Abstract: A method includes producing an amorphous precursor to a nanocomposite, the amorphous precursor comprising a material that is substantially without crystals not exceeding 20% volume fraction; performing devitrification of the amorphous precursor, wherein the devitrification comprises a process of crystallization; forming, based on the devitrification, the nanocomposite with nano-crystals that contains an induced magnetic anisotropy; tuning, based on one or more of composition, temperature, configuration, and magnitude of stress applied during annealing and modification, the magnetic anisotropy of the nanocomposite; and adjusting, based on the tuned magnetic anisotropy, a magnetic permeability of the nanocomposite.

Abstract: A gas sensor (100,200) includes at least one sensor device including a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device (110) or a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) device (210), and a layer of metal organic framework (MOF) material (120,220) disposed on each of the at least one sensor device. The at least one sensor device is structured to sense a change in mass of the MOF material.

Abstract: A system for determining pH of a fluid and a method to determine the pH of a fluid contacting a sensor, the method having the steps of: providing the sensor to an environment such that the sensor is in contact with the fluid, wherein the sensor features a fiber extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis, wherein the fiber further features a medial portion positioned between the first and second ends, wherein the sensor further features a pH sensitive coating on the medial portion of the fiber, and wherein the pH sensitive material features a metal oxide including but not limited to SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2, Ta2O5, A2O3, and combinations thereof; interrogating the sensor with an optical signal; collecting a modified optical signal after the sensor has been interrogated; and determining the pH of the fluid contacting the pH sensor using the modified optical signal.

Abstract: A method of tinting or coloring glass. The following layers are deposited onto the glass: a first dielectric layer, a subcritical metallic layer; a primer layer; and a second dielectric layer. Alternatively, these layers may be deposited onto the glass: a first dielectric layer, a subcritical metallic layer; and a second dielectric layer. Alternatively, the invention is a coated article that includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer, an absorbing layer, and a second dielectric layer over the primer layer. The absorbing layer can be Inconel, titanium nitride, cobalt chrome (stellite), or nickel chrome material, and has a thickness in the range of 50 ? to 150 ?.

Abstract: A method of making an optical fiber sensor device for distributed sensing includes generating a laser beam comprising a plurality of ultrafast pulses, and focusing the laser beam into a core of an optical fiber to form a nanograting structure within the core, wherein the nanograting structure includes a plurality of spaced nanograting elements each extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of optical fiber. Also, an optical fiber sensor device for distributed sensing includes an optical fiber having a longitudinal axis, a core, and a nanograting structure within the core, wherein the nanograting structure includes a plurality of spaced nanograting elements each extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. Also, a distributed sensing method and system and an energy production system that employs such an optical fiber sensor device.

Abstract: A method of modifying a domain structure of a magnetic ribbon is provided. The method includes a combination of stress and magnetic field annealing the magnetic ribbon in order to generate a desired permeability along one or more axes of the magnetic ribbon.

Abstract: Materials, methods of making, and methods of sensing liquid droplets with high spatial resolution as a signature of the on-set of corrosion using a hierarchical sensor network A hierarchical sensor network for sensing liquid droplets with high spatial resolution as a signature of the on-set of corrosion, including an interrogation system; and an intermediate sensor array layer in communication with the interrogation system. The network includes an interrogation system and an intermediate sensor array layer in communication with the interrogation system.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the pH of an aqueous solution by utilizing the optical properties of a pH sensing material comprised of plurality of optically active nanoparticles dispersed in matrix material. The optically active nanoparticles have an electronic conductivity greater than about 10?1 S/cm and generally have an average nanoparticle diameter of less that about 500 nanometers, and the matrix material is a material which experiences a change in surface charge density over a pH range from 2.0 to 12.0 of at least 1%. The method comprises contacting the pH sensing material and the aqueous solution, illuminating the pH sensing material, and monitoring an optical signal generated through comparison of incident light and exiting light to determine the optical transmission, absorption, reflection, and/or scattering of the pH sensitive material. The optical signal of the pH sensitive material varies in response to the pH of the aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method of monitoring operation of a reactor system includes causing a chemical reaction to occur within an assembly of the reactor system, and measuring a chemical composition of one or more reactants of the chemical reaction with spatial resolution at a plurality of points along a path within the assembly using a sensor system structured to implement distributed sensing. The sensor system includes an optical fiber sensing member provided at least partially within the assembly, wherein the optical fiber sensing member comprises a functionalized optical fiber based sensor device structured to exhibit a change in one or more optical properties in response to changes in the chemical composition of the one or more reactants.

Abstract: A method of tinting or coloring glass. The following layers are deposited onto the glass: a first dielectric layer, a subcritical metallic layer; a primer layer; and a second dielectric layer. Alternatively, these layers may be deposited onto the glass: a first dielectric layer, a subcritical metallic layer; and a second dielectric layer. Alternatively, the invention is a coated article that includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer, an absorbing layer, and a second dielectric layer over the primer layer. The absorbing layer can be Inconel, titanium nitride, cobalt chrome (stellite), or nickel chrome material, and has a thickness in the range of 50 ? to 150 ?.

Abstract: A method of monitoring operation of a reactor system includes causing a chemical reaction to occur within an assembly of the reactor system, and measuring a chemical composition of one or more reactants of the chemical reaction with spatial resolution at a plurality of points along a path within the assembly using a sensor system structured to implement distributed sensing. The sensor system includes an optical fiber sensing member provided at least partially within the assembly, wherein the optical fiber sensing member comprises a functionalized optical fiber based sensor device structured to exhibit a change in one or more optical properties in response to changes in the chemical composition of the one or more reactants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a glass composition that includes: 57 to 75 percent by weight of SiO2; 3 to 11 percent by weight of Al2O3; 6 to 11 percent by weight of Na2O; 16 to 21 percent by weight of CaO; 0.01 to 0.1 percent by weight of Li2O; and less than 0.05 percent by weight of K2O. Each percent by weight is based on total weight of the glass composition. Glass products are also provided that have a bulk glass composition as described above. The glass products, such as flat glass products and glass substrates, have a strain point of at least 590° C. and a thermal expansion of at least 7.4 ppm/° C. The present invention also relates to magnetic recording articles and photovoltaic cells that include a glass substrate that has a bulk glass composition as described above.

Abstract: An architectural transparency includes a substrate; a first dielectric layer over at least a portion of the substrate, a first metallic layer over the first dielectric layer, a first primer layer over the first metallic layer, a second dielectric layer over the first primer layer, a second metallic layer over the second dielectric layer, a second primer layer over the second metallic layer, a third dielectric layer over the second primer layer, a third metallic layer over the third dielectric layer, a third primer layer over the third dielectric layer, and a fourth dielectric layer over the third primer layer. At least one of the metallic layers is a subcritical metallic layer.

Abstract: A coated article includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a subcritical metallic layer having discontinuous metallic regions, a primer over the subcritical layer, and a second dielectric layer over the primer layer. The primer can be a nickel-chromium alloy. The primer can be a multilayer primer having a first layer of a nickel-chromium alloy and a second layer of titania. The subcritical layer can contain copper and silver.

Abstract: An architectural transparency includes a substrate; a first dielectric layer over at least a portion of the substrate, a first metallic layer over the first dielectric layer, a first primer layer over the first metallic layer, a second dielectric layer over the first primer layer, a second metallic layer over the second dielectric layer, a second primer layer over the second metallic layer, a third dielectric layer over the second primer layer, a third metallic layer over the third dielectric layer, a third primer layer over the third dielectric layer, and a fourth dielectric layer over the third primer layer. At least one of the metallic layers is a subcritical metallic layer.

Abstract: A system and method for forming a low cost optical sensor array. The sensor includes an optical fiber; a first nanocomposite thin film along at least a portion of the optical fiber for interrogating a first parameter through a correlated signal having a first wavelength; and a second nanocomposite thin film along at least a portion of the optical fiber for interrogating a second parameter through a correlated signal having a second wavelength different from the wavelength of the first parameter.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods, systems and apparatus for detecting corrosion using a detector apparatus with a host component. The method includes a detector apparatus. The detector apparatus includes an energy source; a corrosion proxy thin film that corrodes at a rate where the normalized change of mass of the film over time is greater than the normalized change of mass of the bulk material of the host component in a harsh environment; and the detector, wherein the detector is capable of detecting a change in energy due to corrosion of the corrosion proxy thin film. The method includes exposing the host component and the corrosion proxy thin film to the harsh environment; and detecting a change in energy using the detector due to corrosion of the corrosion proxy thin film.

Abstract: A gas sensor (100,200) includes at least one sensor device including a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device (110) or a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) device (210), and a layer of metal organic framework (MOF) material (120,220) disposed on each of the at least one sensor device. The at least one sensor device is structured to sense a change in mass of the MOF material.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus, method and process for detecting rare earth elements. The system includes an LED powered by a first power source and a focusing lens in optical communication with the LED. A shortpass filter is in optical communication with the focusing lens; and a fiber bifurcated cable in optical communication with the shortpass filter. The system includes a probe tip in optical communication with the fiber bifurcated cable and a sample; a first aspheric lens in optical communication with the fiber bifurcated cable. A longpass filter is in optical communication with the first aspheric lens and a second aspheric lens in optical communication with the longpass filter. The system includes a spectrometer connected to a power source, where the spectrometer is in optical communication with the second aspheric lens.

Abstract: Methods and systems including a microwave radiation source are described. A first region of a pure magnetic field can be generated in a first processing zone using a microwave radiation source of the first processing zone. The first processing zone can be a single mode microwave radiation chamber. A second region of a pure electric field can be generated in the first processing zone using the microwave radiation source. The second region can be spatially distinct from the first region. A first portion of an amorphous alloy can be loaded automatically into the first processing zone. The first portion can be positioned in an annealing region. The annealing region can be a single field region selected from the first region and the second region. The first portion can be heated in the annealing region. The first portion can be automatically unloaded from the first processing zone.