Abstract: The invention provides a microplasma photonic crystal for reflecting, transmitting and/or storing incident electromagnetic energy includes a periodic array of elongate microtubes confining microplasma therein and having a column-to-column spacing, average electron density and plasma column diameter selected to produce a photonic response to the incident electromagnetic energy entailing the increase or suppression of crystal resonances and/or shifting the frequency of the resonances. The crystal also includes electrodes for stimulating microplasma the elongated microtubes Electromagnetic energy can be interacted with the periodic array of microplasma to reflect, transmit and/or trap the incident electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: A speculum body is configured to attach to the otoscope. An array of radially situated microchannels is within the speculum body and extends to apertures in a distal end of the speculum body. A power electrode array is within the speculum body positioned with respect to the microchannels to excite plasma generation within the microchannels. An optically transparent central portion is in the body to permit viewing of an eardrum by a practitioner. A method of treatment of the middle ear and/or middle ear cavity incudes actuating plasma jets to extend into the ear canal from a speculum attached to the otoscope and continuing the plasma jet treatment for a period of time sufficient to inactivate or kill a bacterial biofilm in the middle ear and/or the middle ear cavity.

Abstract: A light generation and light distribution method. The method includes generating laser light with a semiconductor laser or an array of semiconductor lasers at a generation location. Light generated by the semiconductor laser is guided to a frequency converter. Light converted by the frequency converter is directed to a plurality of distribution locations. The distribution locations can be remote or local. A light generation and light distribution system includes a semiconductor laser or array of lasers at a generation location. A frequency-conversion optical component modifies the wavelength of the radiation generated by the semiconductor laser to one or more desired wavelengths for disinfection, medical therapy, photochemical processes, and/or lighting. Light extraction and distribution optical components extract from the distribution system a portion of the light in the system so as to provide for one or more of disinfection, medical therapies, general or background lighting, and photochemical processes.

Abstract: A method for photoresist-free photolithography to pattern a surface of conductor or semiconductor substrate and deposit a material includes surface cleaning and irradiating a surface through a mask with VUV photons from a lamp. Photons are generated with a VUV lamp having a wavelength of 160 nm-200 nm and with an intensity sufficient to alter the surface. The photons are directed through a mask pattern to alter the surface chemistry or structure in those areas of the substrate defined by the mask. Material is selectively deposited onto the surface, in those portions of the surface that are exposed to the VUV photons, or unexposed to the VUV photons, depending on the substrate surface. A method uses a seed film and then electroplates metal onto the seed film in the mask pattern. A method provides for electroless deposition of metal and another for altering surface chemistry in the mask pattern.

Abstract: An air fed mycoplasma device includes an array of elongate microchannels formed in a plastic or ceramic having tolerance to ozone and other radicals formed when plasma is generated from air in the microchannels. The microchannels include inlets configured to accept an air feed, and outlets configured to direct plasma jets toward a surface (which may be flat or internal to a pipe, for example) or object. An array of electrodes within the plastic/ceramic housing is configured to ignite and maintain plasma in the microchannels and is isolated by the dielectric from the microchannels. A supply intake for is configured to providing a plasma medium into the microchannels.

Abstract: An in-chamber plasma source in a deposition reactor system includes an array of microcavity or microchannel plasma devices having a first electrode and a second electrode isolated from plasma in microcavities or microchannels. An inlet provides connection to deposition precursor. A region interacts deposition precursor with plasma. An outlet directs precursor dissociated with the plasma onto a substrate for deposition. A reactor system includes a substrate holder across from the outlet, a chamber enclosing the in-chamber plasma source and the substrate holder, an exhaust from the chamber, and conduit supplying precursors from sources or bubblers to the inlet. A reactor system can conduct plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition at high pressures and is capable of forming a complete layer in a single cycle.

Abstract: A rolled-up electromagnetic component for on-chip applications comprises: a multilayer sheet in a rolled configuration comprising at least one turn about a longitudinal axis; a core defined by a first turn of the rolled configuration; and a soft magnetic material disposed within the core, where the multilayer sheet comprises a conductive pattern layer on a strain-relieved layer. A method of making a rolled-up electromagnetic component for on-chip applications includes forming a rolled-up device comprising: a multilayer sheet in a rolled configuration having at least one turn about a longitudinal axis, where the multilayer sheet comprises a conductive pattern layer on a strain-relieved layer; and a core defined by a first turn of the rolled configuration. The method further includes introducing a soft magnetic material into the core.

Abstract: The invention provides a microplasma photonic crystal for reflecting, transmitting and/or storing incident electromagnetic energy includes a periodic array of elongate microtubes confining microplasma therein and having a column-to-column spacing, average electron density and plasma column diameter selected to produce a photonic response to the incident electromagnetic energy entailing the increase or suppression of crystal resonances and/or shifting the frequency of the resonances. The crystal also includes electrodes for stimulating microplasma the elongated microtubes Electromagnetic energy can be interacted with the periodic array of microplasma to reflect, transmit and/or trap the incident electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: A resonator is provided that includes opposing mirrors arranged substantially parallel to each other and separated to confine reflections for gain. A gain medium is between the opposing mirrors. A pump pumps the gain medium. At least one microrefractive element, or tens, hundreds, thousands, millions or more, stabilizes the resonator. The refractive element is disposed between the opposing mirrors and is configured to support a laser beam at a position of the refractive element. A method for producing laser light directs pump light onto one or a plurality of microrefractive elements. Reflections from the one or a plurality of microrefractive elements are confined in a resonator volume. Gain is provided in the resonator volume. Laser energy is emitted from the resonator volume.

Abstract: A light source for an imaging system. The light source includes a microresonator laser array having opposing mirrors arranged substantially parallel to one another. A laser gain medium is between the opposing mirrors. An array of microrefractive elements is arranged to stabilize the microresonator. A pump laser's output is shaped by a lens that directs it toward the micro-resonator laser array. An output lens directs a plurality of laser beams from the microresonator laser array to be incoherently combined at an object to be illuminated.

Abstract: Non-disperse, periodic microplasmas are generated in a volume lacking interfering structures, such as electrodes, to enable photonic interaction between incident electromagnetic energy and the non-disperse, periodic microplasmas. Preferred embodiments leverage 1D, 2D, 3D and super 3D non-disperse, periodic microplasmas. In preferred embodiments, the non-disperse, periodic microplasmas are elongate columnar microplasmas. In other embodiments, the non-disperse, periodic microplasmas are discrete isolated microplasmas. The photonic properties can change by selectively activating groups of the periodic microplasmas.

Abstract: A rolled-up electromagnetic component for on-chip applications comprises: a multilayer sheet in a rolled configuration comprising at least one turn about a longitudinal axis; a core defined by a first turn of the rolled configuration; and a soft magnetic material disposed within the core, where the multilayer sheet comprises a conductive pattern layer on a strain-relieved layer. A method of making a rolled-up electromagnetic component for on-chip applications includes forming a rolled-up device comprising: a multilayer sheet in a rolled configuration having at least one turn about a longitudinal axis, where the multilayer sheet comprises a conductive pattern layer on a strain-relieved layer; and a core defined by a first turn of the rolled configuration. The method further includes introducing a soft magnetic material into the core.

Abstract: A resonator is provided that includes opposing mirrors arranged substantially parallel to each other and separated to confine reflections for gain. A gain medium is between the opposing mirrors. A pump pumps the gain medium. At least one microrefractive element, or tens, hundreds, thousands, millions or more, stabilizes the resonator. The refractive element is disposed between the opposing mirrors and is configured to support a laser beam at a position of the refractive element. A method for producing laser light directs pump light onto one or a plurality of microrefractive elements. Reflections from the one or a plurality of microrefractive elements are confined in a resonator volume. Gain is provided in the resonator volume. Laser energy is emitted from the resonator volume.

Abstract: A light source for an imaging system. The light source includes a microresonator laser array having opposing mirrors arranged substantially parallel to one another. A laser gain medium is between the opposing mirrors. An array of microrefractive elements is arranged to stabilize the microresonator. A pump laser's output is shaped by a lens that directs it toward the micro-resonator laser array. An output lens directs a plurality of laser beams from the microresonator laser array to be incoherently combined at an object to be illuminated.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for water dissociation with microplasma generated in microchannel plasma arrays or chips. Preferred methods and systems introduce water vapor into a microchannel plasma array. Electrical power is applied to the microchannel plasma array to create a plasma chemical reaction of the water vapor in the microchannel plasma array. Dissociated hydrogen and/or oxygen gas is collected at an output of the microchannel plasma array. The water vapor can be entrained in a carrier gas, but is preferably introduced without carrier gas. Direct introduction of water vapor has been demonstrated to provide efficiencies at an above 60%. The use of carrier gas reduces efficiency, but still exceeds efficiencies of prior methods discussed in the background.

Abstract: An air fed mycoplasma device includes an array of elongate microchannels formed in a plastic or ceramic having tolerance to ozone and other radicals formed when plasma is generated from air in the microchannels. The microchannels include inlets configured to accept an air feed, and outlets configured to direct plasma jets toward a surface (which may be flat or internal to a pipe, for example) or object. An array of electrodes within the plastic/ceramic housing is configured to ignite and maintain plasma in the microchannels and is isolated by the dielectric from the microchannels. A supply intake for is configured to providing a plasma medium into the microchannels.

Abstract: An injection-seeded whispering gallery mode optical amplifier. The amplifier includes a micro or nanoscale whispering gallery mode resonator configured to amplify a whispering gallery mode therein via a gain medium separated from the whispering gallery mode resonator but within the evanescent field of the whispering gallery mode resonator. A pump stimulates the whispering gallery mode. A plasmonic surface couples power into the whispering gallery mode resonator.

Abstract: A laser pumping method pumps a primary amount of energy into a laser medium to populate an intermediate level near an upper laser level. A lesser amount of energy is pumped into the laser medium to populate an excited level that lies above the upper laser level and transfers atomic or molecular population to the upper laser level by a nonradiative process. A laser device includes a laser medium supporting four levels, including a lower laser level, an upper laser level, an excited level above the laser level from which population transfers to the upper laser level via nonradiative transition, and an intermediate level within a few kT of the upper laser level.

Abstract: Non-disperse, periodic microplasmas are generated in a volume lacking interfering structures, such as electrodes, to enable photonic interaction between incident electromagnetic energy and the non-disperse, periodic microplasmas. Preferred embodiments leverage 1D, 2D, 3D and super 3D non-disperse, periodic microplasmas. In preferred embodiments, the non-disperse, periodic microplasmas are elongate columnar microplasmas. In other embodiments, the non-disperse, periodic microplasmas are discrete isolated microplasmas. The photonic properties can change by selectively activating groups of the periodic microplasmas.

Abstract: A laser pumping method pumps a primary amount of energy into a laser medium to populate an intermediate level near an upper laser level. A lesser amount of energy is pumped into the laser medium to populate an excited level that lies above the upper laser level and transfers atomic or molecular population to the upper laser level by a nonradiative process. A laser device includes a laser medium supporting four levels, including a lower laser level, an upper laser level, an excited level above the laser level from which population transfers to the upper laser level via nonradiative transition, and an intermediate level within a few kT of the upper laser level.