Abstract: Cold-worked metal articles, methods of forming cold-worked metal articles, and methods of authenticating cold-worked metal articles are provided. In an embodiment, a cold-worked metal article includes a cold-worked metal-containing surface that defines pores. The cold-worked metal-containing surface includes luminescent phosphor particles disposed within the pores. The luminescent phosphor particles include a host crystal lattice material and at least one active ion that includes an absorbing ion and an emitting ion that is different from the absorbing ion. The luminescent phosphor particles are harder than the cold-worked metal-containing surface.

Abstract: Biosensors and sensing methods that overcome the disadvantages, poor chemical, physical and long-term stability, hatch to batch variability and high cost sensor of these teachings for detecting and recognizing target molecules includes a capture and release component and a sensing component. The capture release component includes a structure having molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles disposed on the structure, the structure being configured to receive a target fluid having the target molecules, the target molecules being captured by one of a molecularly imprinted polymer or molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles, and a source of a release solvent configured to release the target molecules captured by the molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles, the release solvent and released target molecules constituting a release solution. The sensing component includes a sensor surface having a layer of molecular imprinted polymer disposed on the sensor surface; and a sensing circuit.

Abstract: Techniques are described for identifying security credentials or other sensitive information based on an entropy-based analysis of information included in documents such as source code files, object code files, or other types of files. A baseline information entropy may be determined for one or more documents, indicating a baseline level of randomness for information in the document(s). One or more of the documents may be analyzed to identify the presence of high entropy portions that have an information entropy above a threshold value. The threshold value may be based on the baseline information entropy, or based on other criteria such as a programming language of the document(s). Because security credentials may have a higher level of information entropy than the surrounding code, any high entropy portions of the document(s) may be identified as potential security risks.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide detector including a sensor component, where the sensor component has a colorimetric indicator salt of a colorimetric pH indicator and a lipophilic phosphonium quaternary cation, a transparent polymer vehicle or a plasticizer not being in a mixture with the colorimetric indicator salt; and a porous memory, a porous polymer membrane in one instance, the colorimetric indicator salt being deposited on a surface of the porous polymer membrane; the colorimetric indicator salt deposited on the porous polymer membrane does not include a transparent polymer vehicle or a plasticizer, and carbon dioxide detection systems using the detector.

Abstract: A method of cleaning calibration and other substrates that improves the correlation of measurements from calibration and product substrates and increases the useful life of the calibration substrates is herein disclosed. By exposing a calibration substrate to ultraviolet light, a reaction is triggered that results in the cleaning of the contaminants from the calibration substrate. For instance, monatomic oxygen is introduced to contaminants on the surface of a calibration substrate to remove the contaminants without inducing modifications in the substrate itself. Through the cleaning process, the temperature of the calibration substrate may be controlled to limit adverse effects caused by the overheating of the calibration substrate.

Abstract: Methods and systems for efficiently and accurately detecting and identifying concealed materials. The system includes an analysis subsystem configured to process one or more detection outputs, the detection outputs obtained by illuminating regions with a electromagnetic radiation source from the number of electromagnetic radiation sources, each electromagnetic radiation source emitting at a different wavelength, the one or more detection outputs, after processing, constituting a vector of processed data, and the analysis subsystem being also configured to compare the vector of processed data to a predetermined vector corresponding to a predetermined material, presence of the predetermined material being determined by the comparison.

Abstract: Methods and systems for efficiently and accurately detecting and identifying concealed materials. The system includes an analysis subsystem configured to process a number of pixelated images, the number of pixelated images obtained by repeatedly illuminating regions with a electromagnetic radiation source from a number of electromagnetic radiation sources, each repetition performed with a different wavelength. The number of pixelated images, after processing, constitute a vector of processed data at each pixel from a number of pixels. At each pixel, the vector of processed data is compared to a predetermined vector corresponding to a predetermined material, presence of the predetermined material being determined by the comparison.

Abstract: Methods and systems for efficiently and accurately detecting and identifying concealed materials. The system includes an analysis subsystem configured to process a number of pixelated images, the number of pixelated images obtained by repeatedly illuminating regions with a electromagnetic radiation source from a number of electromagnetic radiation sources, each repetition performed with a different wavelength. The number of pixelated images, after processing, constitute a vector of processed data at each pixel from a number of pixels. At each pixel, the vector of processed data is compared to a predetermined vector corresponding to a predetermined material, presence of the predetermined material being determined by the comparison.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for article authentication include an exciting radiation generator that exposes an area of the article to exciting radiation, and at least two radiation detectors that detect emitted radiation from the area in a first band and in a second band that does not overlap the first band. The first band corresponds with a first emission sub-band of an emitting ion, and the second band corresponds with a second emission sub-band of the same emitting ion. A processing system calculates a comparison value that represents a mathematical relationship (e.g., a ratio) between a first intensity of the emitted radiation in the first band with a second intensity of the emitted radiation in the second band, and determines whether the comparison value compares favorably with an authentication parameter. When the comparison value compares favorably with the authentication parameter, the article is identified as being authentic.

Abstract: Methods and systems for efficiently and accurately detecting and identifying concealed materials The system includes an analysis subsystem configured to process a number of pixelated images, the number of pixelated images obtained by repeatedly illuminating, through a patterning component, regions, where an electromagnetic radiation source, from a number of electromagnetic radiation sources, illuminates the patterning component, each repetition performed with a different wavelength. A number of Global pixelated images are obtained. The number of global pixelated images, after processing, constitute a vector of processed data at each pixel from a number of pixels. At each pixel, the vector of processed data is compared to a predetermined vector corresponding to a predetermined material, presence of the predetermined material being determined by the comparison.

Abstract: Embodiments include luminescent phosphor compounds that include one or more emitting ions and one or more disturbing ions, and methods for their production. An emitting ion in the compound may be characterized by a first decay time constant when the emitting ion is undisturbed. However, a corresponding disturbing ion in the compound, which is different from the emitting ion, causes the emitting ion to have a pre-defined, target disturbed decay time constant that is greater than zero and less than the first decay time constant. An embodiment of an authentication system is configured to measure the decay time constant of a phosphor compound applied to an article, and to determine whether the decay time constant corresponds to a phosphor compound that includes a particular disturbing ion (e.g., in order to determine whether or not the article is authentic).

Abstract: Embodiments include luminescent materials and associated production methods. The material includes a crystal borate having a first substitutable element, neodymium substituted for the first substitutable element at a first substitution percentage of at least about 20 percent, and ytterbium substituted for the first substitutable element at a second substitution percentage. The material also may include chromium substituted for a second substitutable element. The material also may include a medium within which particles of the borate are incorporated. The medium, with the luminescent material particles, may form a security feature of an article. Embodiments of methods for identifying whether such a luminescent material is incorporated with an article include exposing a portion of the article to excitation in a chromium absorption band, and determining whether a detected emission produced by the article as a result of the excitation indicates an ytterbium emission after termination of the exposing step.

Abstract: Luminescent borates, luminescent materials, and articles incorporating such borates are provided herein. An embodiment of a luminescent borate includes a host borate that has a B9O16-comprising crystal lattice. Neodymium and/or ytterbium are present within the host borate, and one or more substitutable elements are optionally present along with the neodymium and/or ytterbium within the host borate. The one or more substitutable elements are different from neodymium and ytterbium.

Abstract: A method for retrieving information encoded in a structured illumination pattern including selecting an encoded structured illumination pattern having a variable intensity; providing an object with a surface having a 3D relief pattern; selecting at least one portion but not all of the object's surface including the 3D surface relief pattern; projecting the selected structured illumination pattern onto the selected portion of the surface; using a digital camera to capture an image of the reflected structured light pattern from the selected portion of the surface; storing the image in a memory; and processing the image of the detected reflected structured light pattern using a processor responsive to the detected reflected structured light pattern and the selected structured light pattern to retrieve the encoded information, wherein the encoded information is based on the geometrical and material properties of the 3D surface relief pattern and is distinct from the object, surface, or relief pattern.

Abstract: Cold-worked metal articles, methods of forming cold-worked metal articles, and methods of authenticating cold-worked metal articles are provided. In an embodiment, a cold-worked metal article includes a cold-worked metal-containing surface that defines pores. The cold-worked metal-containing surface includes luminescent phosphor particles disposed within the pores. The luminescent phosphor particles include a host crystal lattice material and at least one active ion that includes an absorbing ion and an emitting ion that is different from the absorbing ion. The luminescent phosphor particles are harder than the cold-worked metal-containing surface.

Abstract: Pulsed, coherent light is generated by optical mixing which takes place inside the resonator of a pulsed laser oscillator. One of the beams to be mixed is generated by the pulsed laser, and the other by a distinct, external laser oscillator. If the light from the external oscillator is modulated, that modulation will be transferred onto the light generated by the optical mixing. Using sum frequency generation, light for sodium excitation, such as for a guide star, can be generated with the optimal modulation of spectral and temporal properties. If the pulse repetition frequency is chosen to be at or near the magnetic (Larmor) resonance of the sodium, then the amount of scattered light due to sodium excitation is enhanced, and the magnetic field at the location of the sodium atoms can be measured.

Abstract: Embodiments include luminescent materials and associated production methods. The material includes a crystal borate having a first substitutable element and a second substitutable element, one or more rare earth ions substituted for the first substitutable element, and chromium substituted for the second substitutable element. The one or more rare earth ions are selected from a group consisting of neodymium and ytterbium. The material also may include a medium within which particles of the borate are incorporated. The medium, with the luminescent material particles, may form a security feature of an article. Embodiments of methods for identifying whether such a luminescent material is incorporated with an article include exposing a portion of the article to excitation in a chromium absorption band, and determining whether a detected emission produced by the article as a result of the excitation indicates an ytterbium emission after termination of the exposing step.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods and apparatus for identifying a thermographic phosphor (e.g., Er:YIG) incorporated on or within an article. The method and apparatus embodiments include an excitation energy generator selectively exposing the article to excitation energy in an absorption band of the thermographic phosphor. An emitted radiation detector detects first emission characteristics of first emitted radiation from the article within an emission band of the thermographic phosphor when the article has a first temperature, and detects second emission characteristics of second emitted radiation from the article within the emission band when the article has a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. A temperature adjustment element is configured to adjust the temperature of the article. Embodiments further include a processing system determining whether the first emission characteristics are sufficiently different from the second emission characteristics.

Abstract: A method for retrieving information encoded in a structured illumination pattern including selecting an encoded structured illumination pattern having a variable intensity; providing an object with a surface having a 3D relief pattern; selecting at least one portion but not all of the object's surface including the 3D surface relief pattern; projecting the selected structured illumination pattern onto the selected portion of the surface; using a digital camera to capture an image of the reflected structured light pattern from the selected portion of the surface; storing the image in a memory; and processing the image of the detected reflected structured light pattern using a processor responsive to the detected reflected structured light pattern and the selected structured light pattern to retrieve the encoded information, wherein the encoded information is based on the geometrical and material properties of the 3D surface relief pattern and is distinct from the object, surface, or relief pattern.

Abstract: Pulsed, coherent light is generated by optical mixing which takes place inside the resonator of a pulsed laser oscillator. One of the beams to be mixed is generated by the pulsed laser, and the other by a distinct, external laser oscillator. If the light from the external oscillator is modulated, that modulation will be transferred onto the light generated by the optical mixing. This enables modulated light at an expanded range of wavelengths. Using sum frequency generation, light for sodium excitation, such as for a guide star, can be generated with the optimal modulation of spectral and temporal properties. If the type of optical mixing is difference frequency generation, optical parametric amplifiers with improved efficiency and beam quality are enabled.