Patents by Inventor MICHAEL ALAN COPLAN

MICHAEL ALAN COPLAN has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Noble-gas-excimer detectors of slow neutrons
    Patent number: 8816296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for use in highly sensitive and efficient neutron detection, that includes using trigger reactions to initiate far-ultraviolet (FUV) optical emissions. In some embodiments of the present invention, a method for the detection of slow neutrons includes absorption of a slow neutron with a high neutron capture-cross-section nucleus, decay of the compound nucleus into energetic particles, creation of excimers from the energetic particles reacting with a background gas to form excimers, radiative decay of excimers resulting in emission of FUV radiation, and detection of the FUV radiation using an optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: Charles W. Clark, Patrick P. Hughes, Michael Alan Coplan, Alan Keith Thompson, Robert E. Vest
  • NOBLE-GAS-EXCIMER DETECTORS OF SLOW NEUTRONS
    Publication number: 20120104269
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for use in highly sensitive and efficient neutron detection, that includes using trigger reactions to initiate far-ultraviolet (FUV) optical emissions. In some embodiments of the present invention, a method for the detection of slow neutrons includes absorption of a slow neutron with a high neutron capture-cross-section nucleus, decay of the compound nucleus into energetic particles, creation of excimers from the energetic particles reacting with a background gas to form excimers, radiative decay of excimers resulting in emission of FUV radiation, and detection of the FUV radiation using an optical detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: CHARLES W. CLARK, PATRICK P. HUGHES, MICHAEL ALAN COPLAN, ALAN KEITH THOMPSON, ROBERT E. VEST