Patents by Inventor Nathan J. Withers

Nathan J. Withers 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).

  • Patent number: 9644141
    Abstract: A heterogeneous scintillator material is provided comprising core/shell nanoparticles having a highly hygroscopic or deliquescent halide-based core activated with trivalent Ln3+ or divalent Ln2+ lanthanide ions (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) and a stable non-hygroscopic shell thereon. The heterogeneous nanoparticles can comprise highly hygroscopic lanthanide halide (LaBr3, LuI3) cores protected with stable non-hygroscopic LaF3 shells. The heterogeneous nanoparticles can comprise deliquescent alkaline earth halide (SrI2, BaI2) cores protected with stable non-hygroscopic (SrF2, BaF2) shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Marek A. Osinski, Nathan J. Withers, Brian A. Akins, Gennady A. Smolyakov, Krishnaprasad Sankar
  • Patent number: 9116246
    Abstract: A thermal neutron detector and method employ Gd-containing nanoscintillators. Thermal neutron radiation is detected by observing scintillation events from the nanoscintillators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Marek A. Osinski, Brian A. Akins, John B. Plumley, Antonio C. Rivera, Gennady A. Smolyakov, Jose M. Vargas, Nathan J. Withers
  • Patent number: 8680469
    Abstract: A neutron irradiation history sensor and detection method for detection of thermal neutrons exploit transmutation of 164Dy into 165Ho and 166Er and significant differences in optical properties of Dy, Ho, and Er in order to enable detection of relative fractions of Dy, Ho, and Er and thus the degree and timing of prior thermal neutron exposure that has occurred, providing a tamper-proof forensic record of the prior thermal neutron exposure. The irradiation history sensor and detection method advantageously employ Dy-containing nanocrytals (NCs) residing in a transparent host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Nathan J. Withers, Marek A. Osinski, Gennady A. Smolyakov
  • Publication number: 20140061487
    Abstract: A neutron irradiation history sensor and detection method for detection of thermal neutrons exploit transmutation of 164Dy into 165Ho and 166Er and significant differences in optical properties of Dy, Ho, and Er in order to enable detection of relative fractions of Dy, Ho, and Er and thus the degree and timing of prior thermal neutron exposure that has occurred, providing a tamper-proof forensic record of the prior thermal neutron exposure. The irradiation history sensor and detection method advantageously employ Dy-containing nanocrytals (NCs) residing in a transparent host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Nathan J. Withers, Marek A. Osinski, Gennady A. Smolyakov
  • Publication number: 20130299720
    Abstract: A heterogeneous scintillator material is provided comprising core/shell nanoparticles having a highly hygroscopic or deliquescent halide-based core activated with trivalent Ln3+ or divalent Ln2+ lanthanide ions (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) and a stable non-hygroscopic shell thereon. The heterogeneous nanoparticles can comprise highly hygroscopic lanthanide halide (LaBr3, LuI3) cores protected with stable non-hygroscopic LaF3 shells. The heterogeneous nanoparticles can comprise deliquescent alkaline earth halide (SrI2, BaI2) cores protected with stable non-hygroscopic (SrF2, BaF2) shells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Marek A. Osinski, Nathan J. Withers, Brian A. Akins, Gennady A. Smolyakov, Krishnaprasad Sankar
  • Patent number: 8431041
    Abstract: Scintillator material comprising nanoparticles (nanocrystals) comprising lead (Pb), iodine (I), and optionally one or both of oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) wherein the nanoparticles exhibit room-temperature scintillation under gamma irradiation. The scintillator nanoparticles can comprise Pb3O2I2. The scintillator nanoparticles can comprise PbIOH in generally equiatomic proportions or non-equiatomic variants thereof that exhibit scintillation under gamma irradiation. The scintillator nanoparticles have a particle dimension in the range of about 5 to about 100 nm. Microparticles (microcrystals) also are provided comprising lead (Pb), iodine (I), and optionally one or both of oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) grown in a nanoparticle colloidal solution over time to a particle dimension greater than 0.1 ?m, such as about 2 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Marek A. Osinski, Nathan J. Withers, Brian A. Akins, Gennady A. Smolyakov, Krishnaprasad Sankar
  • Publication number: 20120286166
    Abstract: A thermal neutron detector and method employ Gd-containing nanoscintillators. Thermal neutron radiation is detected by observing scintillation events from the nanoscintillators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Marek A. Osinski, Brian A. Akins, John B. Plumley, Antonio C. Rivera, Gennady A. Smolyakov, Jose M. Vargas, Nathan J. Withers
  • Patent number: 8009712
    Abstract: A semiconductor ring laser (SRL) section is monolithically integrated with a DFB or DBR master laser section on a semiconductor substrate of a light-emitting device to provide an injection locking mode of operation that can result in low-cost ultrafast (over 100 GHz) functional chip that will be easy to use in practice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Marek A. Osinski, Omar K. Qassim, Nathan J. Withers, Gennady A. Smolyakov
  • Publication number: 20100072374
    Abstract: Scintillator material comprising nanoparticles (nanocrystals) comprising lead (Pb), iodine (I), and optionally one or both of oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) wherein the nanoparticles exhibit room-temperature scintillation under gamma irradiation. The scintillator nanoparticles can comprise Pb3O2I2. The scintillator nanoparticles can comprise PbIOH in generally equiatomic proportions or non-equiatomic variants thereof that exhibit scintillation under gamma irradiation. The scintillator nanoparticles have a particle dimension in the range of about 5 to about 100 nm. Microparticles (microcrystals) also are provided comprising lead (Pb), iodine (I), and optionally one or both of oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) grown in a nanoparticle colloidal solution over time to a particle dimension greater than 0.1 ?m, such as about 2 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Marek A. Osinski, Nathan J. Withers, Brian A. Akins, Gennady A. Smolyakov, Krishnaprasad Sankar
  • Publication number: 20100034223
    Abstract: A semiconductor ring laser (SRL) section is monolithically integrated with a DFB or DBR master laser section on a semiconductor substrate of a light-emitting device to provide an injection locking mode of operation that can result in low-cost ultrafast (over 100 GHz) functional chip that will be easy to use in practice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Marek A. Osinski, Omar K. Qassim, Nathan J. Withers, Gennady A. Smolyakov
  • Publication number: 20100008390
    Abstract: A unidirectional semiconductor ring laser (USRL) section is monolithically integrated with a DFB or DBR master laser section on a semiconductor substrate of a light-emitting device to provide an injection locking mode of operation that can result in low-cost ultrafast (over 100 GHz) functional chip that will be easy to use in practice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Marek A. Osinski, Omar K. Qassim, Nathan J. Withers, Gennady A. Smolyakov
  • Publication number: 20100001209
    Abstract: Scintillator material comprising nanoparticles (nanocrystals) comprising lead (Pb), iodine (I), and optionally one or both of oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) wherein the nanoparticles exhibit room-temperature scintillation under gamma irradiation. The scintillator nanoparticles can comprise Pb3O2I2. The scintillator nanoparticles can comprise PbIOH in generally equiatomic proportions or non-equiatomic variants thereof that exhibit scintillation under gamma irradiation. The scintillator nanoparticles have a particle dimension in the range of about 5 to about 100 nm. Microparticles (microcrystals) also are provided comprising lead (Pb), iodine (I), and optionally one or both of oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) grown in a nanoparticle colloidal solution over time to a particle dimension greater than 0.1 ?m, such as about 2 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Marek A. Osinski, Nathan J. Withers, Brian A. Akins, Gennady A. Smolyakov, Krishnaprasad Sankar