antireflective structured surfaces. The optical detector device further includes one or more of a passive substrate layer and an active thermoelectric element layer coupled to the metal absorber layer opposite the dielectric cover layer. The one or more antireflective structured surfaces each utilize a random pattern.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a random anti-reflective surface structure on an optical fiber including a holder configured to hold the optical fiber comprising a groove and a fiber connector, an adhesive material to hold the optical fiber in the holder and fill any gap between the optical fiber and the holder, a glass to cover the adhesive material and the optical fiber, and a reactive ion etch device. The reactive ion etch device comprises a plasma and is configured to expose an end face of the optical fiber to the plasma. The plasma is configured to etch a random anti-reflective surface structure on the end face of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A spinel-based optical element made by a method for reducing transmission losses in the spinel-based optical element by building a structure on the surface of the optical element without the use of a previously prepared master. The structure can be built through reactive ion etching (RIE) of a pattern obtained through photolithography and liftoff, through RIE of a pattern through e-beam writing and liftoff, through RIE of a pattern using a self organized metal mask, or by direct hot-pressing the structure during fabrication of the optical element.

Abstract: An optical system having two or more different optical elements with a corresponding interface between the optical elements. At least one of the optical elements has an anti-reflective structure that is transferred to the interface between two optical elements, typically by embossing. Also disclosed is the related method for making the optical system.

Abstract: A system and method for creating an anti-reflective surface structure on an optical device includes a shim including a textured pattern, wherein the shim is configured to stamp the optical device with the textured pattern, a connector configured to place the optical device in proximity to the shim and apply a force to the optical device against the shim, and a laser source configured to heat the optical device by generating and applying a laser beam to the optical device when the optical device is placed in proximity to the shim.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical detector device, including: a metal absorber layer; and a dielectric cover layer coupled to the metal absorber layer, wherein the dielectric cover layer includes one or more antireflective structured surfaces. The optical detector device further includes one or more of a passive substrate layer and an active thermoelectric element layer coupled to the metal absorber layer opposite the dielectric cover layer. The one or more antireflective structured surfaces each utilize a random pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for fabricating antireflective surface structures (ARSS) on an optical element using a three-dimensional film layer applied to the surface of the optical element. The methods beneficially permit materials that do not exhibit local variation in physical and chemical properties to be provided with ARSS. Optical elements having ARSS on at least one surface are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for fabricating antireflective surface structures (ARSS) on an optical element using a seed layer of material deposited on the surface of the optical element. The seed layer is removed during or after the etching, and serves to control etching time as well as the transmission region of the optical element having ARSS. Optical elements having ARSS on at least one surface are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for fabricating antireflective surface structures (ARSS) on optical elements. Optical elements having ARSS on at least one surface are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a photonic bad gap fiber and/or fiber preform with a central structured region comprising a first non-silica based glass and a jacket comprising a second non-silica based glass surrounding the central structured region, where the Littleton softening temperature of the second glass is at least one but no more than ten degrees Celsius lower than the Littleton softening temperature of the first glass, or where the base ten logarithm of the glass viscosity in poise of the second glass is at least 0.01 but no more than 2 lower than the base ten logarithm of the glass viscosity in poise of the first glass at a fiber draw temperature. Also disclosed is a method of making a photonic bad gap fiber and/or fiber preform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a thin film of a copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS)-type material are disclosed. The method includes providing first and second targets in a common sputtering chamber. The first target includes a source of CIGS material, such as an approximately stoichiometric polycrystalline CIGS material, and the second target includes a chalcogen, such as selenium, sulfur, tellurium, or a combination of these elements. The second target provides an excess of chalcogen in the chamber. This can compensate, at least in part, for the loss of chalcogen from the CIGS-source in the first target, resulting in a thin film with a controlled stoichiometry which provides effective light absorption when used in a solar cell.

Abstract: A comparative discrimination spectral detection (CDSD) system for the identification of chemicals with overlapping spectral signatures, including: a radiation source for delivering radiation to a sample; a radiation collector for collecting radiation from the sample; a plurality of beam splitters for splitting the radiation collected from the sample into a plurality of radiation beams; a plurality of low-resolution optical filters for filtering the plurality of radiation beams; a plurality of radiation detectors for detecting the plurality filtered radiation beams; and a processor for: receiving a set of reference spectra related to a set of target chemicals and generating a set of base vectors for the set of target chemicals from the set of reference spectra, wherein the set of base vectors define a geometrical shape in a configuration space; receiving a set of filtered test spectra from the plurality of radiation detectors and generating a set of test vectors in the configuration space from the set of filte

Abstract: A method of preparing a fine powder of calcium lanthanoid sulfide is disclosed. The method includes spraying soluble calcium and lanthanoid salts into at least one precipitating solution to form a precipitate comprising insoluble calcium and lanthanoid salts, optionally, oxidizing the precipitate comprising insoluble calcium and lanthanoid salts, and sulfurizing the optionally oxidized precipitate to form a fine powder of calcium lanthanoid sulfide. An alternative method for forming the powder is by flame pyrolysis. The calcium lanthanoid sulfide powder produced by either method can have an impurity concentration of less than 100 ppm, a carbon concentration of less than 200 ppm, a BET surface area of at least 50 m2/g, and an average particle size of less than 100 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a high strength, small grain size ceramic having a trans-granular fracture mode by rapid densification of a green body and subsequent cooling of the densified ceramic. The ceramic may include dislocations, defects, dopants, and/or secondary phases that are formed as a result of the process and resulting in stress fields capable of redirecting or arresting cracks within the material. This ceramic can maintain transparency from ultraviolet to mid-wave infrared.

Abstract: The present invention provides a specific gradient-optical-index porous (GRIP) layer coating on inorganic optical substrate surfaces, and the fabrication method used to create the GRIP layer coating. The method consists of two major processing steps: (1) the co-deposition of an optical index-matching material and a mass density-modulating material, followed by (2) the sacrificial etch of the mass-density-modulating material to reveal a GRIP surface. The method is designed for use with crystalline, polycrystalline, and dry or wet etch-resistant substrate materials, where anti-reflective (AR) solutions using AR surface structures (ARSSs) do not exist. These coatings are designed to minimize Fresnel reflectivity of the original substrate surfaces, using a single porous layer matched to the optical index of the original substrate material.

Abstract: A method of forming a ?-SiC material or coating by mixing SiO2 with carbon and heating the mixture in vacuum wherein the carbon is oxidized to CO gas and reduces the SiO2 to SiO gas and reacting a carbon material with the SiO gas at a temperature in the range of 1300 to 1600° C. resulting in a SiC material or a SiC coating on a substrate. Also disclosed is the related SiC material or coating prepared by this method.

Abstract: A p-type transparent conductive material can comprise a thin film of BCSF on a substrate where the film has a conductivity of at least 1 S/cm. The substrate may be a plastic substrate, such as a polyethersulfone, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, or some other suitable plastic or polymeric substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for creating an anti-reflective surface structure on an optical device includes a shim including a textured pattern, wherein the ship is configured to stamp the optical device with the textured pattern, a connector configured to place the optical device in proximity to the shim and apply a force to the optical device against the shim, and a laser source configured to heat the optical device by generating and applying a laser beam to the optical device when the optical device is placed in proximity to the shim.

Abstract: A method of forming a ?-SiC material or coating by mixing SiO2 with carbon and heating the mixture in vacuum wherein the carbon is oxidized to CO gas and reduces the SiO2 to SiO gas and reacting a carbon material with the SiO gas at a temperature in the range of 1300 to 1600° C. resulting in a SiC material or a SiC coating on a substrate. Also disclosed is the related SiC material or coating prepared by this method.

Abstract: Methods for producing nanostructured, hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, or hydrophilic, transmissive, anti-reflective surfaces are described. The method for providing a hydrophilic surface includes steps of providing a substrate that is transmissive at at least one wavelength in the infrared to ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum and comprises at least one surface including nanostructures of a size smaller than the at least one wavelength; and functionalizing the at least one surface with hydroxyl groups thereon. A hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surface can be provided by contacting the at least one surface with a hydrophobic fluoropolymer for a time sufficient to apply at least a monolayer of fluorine-containing material to the at least one surface. These methods provide devices having excellent transmittance and anti-reflectance properties and which are resistant to seawater.