Abstract: A broadband calibrator assembly is provided and includes a medium/long wave infrared (MW/LW IR) assembly and multiple ultraviolet (UV)/visible and near IR (VNIR)/short wave IR (SWIR) assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat to a fluid and to absorb heat from the fluid as the fluid flows between a warm end and a cold end of a cryocooler. The heat exchanger includes at least one section having a substrate of at least one allotropic form of carbon and a layer of nanoparticles on or over the substrate. The heat exchanger could include multiple sections, and each section could include one of multiple substrates and one of multiple layers of nanoparticles. The heat exchanger can further include pores through the multiple sections of the heat exchanger, where the pores are configured to allow the fluid to flow through the heat exchanger and to contact the substrates and the layers of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles could include at least one lanthanide element or alloy, and the substrate could include carbon nanotubes or graphene.

Abstract: A broadband calibrator assembly is provided and includes a medium/long wave infrared (MW/LW IR) assembly and multiple ultraviolet (UV)/visible and near IR (VNIR)/short wave IR (SWIR) assemblies.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a first semiconductor material is vaporized to generate a vapor phase condensate. The vapor phase condensate is allowed to form nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are annealed to yield nanoparticles or cores. The cores are overcoated by introducing a solution containing second semiconductor material precursors in a coordinating solvent into a suspension of cores at a desired elevated temperature and mixing for a period of time sufficient to cause diffusion of the shell into the core. The diffusion of the shell into the core causes the quantum dots to exhibit a broadened optical emission. The produced quantum dots may be incorporated into a quantum dot based radiation source.

Abstract: A thin-film device for generating a blackbody spectrum is disclosed. The device includes first layer configured to generate heat in response to an applied voltage and a second layer configured to generate the blackbody radiation spectrum in response to the heat from the first layer. A thermocouple is disposed between the first layer and the second layer for measuring a temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple measures temperature at the second layer in order to control temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple can be a copper-carbon nanotube thermocouple.

Abstract: A thin-film device for generating a blackbody spectrum is disclosed. The device includes first layer configured to generate heat in response to an applied voltage and a second layer configured to generate the blackbody radiation spectrum in response to the heat from the first layer. A thermocouple is disposed between the first layer and the second layer for measuring a temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple measures temperature at the second layer in order to control temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple can be a copper-carbon nanotube thermocouple.

Abstract: A light source, calibration device and method of calibrating an imaging device is disclose. The calibration device includes the light source which includes an ultraviolet light layer that, in operation, generates ultraviolet light, and a quantum dot layer that absorbs the ultraviolet light and, in response, generates radiation within the near infrared region at a selected intensity. The near infrared light is received at the selected intensity at the imaging device and a sensitivity of the imaging device is altered to detect the near infrared light at the selected intensity provided by the light source.

Abstract: A graphene strip includes a plurality of graphene strips, a metal additive and a binding material is provided. The plurality of graphene strips include strips of graphene nanoplatelets. The metal additive is applied to each of the plurality of graphene strips. The binding material couples the plurality of graphene strips together.

Abstract: A method includes exposing a non-aqueous solution to ultraviolet illumination, where the non-aqueous solution includes one or more lanthanide elements and one or more photo-initiators. The method also includes producing lanthanide nanoparticles using the non-aqueous solution. The non-aqueous solution could be formed by mixing a first non-aqueous solution including the one or more lanthanide elements and a second non-aqueous solution including the one or more photo-initiators. The non-aqueous solution could include one or more metallic salts, where each metallic salt includes at least one lanthanide element. The one or more metallic salts could include erbium chloride, and the one or more photo-initiators could include benzophenone. The non-aqueous solution could include an organic solvent, such as an alcohol.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate having a recess and a first insulator submerged in the recess of the substrate. The apparatus also includes a cover having a second insulator that, together with the first insulator, defines an insulated volume. The apparatus further includes one or more components to be cooled located over the first insulator and within the insulated volume. The apparatus could also include one or more electrical conductors located over the first insulator, where at least one of the one or more components is electrically connected to the one or more electrical conductors. The one or more electrical conductors could be submerged in the recess of the substrate. The one or more electrical conductors could be thermally-insulative at cryogenic temperatures and could include carbon nanotubes. The first and second insulators could include foam or aerogel insulation.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a first semiconductor material is vaporized to generate a vapor phase condensate. The vapor phase condensate is allowed to form nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are annealed to yield nanoparticles or cores. The cores are overcoated by introducing a solution containing second semiconductor material precursors in a coordinating solvent into a suspension of cores at a desired elevated temperature and mixing for a period of time sufficient to cause diffusion of the shell into the core. The diffusion of the shell into the core causes the quantum dots to exhibit a broadened optical emission. The produced quantum dots may be incorporated into a quantum dot based radiation source.

Abstract: A thin-film device for generating a blackbody spectrum is disclosed. The device includes first layer configured to generate heat in response to an applied voltage and a second layer configured to generate the blackbody radiation spectrum in response to the heat from the first layer. A thermocouple is disposed between the first layer and the second layer for measuring a temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple measures temperature at the second layer in order to control temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple can be a copper-carbon nanotube thermocouple.

Abstract: A thin-film device for generating a blackbody spectrum is disclosed. The device includes first layer configured to generate heat in response to an applied voltage and a second layer configured to generate the blackbody radiation spectrum in response to the heat from the first layer. A thermocouple is disposed between the first layer and the second layer for measuring a temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple measures temperature at the second layer in order to control temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple can be a copper-carbon nanotube thermocouple.

Abstract: A light source, calibration device and method of calibrating an imaging device is disclose. The calibration device includes the light source which includes an ultraviolet light layer that, in operation, generates ultraviolet light, and a quantum dot layer that absorbs the ultraviolet light and, in response, generates radiation within the near infrared region at a selected intensity. The near infrared light is received at the selected intensity at the imaging device and a sensitivity of the imaging device is altered to detect the near infrared light at the selected intensity provided by the light source.

Abstract: A graphene strip includes a plurality of graphene strips, a metal additive and a binding material is provided. The plurality of graphene strips include strips of graphene nanoplatelets. The metal additive is applied to each of the plurality of graphene strips. The binding material couples the plurality of graphene strips together.

Abstract: A thin-film device for generating a blackbody spectrum is disclosed. The device includes first layer configured to generate heat in response to an applied voltage and a second layer configured to generate the blackbody radiation spectrum in response to the heat from the first layer. A thermocouple is disposed between the first layer and the second layer for measuring a temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple measures temperature at the second layer in order to control temperature at the second layer. The thermocouple can be a copper-carbon nanotube thermocouple.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate having a recess and a first insulator submerged in the recess of the substrate. The apparatus also includes a cover having a second insulator that, together with the first insulator, defines an insulated volume. The apparatus further includes one or more components to be cooled located over the first insulator and within the insulated volume. The apparatus could also include one or more electrical conductors located over the first insulator, where at least one of the one or more components is electrically connected to the one or more electrical conductors. The one or more electrical conductors could be submerged in the recess of the substrate. The one or more electrical conductors could be thermally-insulative at cryogenic temperatures and could include carbon nanotubes. The first and second insulators could include foam or aerogel insulation.

Abstract: A hyperspectral calibrator comprises a composite light source disposed within a housing and including an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV LED) and a phosphor arranged such that a first beam generated by the UV LED is transmitted through the phosphor to produce and emit a calibration beam that is spectrally continuous over a wavelength range extending from 0.4 ?m to 0.7 ?m, the housing having an output opening and configured to direct the calibration beam emitted from the composite light source to the output opening to produce a calibration beam at the output opening.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat to a fluid and to absorb heat from the fluid as the fluid flows between a warm end and a cold end of a cryocooler. The heat exchanger includes at least one section having a substrate of at least one allotropic form of carbon and a layer of nanoparticles on or over the substrate. The heat exchanger could include multiple sections, and each section could include one of multiple substrates and one of multiple layers of nanoparticles. The heat exchanger can further include pores through the multiple sections of the heat exchanger, where the pores are configured to allow the fluid to flow through the heat exchanger and to contact the substrates and the layers of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles could include at least one lanthanide element or alloy, and the substrate could include carbon nanotubes or graphene.

Abstract: A hyperspectral calibrator comprises a composite light source disposed within a housing and including an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV LED) and a phosphor arranged such that a first beam generated by the UV LED is transmitted through the phosphor to produce and emit a calibration beam that is spectrally continuous over a wavelength range extending from 0.4 ?m to 0.7 ?m, the housing having an output opening and configured to direct the calibration beam emitted from the composite light source to the output opening to produce a calibration beam at the output opening.