Abstract: A sensor configured to sense when a force is applied to a surface includes a capacitive structure having a first conductive layer, a dielectric layer, and a second conductive layer. The dielectric layer is overlain on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer is overlain on the dielectric layer. A glass superstrate has a first side and a second side, with the first side overlain on the second conductive layer. The force is applied to the second side of the glass superstrate. The force results from an object attached to the second side of the glass superstrate. The force causes capacitance changes between the first and second conductive layers. The force can be compressive or tensile, depending on whether the object is attached by magnet or adhesive.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to sensors that detect objects attached to a vehicle. The sensor includes a layered capacitive structure. The sensors utilize a deformable dielectric layer sandwiched between two conductive layers. The layered capacitive structure measures capacitance changes caused by an applied force to the uppermost layer of the capacitive structure.

Abstract: An increased plasmon resonance frequency stability drawn from a refractive index gradient spanning negative and positive values includes a two-dimensional array of tapered nanowells. A multilayer of alternating materials is associated with the two-dimensional array of tapered nanowells. The multilayer of alternating materials are alternating layers of electrical conductors and electrical insulators.

Abstract: Protein scaffolds from tobacco mosaic virus coat protein modified to incorporate polyhistidine can bind to a metal or a dye while having improved self-assembly characteristics. The scaffold can take the form of tubes or disks, and can further be formed into dual plasmonic ring resonators. Such self-assembled structures provide useful optical properties.

Abstract: Protein scaffolds from tobacco mosaic virus coat protein modified to incorporate polyhistidine can bind to a metal or a dye while having improved self-assembly characteristics. The scaffold can take the form of tubes or disks, and can further be formed into dual plasmonic ring resonators. Such self-assembled structures provide useful optical properties.

Abstract: A lens system with a lens formed of a material having a negative index of refraction in an operational frequency range, a first surface of the material having a convex hyperbolic curvature, and a second surface of the material having a concave circular curvature. A lens system can include two of these lenses, arranged with the concave circular surfaces facing each other. Far field radiation arriving at the hyperbolic surface of the the first lens is refracted by the lens material toward the circular surface, out of the first lens in a direction parallel to the original radiation direction, and into the circular surface of the second lens, where it is refracted toward the hyperbolic surface of the second lens, and exits the second lens in a direction parallel to the original direction. The lens material can have a tunable or fixed negative refractive index and/or resonant frequency.

Abstract: A cable having one or more conductive members and one or more strength members. Each conductive member has a metal microwire having an outer diameter and an inorganic cladding having an inner diameter. The microwire is positioned within the cladding, and the outer diameter of the microwire is at least about 2 microns less then the inner diameter of the cladding. Each strength member has a plurality of inorganic fibers surrounding the conductive members or an inorganic rod. The conductive members are conductive while applying a voltage of 5000 V to the conductive members and while exposing the cable to a temperature of about 1000° C.

Abstract: Materials and structures whose index of refraction can be tuned over a broad range of negative and positive values by applying above band-gap photons to a structure with a strip line element, a split ring resonator element, and a substrate, at least one of which is a photoconductive semiconductor material. Methods for switching between positive and negative values of n include applying above band-gap photons to different numbers of elements. In another embodiment, a structure includes a photoconductive semiconductor wafer, the wafer operable to receive above band-gap photons at an excitation frequency in an excitation pattern on a surface of the wafer, the excitation patterns generating an effective negative index of refraction. Methods for switching between positive and negative values of n include projecting different numbers of elements on the wafer. The resonant frequency of the structure is tuned by changing the size of the split ring resonator excitation patterns.

Abstract: A lens system with a lens formed of a material having a negative index of refraction in an operational frequency range, a first surface of the material having a convex hyperbolic curvature, and a second surface of the material having a concave circular curvature. A lens system can include two of these lenses, arranged with the concave circular surfaces facing each other. Far field radiation arriving at the hyperbolic surface of the the first lens is refracted by the lens material toward the circular surface, out of the first lens in a direction parallel to the original radiation direction, and into the circular surface of the second lens, where it is refracted toward the hyperbolic surface of the second lens, and exits the second lens in a direction parallel to the original direction. The lens material can have a tunable or fixed negative refractive index and/or resonant frequency.

Abstract: Materials and structures whose index of refraction can be tuned over a broad range of negative and positive values by applying above band-gap photons to a structure with a strip line element, a split ring resonator element, and a substrate, at least one of which is a photoconductive semiconductor material. Methods for switching between positive and negative values of n include applying above band-gap photons to different numbers of elements. In another embodiment, a structure includes a photoconductive semiconductor wafer, the wafer operable to receive above band-gap photons at an excitation frequency in an excitation pattern on a surface of the wafer, the excitation patterns generating an effective negative index of refraction. Methods for switching between positive and negative values of n include projecting different numbers of elements on the wafer. The resonant frequency of the structure is tuned by changing the size of the split ring resonator excitation patterns.

Abstract: Provided herein is a photonic bandgap (PBG) detector effective to detect inorganic molecules, organic biomolecules or biopolymers, cells, subcellular organelles, and particles. The PBG detector utilizes photonic crystals having a binding agent attached to channel surfaces comprising the crystals to selectively bind a molecule, cell or particle of interest so that an increase in light transmission is detectably induced within the photonic bandgap upon binding. Also provided are methods of optically detectiing an analyte and of identifying the presence of a cell or a particle in a biological sample.

Abstract: A cable having one or more conductive members and one or more strength members. Each conductive member has a metal microwire having an outer diameter and an inorganic cladding having an inner diameter. The microwire is positioned within the cladding, and the outer diameter of the microwire is at least about 2 microns less then the inner diameter of the cladding. Each strength member has a plurality of inorganic fibers surrounding the conductive members or an inorganic rod. The conductive members are conductive while applying a voltage of 5000 V to the conductive members and while exposing the cable to a temperature of about 1000° C.

Abstract: Materials and structures whose index of refraction can be tuned over a broad range of negative and positive values by applying above band-gap photons to a structure with a strip line element, a split ring resonator element, and a substrate, at least one of which is a photoconductive semiconductor material. Methods for switching between positive and negative values of n include applying above band-gap photons to different numbers of elements. In another embodiment, a structure includes a photoconductive semiconductor wafer, the wafer operable to receive above band-gap photons at an excitation frequency in an excitation pattern on a surface of the wafer, the excitation patterns generating an effective negative index of refraction. Methods for switching between positive and negative values of n include projecting different numbers of elements on the wafer. The resonant frequency of the structure is tuned by changing the size of the split ring resonator excitation patterns.

Abstract: Materials and structures whose index of refraction can be tuned over a broad range of negative and positive values by applying above band-gap photons to a structure with a strip line element, a split ring resonator element, and a substrate, at least one of which is a photoconductive semiconductor material. Methods for switching between positive and negative values of n include applying above band-gap photons to different numbers of elements. In another embodiment, a structure includes a photoconductive semiconductor wafer, the wafer operable to receive above band-gap photons at an excitation frequency in an excitation pattern on a surface of the wafer, the excitation patterns generating an effective negative index of refraction. Methods for switching between positive and negative values of n include projecting different numbers of elements on the wafer. The resonant frequency of the structure is tuned by changing the size of the split ring resonator excitation patterns.

Abstract: An insulated conducting wire (ICW) having an inorganic cladding and a microwire positioned within the cladding. The outer diameter of the microwire is less then the inner diameter of the cladding, and the insulated conducting wire is substantially free of bonding between the microwire and the cladding. A process of making a wire, having the steps of: drawing an inorganic tube through a heating zone such that the inner diameter of the tube is reduced; inserting a microwire into the tube whereby the tube becomes a cladding; and adjusting the draw process parameters such that the inner diameter of the cladding is larger than the outer diameter of the microwire, and the microwire and the cladding are not in contact with each other under thermal conditions that would cause bonding between the microwire and the cladding.

Abstract: An insulated conducting wire (ICW) having an inorganic cladding and a microwire positioned within the cladding. The outer diameter of the microwire is less then the inner diameter of the cladding, and the insulated conducting wire is substantially free of bonding between the microwire and the cladding. A process of making a wire, having the steps of: drawing an inorganic tube through a heating zone such that the inner diameter of the tube is reduced; inserting a microwire into the tube whereby the tube becomes a cladding; and adjusting the draw process parameters such that the inner diameter of the cladding is larger than the outer diameter of the microwire, and the microwire and the cladding are not in contact with each other under thermal conditions that would cause bonding between the microwire and the cladding.

Abstract: A insulated conducting wire (ICW) comprising: a metal microwire and an inorganic cladding; wherein the microwire is positioned within the cladding; wherein the outer diameter of the microwire is less then the inner diameter of the cladding, such that there is a gap between the microwire and the cladding. A process of making a wire, comprising the steps of: drawing an inorganic tube through a heating zone such that the inner diameter of the tube is reduced; inserting a microwire into the tube whereby the tube becomes a cladding; and adjusting the draw process parameters such that the inner diameter of the cladding becomes larger than the outer diameter of the microwire.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for modifying a substrate in a predetermined pattern, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a material to the face of an etched nanochannel glass (NCG), where this face has a pattern of channels corresponding to the predetermined pattern, and (b) contacting the substrate with the etched NCG face having applied material, under conditions for transferring the material to the substrate.

Abstract: A band-gap spectral filter is made of a nanochannel glass structure having a two-dimensional array of parallel dielectric rods arranged in a matrix material. The materials for the dielectric rods and the matrix material are selected so that the difference between the refractive index of the dielectric rods and the refractive index of the matrix material is equal to or less than about 0.5.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for making a nanochannel glass (NCG) replica, having the steps of: coating a face of an etched NCG with a replica material (with or without an intervening buffer layer), where the etched NCG face has a plurality of channels arranged in a desired pattern, to form a replica coating on the NCG conforming to the pattern; and removing the replica coating from the etched NCG. The present invention is also the replica made by this process.