Abstract: A method of bonding includes applying a glass composition to at least a first material surface. The glass composition includes a glass powder and a solvent. The first material surface is disposed onto a second material surface. An elevated temperature is applied to the first material surface and the second material surface to form a bond between the first material surface and the second material surface. The first material surface and the second material surface are compressed under an isostatic pressure.

Abstract: An optical element includes an optical material including a first edge and an opposing second edge. The optical element further includes a plurality of micro-channels arranged within the optical material. Each of the micro-channels of the plurality of micro-channels extends from the first edge to the second edge of the optical material.

Abstract: A nanocomposite optical ceramic (NCOC) material. The material having a first solid phase, a second solid phase, and a third solid phase. The first solid phase has first solid phase grains no larger than 5 ?m, and each first solid phase grain has a first solid phase grain boundary. The second solid phase has second solid phase grains no larger than 5 ?m, and each second solid phase grain has a second solid phase grain boundary. The third solid phase has a doping agent. The doping agent is less than 5 atomic % soluble in the first solid phase and the second solid phase. At least part of the third solid phase is situated at the second solid phase grain boundary.

Abstract: A method of bonding includes applying a glass composition to at least a first material surface. The glass composition includes a glass powder and a solvent. The first material surface is disposed onto a second material surface. An elevated temperature is applied to the first material surface and the second material surface to form a bond between the first material surface and the second material surface. The first material surface and the second material surface are compressed under an isostatic pressure.

Abstract: A method of making a scintillator material includes forming a dried ceramic composition into a ceramic body with a garnet crystal formula (Gd3-x-zYx)Cez(Ga5-yAly)O12, where x is about 0 to about 2, y is about 0 to about 5, and z is about 0.001 to about 1.0. The ceramic body is sintered to form a sintered ceramic body. The sintered ceramic body is surrounded by a powder mixture that includes a garnet powder. The density of the sintered ceramic body is increased by applying an increased temperature and isostatic pressure to form the scintillator material.

Abstract: An optical element includes an optical material including a first edge and an opposing second edge. The optical element further includes a plurality of micro-channels arranged within the optical material. Each of the micro-channels of the plurality of micro-channels extends from the first edge to the second edge of the optical material.

Abstract: A solid solution-based optical material capable of transmitting infrared light, the solid solution-based optical material comprising at least two nano-sized phases intermixed in one another, wherein at least one of the at least two nano-sized phases is a solid solution containing a dissolved dopant, the dissolved dopant present in an amount sufficient to reduce a refractive index difference between the at least two nano-sized phases to about 0.2 or less when infrared light is being transmitted. Various embodiments are directed to related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the infrared light is visible infrared light, short-wave infrared light, eye safe infrared light, medium wave infrared light, long wave infrared red light, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A fused silica body comprising a layer of vitreous silica adjacent at least a portion of an inner surface is described in embodiments herein. In other embodiments, a method of making a fused silica body with a layer of vitreous silica adjacent at least a portion of an inner surface is described herein, comprising heating at least a portion of the inner surface to the point of vitrification. In certain embodiments, the method involves passing a linear local heat source over the inner surface in a particular manner, such as a helical fashion transverse to the linear shape, and may involve creating on the inner surface of the body overlapping swaths of temporarily melted silica material.

Abstract: A fused silica body comprising a layer of vitreous silica adjacent at least a portion of an inner surface is described in embodiments herein. In other embodiments, a method of making a fused silica body with a layer of vitreous silica adjacent at least a portion of an inner surface is described herein, comprising heating at least a portion of the inner surface to the point of vitrification. In certain embodiments, the method involves passing a linear local heat source over the inner surface in a particular manner, such as a helical fashion transverse to the linear shape, and may involve creating on the inner surface of the body overlapping swaths of temporarily melted silica material.

Abstract: A solid solution-based optical material capable of transmitting infrared light, the solid solution-based optical material comprising at least two nano-sized phases intermixed in one another, wherein at least one of the at least two nano-sized phases is a solid solution containing a dissolved dopant, the dissolved dopant present in an amount sufficient to reduce a refractive index difference between the at least two nano-sized phases to about 0.2 or less when infrared light is being transmitted. Various embodiments are directed to related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the infrared light is visible infrared light, short-wave infrared light, eye safe infrared light, medium wave infrared light, long wave infrared red light, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A fused silica body comprising a layer of vitreous silica adjacent at least a portion of an inner surface is described in embodiments herein. In other embodiments, a method of making a fused silica body with a layer of vitreous silica adjacent at least a portion of an inner surface is described herein, comprising heating at least a portion of the inner surface to the point of vitrification. In certain embodiments, the method involves passing a linear local heat source over the inner surface in a particular manner, such as a helical fashion transverse to the linear shape, and may involve creating on the inner surface of the body overlapping swaths of temporarily melted silica material.

Abstract: A solid solution-based optical material capable of transmitting infrared light, the solid solution-based optical material comprising at least two nano-sized phases intermixed in one another, wherein at least one of the at least two nano-sized phases is a solid solution containing a dissolved dopant, the dissolved dopant present in an amount sufficient to reduce a refractive index difference between the at least two nano-sized phases to about 0.2 or less when infrared light is being transmitted. Various embodiments are directed to related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the infrared light is visible infrared light, short-wave infrared light, eye safe infrared light, medium wave infrared light, long wave infrared red light, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for components according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with reaction bonded silicon nitride (RBSN). In one embodiment, a missile radome comprises a wall defining the radome body, including a base and a tip. The wall may comprise a core and one or more skins adjacent the core, such as in a sandwich configuration. The core and the skins may have different densities. The radome wall may be configured to transmit wideband RF signals. The RBSN may be extruded to form the radome.

Abstract: A glaze encapsulated solid-state laser component. The novel laser component includes a core and a cladding of ceramic glaze disposed on a surface of the core. In an illustrative embodiment, the core is fabricated from a laser gain medium and the cladding material is a multi-oxide eutectic ceramic glaze having a refractivity slighter lower than the refractivity of the gain medium, such that the glaze layer forms a step-index refractivity interface cladding that can effectively suppress parasitic oscillations in the core gain medium. The glaze cladding can be applied by coating the core with the glaze and then firing the glaze coated core, or by fabricating pre-formed cladding strips from the ceramic glaze in a first firing cycle, mounting the pre-formed strips to the core, and then fusing the pre-formed strips to the core in a secondary firing cycle.

Abstract: A glaze encapsulated solid-state laser component. The novel laser component includes a core and a cladding of ceramic glaze disposed on a surface of the core. In an illustrative embodiment, the core is fabricated from a laser gain medium and the cladding material is a multi-oxide eutectic ceramic glaze having a refractivity slighter lower than the refractivity of the gain medium, such that the glaze layer forms a step-index refractivity interface cladding that can effectively suppress parasitic oscillations in the core gain medium. The glaze cladding can be applied by coating the core with the glaze and then firing the glaze coated core, or by fabricating pre-formed cladding strips from the ceramic glaze in a first firing cycle, mounting the pre-formed strips to the core, and then fusing the pre-formed strips to the core in a secondary firing cycle.

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: Methods and apparatus for components according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with reaction bonded silicon nitride (RBSN). In one embodiment, a missile radome comprises a wall defining the radome body, including a base and a tip. The wall may comprise a core and one or more skins adjacent the core, such as in a sandwich configuration. The core and the skins may have different densities. The radome wall may be configured to transmit wideband RF signals. The RBSN may be extruded to form the radome.

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.