Abstract: A method by which a gold-coated palladium foil, singly or in combination with metal oxides, can be made to permanently remove hydrogen gas from an attached vacuum chamber, either electrically-passive or electrically-active has been discovered. The foil assembly (301) is secured onto a demountable or permanently affixed flange (303), through which hydrogen gas passes via permeation (102), from the vacuum chamber being pumped (401), to atmosphere. Palladium combined with a metal oxide (502), secondary metal layer (503), gold coating (504) and an applied voltage (509) increases the pumping speed. Methods associated with this claim include the foil mounting and sealing, configuring film composition and applying requisite bias voltage.

Abstract: A method by which negative electron affinity photocathodes (201), single crystal, amorphous, or otherwise ordered, can be made to recover their quantum yield following exposure to an oxidizing gas has been discovered. Conventional recovery methods employ the use of cesium as a positive acting agent (104). In the improved recovery method, an electron beam (205), sufficiently energetic to generate a secondary electron cloud (207), is applied to the photocathode in need of recovery. The energetic beam, through the high secondary electron yield of the negative electron affinity surface (203), creates sufficient numbers of low energy electrons which act on the reduced-yield surface so as to negate the effects of absorbed oxidizing atoms thereby recovering the quantum yield to a pre-decay value.

Abstract: A method by which titania, or other composition, nanotube arrays, grown anodically or otherwise, can be made to meter vacuum pressure through hydrogen absorption has been discovered. The nanotube array (203) is fixed onto a demountable or permanently affixed flange, through which electrical current can be passed. By metering the current (205) for an allowable range of bias voltages (207), a resistance value (302) can be obtained. This resistance is related to the hydrogen pressure (202) through cross-calibration at the overlap with conventional gauges. Conventional gauges require free electrons for ionization of gas molecules, directly contributing to the pressure in the vacuum volume. The present invention avoids that complication by relying on the absorption of hydrogen. The method associated with this embodiment includes the mounting, bias, current measurement, restoration and boosting techniques all compatible with the operation of a vacuum vessel at very high, ultra-high and extreme-high vacuum levels.

Abstract: A method by which photocathodes(201), single crystal, amorphous, or otherwise ordered, can be surface modified to a robust state of lowered and in best cases negative, electron affinity has been discovered. Conventional methods employ the use of Cs(203) and an oxidizing agent(207), typically carried by diatomic oxygen or by more complex molecules, for example nitrogen trifluoride, to achieve a lowered electron affinity(404). In the improved activation method, a second alkali, other than Cs(205), is introduced onto the surface during the activation process, either by co-deposition, yo-yo, or sporadic or intermittent application. Best effect for GaAs photocathodes has been found through the use of Li(402) as the second alkali, though nearly the same effect can be found by employing Na(406).

Abstract: A method by which negative electron affinity photocathodes (201), single crystal, amorphous, or otherwise ordered, can be made to recover their quantum yield following exposure to an oxidizing gas has been discovered. Conventional recovery methods employ the use of cesium as a positive acting agent (104). In the improved recovery method, an electron beam (205), sufficiently energetic to generate a secondary electron cloud (207), is applied to the photocathode in need of recovery. The energetic beam, through the high secondary electron yield of the negative electron affinity surface (203), creates sufficient numbers of low energy electrons which act on the reduced-yield surface so as to negate the effects of absorbed oxidizing atoms thereby recovering the quantum yield to a pre-decay value.

Abstract: A method by which photocathodes (201), single crystal, amorphous, or otherwise ordered, can be surface modified to a robust state of lowered and in best cases negative, electron affinity has been discovered. Conventional methods employ the use of Cs (203) and an oxidizing agent (207), typically carried by diatomic oxygen or by more complex molecules, for example nitrogen trifluoride, to achieve a lowered electron affinity (404). In the improved activation method, a second alkali, other than Cs (205), is introduced onto the surface during the activation process, either by co-deposition, yo-yo, or sporadic or intermittent application. Best effect for GaAs photocathodes has been found through the use of Li (402) as the second alkali, though nearly the same effect can be found by employing Na (406).

Abstract: Apparatus for photographing objects and/or persons simultaneously with the occurrence of a predetermined event wherein the apparatus is particularly adapted for photographing persons when they shoot traffic signs along highways. The impact of a bullet against the traffic sign energizes an encoded transmitter with transmits a radiofrequency into the air for a first predetermined time period. A receiver/decoder is located remotely from the transmitter for receiving the radiofrequency signal from the transmitter, and a camera is positioned to photograph persons and/or vehicles within a predetermined area adjacent to the traffic sign during the period of time that a signal is received by the receiver/decoder.