Abstract: A photonic crystal waveguide having multiple guided modes, the waveguide comprising: a dielectric confinement region surrounding a waveguide axis, the confinement region comprising a photonic crystal having at least one photonic band gap, during operation the confinement region guides EM radiation in a first range of frequencies to propagate along the waveguide axis; a dielectric core region extending along the waveguide axis and surrounded by the confinement region about the waveguide axis; and a mode coupling segment comprising at least one bend in the waveguide axis, wherein during operation the mode coupling segment converts EM energy in a first guided mode to a second guided mode with a conversion efficiency greater than 10% for a frequency in the first range of frequencies.

Abstract: A method for converting electromagnetic (EM) energy between guided modes of a photonic crystal waveguide having a waveguide axis, the method including: (i) providing the photonic crystal waveguide with a mode coupling segment comprising at least one bend in the waveguide axis, wherein during operation the mode coupling segment converts EM energy in a first guided mode to a second guided mode; (ii) providing EM energy in the first guided mode of the photonic crystal waveguide; and (iii) allowing the EM energy in the first guided mode to encounter the mode coupling segment to convert at least some of the EM energy in the first guided mode to EM energy in the second guided mode.

Abstract: A method for converting electromagnetic (EM) energy between guided modes of a photonic crystal waveguide having a waveguide axis, the method including: (i) providing the photonic crystal waveguide with a mode coupling segment comprising at least one bend in the waveguide axis, wherein during operation the mode coupling segment converts EM. energy in a first guided mode to a second guided mode; (ii) providing EM energy in the first guided mode of the photonic crystal waveguide; and (iii) allowing the EM energy in the first guided mode to encounter the mode coupling segment to convert at least some of the EM energy in the first guided mode to EM energy in the second guided mode.

Abstract: A method for converting electromagnetic (EM) energy between guided modes of a photonic crystal waveguide having a waveguide axis, the method including: (i) providing the photonic crystal waveguide with a mode coupling segment comprising at least one bend in the waveguide axis, wherein during operation the mode coupling segment converts EM energy in a first guided mode to a second guided mode; (ii) providing EM energy in the first guided mode of the photonic crystal waveguide; and (iii) allowing the EM energy in the first guided mode to encounter the mode coupling segment to convert at least some of the EM energy in the first guided mode to EM energy in the second guided mode.

Abstract: A system and method for designing photonic band gap structures. The system and method provide a user with the capability to produce a model of a two-dimensional array of conductors corresponding to a unit cell. The model involves a linear equation. Boundary conditions representative of conditions at the boundary of the unit cell are applied to a solution of the Helmholtz equation defined for the unit cell. The linear equation can be approximated by a Hermitian matrix. An eigenvalue of the Helmholtz equation is calculated. One computation approach involves calculating finite differences. The model can include a symmetry element, such as a center of inversion, a rotation axis, and a mirror plane. A graphical user interface is provided for the user's convenience. A display is provided to display to a user the calculated eigenvalue, corresponding to a photonic energy level in the Brilloin zone of the unit cell.

Abstract: A vacuum electron device with a photonic bandgap structure that provides the ability to tune the behavior of the device to a particular mode of a plurality of modes of propagation. The photonic bandgap structure comprises a plurality of members, at least one of which is movable, and at least one of which is temperature controlled. The photonic bandgap structure makes possible the selection of one mode of propagation without the necessity to build structures having dimensions comparable to the wavelength of the propagation mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for mapping a descriptive language including a data description having a structure complexity into an object oriented data presentation includes identifying the data description and creating an object oriented class including an internal static class, wherein the internal static class corresponds to the structure complexity of the data description. A feature of the present invention is a method for mapping a Schema including a structural complexity into an object oriented language including a functionality to provide a one to one correspondence between the structural complexity of the semantical language and the functionality of the object oriented language.

Abstract: For a person who for whatever reason is required to remain prone, i.e. lying face downward, for long periods of time, a parallelepiped housing has a cushion top for comfortably supporting the head of the person. The cushion top defines an opening ("view port") through which the person can look into the housing. Within the housing is a series of mirrors for redirecting the person's field of vision from downward to forward through an front aperture defined by the housing. Preferably the aperture is the absence of a front wall. A manually turned crank reachable by the person allows the person to selectively vertically adjust the his or her field of vision. In the preferred embodiment, the crank rotates a plurality of eccentric cams which pivot a mirror either forward or backward depending on the direction of rotation.

Abstract: A fluorinated phosphosilicate glass (FPSG) is produced in a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process (PECVD) in which the plasma source comprises conventional phosphosilicate glass-forming materials together with one or more fluorine gas-forming materials. The deposited fluorine-gas enhances the filling of gaps or voids with dielectric glass compositions by etching the top of the via holes or gaps during the filling operation. The present fluorine-doped phosphosilicate glass compositions are stable compared to conventional phosphosilicate glass compositions which are relatively unstable and unsatisfactory for use as gap-filling dielectric glass compositions.

Abstract: Titanium and/or tantalum nitrides or nitride silicides are deposited onto a substrate by chemical vapor deposition of a titanium and/or tantalum silylamido complex.

Abstract: Fluorine-doped oxide is formed that is resistant to water absorption by the use of two sources of silicon, one being the fluorine precursor and the other being available to react with excess fluorine from the fluorine precursor, thereby reducing the number of fluorine radicals in the layer; the fluorine precursor containing a glass-forming element that combines with the other glass constituents to carry into the gas a diatomic radical containing one atom of fluorine and one atom of the glass-forming element.

Abstract: A test system comprises a propulsion unit for directing salvos of ballistic ragments in a planar wave to a target of test material. The fragments are stroboscopically illuminated for photographic recording of the test results.