Abstract: Systems and method for forming a nanocomposite material. One example of a nanocomposite material includes a first sulfur-based nanoparticle material defining a first nanophase and a second sulfur-based nanoparticle material defining a second nanophase, wherein the nanocomposite material is at least partially long-wave infrared (LWIR) transmitting, and the first nanophase and the second nanophase are co-dispersed to form interpenetrating networks with one another and each has a grain structure that is distinct from one another.

Abstract: Systems and method for forming a nanocomposite material. One example of a nanocomposite material includes a first sulfur-based nanoparticle material defining a first nanophase and a second sulfur-based nanoparticle material defining a second nanophase, wherein the nanocomposite material is at least partially long-wave infrared (LWIR) transmitting, and the first nanophase and the second nanophase are co-dispersed to form interpenetrating networks with one another and each has a grain structure that is distinct from one another.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to pre-concentrator compositions, devices, systems, and/or methods for concentrating small quantities of chemical or biological compounds, e.g., CBRNE compounds. A pre-concentrator of the disclosure may be operable to releasably bind and concentrate CBRNE compounds. In some embodiments, a pre-concentrator may comprise a 3-D structure of electrospun nanofibers, that comprise at least one polymer, one conducting agent and at least one chemical-specific functional group and/or biological-specific moiety configured to selectively bind to a CBRNE compound. Bound compounds may be released and detected. Pre-concentrator devices and systems operable to bind, concentrate, and/or detect one or more CBRNE compounds are described. Devices and systems of the disclosure may be configured to concentrate and detect multiple compounds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to pre-concentrator compositions, devices, systems, and/or methods for concentrating small quantities of chemical or biological compounds, e.g., CBRNE compounds. A pre-concentrator of the disclosure may be operable to releasably bind and concentrate CBRNE compounds. In some embodiments, a pre-concentrator may comprise a 3-D structure of electrospun nanofibers, that comprise at least one polymer, one conducting agent and at least one chemical-specific functional group and/or biological-specific moiety configured to selectively bind to a CBRNE compound. Bound compounds may be released and detected. Pre-concentrator devices and systems operable to bind, concentrate, and/or detect one or more CBRNE compounds are described. Devices and systems of the disclosure may be configured to concentrate and detect multiple compounds.

Abstract: A glaze soldered solid-state laser active medium. The novel laser active medium includes a first section of a first material, a second section of a second material, and a layer of ceramic glaze joining the two sections. The first and second materials may be identical, similar, or dissimilar, and may include crystals or ceramics. The glaze is a multi-oxide eutectic ceramic glaze having a refractivity, light absorption, thermal expansion, and fusion temperature that are compatible with the first material. The sections are joined using a novel glaze soldering process that includes the steps of positioning the sections, applying the ceramic glaze between the sections, and firing the glaze to solder the sections together.

Abstract: A method for increasing the optical transmission characteristics of zinc sulfide in the visible and infrared portions of electromagnetic spectrum is described. Materials such as metals and, in particular, transition metals are diffused through the zinc sulfide material over a duration of time sufficient to cause the material to turn substantially water clear and substantially colorless.

Abstract: A technique for increasing the strength of long wavelength infrared material, such as zinc sulfide and zinc selenide includes diffusing species which are applied to the materials as thin films into the zinc sulfide and zinc selenide material. Portions of the thin film material are thermally diffused to substantial depths of up to 100 microns below the depth of flaws formed in the body using one of two diffusion techniques. One diffusion technique uses hot isostatic pressure and the other uses a heat treatment carried out at or near ambient pressure in an inert atmosphere, such as argon or other suitable inert gas.

Abstract: An optical element includes a base layer of a first material selected from the group consisting of gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, cadmium telluride, mercury cadmium telluride, zinc sulfide and zinc selenide, and a coating layer of the selected base layer material. The coating layer has a predetermined degree of intrinsic compressive stress to protect the base layer.

Abstract: An optical element resistant to thermally induced damage and oxidation includes a base layer of a first material selected from the group consisting of gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, cadmium telluride, mercury cadmium telluride, zinc sulfide and zinc selenide, and a coating layer comprised of the selected base layer material and a refractory oxide. The coating layer has a first portion having a graded composition disposed adjacent the base layer. The coating also has a second portion disposed over the first portion with said second portion being the refractory oxide.

Abstract: An impact resistant anti-reflection coating for an optical element mounted on an airborne system which mitigates damage to the optical element when the airborne system is flown through a high velocity droplet impact medium is described. In a first embodiment, the coating comprises a material having a relatively high modulus of elasticity deposited to a thickness equal to an odd multiple of a quarter of a wavelength of the wavelength radiation to be transmitted through the optical element. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the high modulus of elasticity layer may comprise a homogeneous mixture of a pair of high modulus elasticity materials as well as a composite layer comprising a first layer of a high modulus elasticity material and a second layer of a second modulus of elasticity material. In a second embodiment, the outer surface of an infrared material is strengthened by single diamond point turning the outer surface of the material to introduce into the surface a compressive layer.

Abstract: An impact resistant antireflection coating for an optical element which mitigates damage to the optical element when an air flight system having the optical element is flown through a high velocity droplet impact medium is described. The coating comprises a material having a relatively high modulus of elasticity compared to the modulus of elasticity of the material of the optical element. The coating is deposited to a half wavelength thickness at a wavelength which must be maximally transmitted through the optical element. A quarter wavelength antireflection coating layer at the wavelength which must be maximally transmitted through the optical element is then disposed over the impact protection coating layer. The material of the antireflection coating is preferably of a high modulus of elasticity material having a refractive index which is intermediate the refractive index of the material of the base layer and the medium through which the airborne system is flown.

Abstract: A single crystal Fe film is deposited on a (100) gallium arsenide substrate by ion beam sputtering the Fe film. The sputtered Fe atoms are imparted with energies in the range of about 1 electron volt to at least 10 electron volts to impart sufficient kinetic energy to said ions to allow said ions to have high surface diffusion rates, thereby permitting the atoms to be located at the proper lattice sites of the Fe crystal formed over the gallium arsenide substrate.

Abstract: A buried conductive and/or reflective layer is provided in an optical element including at least one chemically vapor deposited material layer. Over a first layer of material is provided an intermediate region. The intermediate region in one embodiment includes at least one layer of a refractory-type material. In an alternate embodiment, the intermediate region is a composite intermediate region including a first passivating layer comprising a layer of a refractory-type of material such as one of the borides, carbides, nitrides, oxides and silicides, or a refractory-type of metal such as tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, titanium and rhodium or a refractory-type of metal alloy. A conductive layer is then provided over at least a portion of the first passivating layer. Said conductive layer may comprise any of the highly conductive/reflective metals such as copper, gold, silver, palladium, platinum and aluminum, for example.

Abstract: A buried conductive and/or reflective layer is provided in an optical element including at least one chemically vapor deposited material layer. Over a first layer of material is provided an intermediate region. The intermediate region in one embodiment includes at least one layer of a refractory-type material. In an alternate embodiment, the intermediate region is a composite intermediate region including a first passivating layer comprising a layer of a refractory-type of material such as one of the borides, carbides, nitrides, oxides and silicides, or a refractory-type of metal such as tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, titanium and rhodium or a refractory-type of metal alloy. A conductive layer is then provided over at least a portion of the first passivating layer. Said conductive layer may comprise any one of the highly conductive/reflective metals such as copper, gold, silver, palladium, platinum and aluminum, for example.

Abstract: A buried conductive and/or reflective layer is provided in an optical element including at least one chemically vapor deposited material layer. Over a first layer of material is provided an intermediate region. The intermediate region in one embodiment includes at least one layer of a refractory-type material. In an alternate embodiment, the intermediate region is a composite intermediate region including a first passivating layer comprising a layer of a refractory-type of material such as one of the borides, carbides, nitrides, oxides and silicides, or a refractory-type of metal such as tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, titanium and rhodium or a refractory-type of metal alloy. A conductive layer is then provided over at least a portion of the first passivating layer. Said conductive layer may comprise any one of the highly conductive/reflective metals such as copper, gold, silver, palladium, platinum and aluminum, for example.

Abstract: An optically transmittant body of a ternary sulfide material such as calcium lanthanum sulfide is provided by concurrently precipitating from a nitrate solution of calcium and lanthanum, calcium carbonate and lanthanum carbonate. The precipitation reaction forms a homogeneous fine particle size starting powder of calcium carbonate and lanthanum carbonate powders. The starting powder is reacted with a sulfurizing agent such as hydrogen sulfide to convert such starting powder into a calcium lanthanum sulfide powder. The particle size of the homogeneous starting powder is sufficiently small to permit substantially complete and uniform conversion of such starting powder into the calcium lanthanum sulfide powder. The calcium lanthanum sulfide powder is then compacted into the desired form of the optically transmittant body and is subsequently sintered at an elevated temperature in an atmosphere of excess sulfur to increase the density of the material.