Abstract: An optical device for integrated photonic applications includes a substrate, a dielectric waveguide and a surface plasmon waveguide. The dielectric waveguide includes a dielectric waveguide core disposed relative to a dielectric waveguide cladding and a common cladding. The surface plasmon waveguide includes a surface plasmon waveguide core disposed relative to the common cladding and a surface plasmon waveguide cladding. The common cladding couples the dielectric waveguide and the surface plasmon waveguide.

Abstract: A solar concentrator assembly includes a tripod, a base, a reflective dish, a receptacle, and a thermoelectric module or a heat transfer module. The tripod includes legs and a top tripod connector coupled to top portions thereof. The base includes a rod coupled to the tripod; a bottom support structure coupled to the rod; a top support structure coupled to the bottom support structure; an extension coupled to the bottom support structure and the top support structure; and a cap with recesses mounted to the top support structure. The reflective dish includes support rods received within the recesses; a pliable material forms panels, wherein the support rods are inserted into seams between the panels; and a reflective material disposed on the pliable material. The receptacle is connected to the base and disposed within the reflective dish. The thermoelectric module or the heat transfer module is partially disposed within the receptacle.

Abstract: Active devices such as pumps and mixers have been fabricated in plastic-PDMS hybrid devices. By utilizing functionalized bis-silane primers, bond strength between Polycarbonate or PMMA and PDMS improved in dry and aqueous environments. Plastic-primer-PDMS layers exposed to acid and base solutions at 70° C. for 2 hours showed no signs of delamination at 30 psi for pH ?1 to 15 and 60 psi for pH 0 to 15. A peristaltic pump fabricated in polycarbonate achieved consistent flow rates up to peristaltic cycle frequencies of 10 Hz in water, 1OM HCl, and 1OM NaOH solutions.

Abstract: Structures including optical waveguides disposed over substrates having a chamber or trench defined therein, and methods for formation thereof.

Abstract: An optical device for integrated photonic applications includes a substrate, a dielectric waveguide and a surface plasmon waveguide. The dielectric waveguide includes a dielectric waveguide core disposed relative to a dielectric waveguide cladding and a common cladding. The surface plasmon waveguide includes a surface plasmon waveguide core disposed relative to the common cladding and a surface plasmon waveguide cladding. The common cladding couples the dielectric waveguide and the surface plasmon waveguide.

Abstract: A non-destructive evaluation system for evaluating an article such as a test sample, the system comprising: a silicon-based CCD camera for obtaining a series of images of the article; first apparatus for receiving the series of images of the article from the silicon-based CCD camera and using a first imaging modality to generate a first data set spatially correlated to the article; second apparatus for receiving the series of images of the article from the silicon-based CCD camera and using a second imaging modality to generate a second data set spatially correlated to the article; and processing apparatus for processing at least one of the first and second data sets so as to evaluate at least one physical characteristic of the article.

Abstract: Structures including optical waveguides disposed over substrates having a chamber or trench defined therein, and methods for formation thereof.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention introduces integrated fluid injection and mixing devices to enable pH control in a miniature parallel integrated bioreactor array system. In another embodiment, the environmental conditions of the growth chamber is enabled through fluidic injections in a miniature parallel cell culture system. In still another embodiment, the present invention utilizes gas switches to control oxygen concentration within a miniature parallel integrated bioreactor array.

Abstract: The invention is directed to systems and methods of digital signal processing and in particular to systems and methods for measurements of thermoreflectance signals, even when they are smaller than the code width of a digital detector used for detection. For example, in some embodiments, the number of measurements done is selected to be sufficiently large so as to obtain an uncertainty less than the code width of the detector. This allows for obtaining images having an enhanced temperature resolution. The invention is also directed to methods for predicting the uncertainty in measurement of the signal based on one or more noise variables associated with the detection process and the number of measurement iterations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing characterization of devices is presented. The characteristic of the device are determined by obtaining a first temperature measurement in a first location of a device, obtaining a second temperature measurement, computing the difference between the temperature measurements and, using the temperatures and/or the temperature difference, a characteristic of the device is determined.

Abstract: A surface-emitting laser with an integral nonlinear crystal. The laser generates light at a fundamental frequency. The nonlinear crystal converts the light into light at twice the fundamental frequency. The laser is configured in a vertical-cavity, surface-emitting structure. An adhesive layer containing indium such as indium gallium phosphide is disposed between a phosphide nonlinear crystal and an arsenide optical amplifier. The optical amplifier and the nonlinear crystal are fused together. The optical amplifier and the nonlinear crystal are located inside a laser cavity that is defined between a pair of reflectors. One of the reflectors is located adjacent the nonlinear crystal and is highly reflective of light at the fundamental frequency but transmissive of light at twice the fundamental frequency. Light is generated at the fundamental frequency, doubled in frequency as it passes back and forth through the nonlinear crystal, and emitted through the reflector adjacent the nonlinear crystal.