Abstract: A radioisotope-powered semiconductor battery comprises a substrate of a crystalline semiconductor material, the material having at least one degree of confinement, and a radioactive power source comprising at least one radioactive element. The power source is positioned relative to the substrate to allow for impingement of emitted particles on the substrate. The semiconductor material may be electronically, structurally or chemically confined. The radioactive element is preferably impregnated within or immediately adjacent the semiconductor material.

Abstract: A radioluminescent light source comprising a crystalline III-V or II-VI semiconductor or a group IV quantum semiconductor and a radioactive element adapted to cause the semiconductor to produce light is disclosed. The radioactive element, such as tritium, is either incorporated within the semiconductor, preferably proximate to the p-n junction of the semiconductor, or placed adjacent the semiconductor.

Abstract: A temperature sensing apparatus and method of measuring the temperature at the bottom of a rotor slot in a rotating rotor using a temperature sensitive phosphor material. The temperature sensitive phosphor material is placed at the bottom of a rotor slot and is excited, as the rotor rotates, by an excitation source located at a location opposite the rotor, the excited radiation being detected at two spaced locations from the excitation source, the two spaced locations being located also opposite the rotor and spaced apart along the direction of the rotor. Then the decay rate of the detected radiation from the phosphor is determined and from this decay rate the temperature at the bottom of the rotor slot.