Abstract: A scintillator composition is provided. The scintillator composition may include a matrix having at least one lanthanide ion and at least one halide ion, and a dopant. The dopant may include a trivalent cerium activator ion disposed in the matrix, and a trivalent bismuth activator ion disposed in the matrix.

Abstract: A scintillator pack comprises an array of scintillator pixels and an x-ray absorbing layer disposed in inter-scintillator regions between the scintillator pixels. The x-ray absorbing layer acts to absorb x-rays and protect underlying regions of the inter-scintillator regions. The x-ray absorbing layer may be formed by a number of methods including casting and melt infiltration.

Abstract: A ceramic discharge chamber for a lamp, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a first member which includes a leg portion and a transition portion, wherein the leg portion and the transition portion are integrally formed as one piece from a ceramic material, and a second member which includes a body portion, wherein the body portion is bonded to the transition portion of the first member. The ceramic discharge chamber can be formed by injection molding a ceramic material to form the first member, the first member forming a first portion of the ceramic discharge chamber; and bonding the first member to a second member which forms a second portion of the ceramic discharge chamber.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for use in a corrosive operating environment at a temperature range of 25-1500° C. is provided. The apparatus has an NZP or an NZP-type coating, which comprises a first composition, a second composition, and a metal cation. The first composition and the second composition form a crystalline structure with three-dimensional network of octahedra and tetrahedra linked by one or more shared atoms. The first composition comprises one or more of Zr, V, Ta, Nb, Hf, Ti, Al, Cr, or a metal of the Lanthanide series. The second composition comprises at least one of phosphorus, silicon, boron, vanadium or aluminum. The one or more shared atoms comprise at least one of oxygen, nitrogen, or carbon. The first composition and the second composition are related as shown by the formula (first composition)2 (second composition)x (shared atom)12-x. The metal cation is disposed within an interstitial site defined by the crystalline structure.

Abstract: A composition is provided that is capable of forming an NZP or an NZP-type coating. The composition includes a first composition, a second composition, and a metal cation. The first composition and the second composition form a crystalline structure with three-dimensional network of octahedra and tetrahedra linked by one or more shared atoms. The first composition comprises one or more of Zr, V, Ta, Nb, Hf, Ti, Al, Cr, or a metal of the Lanthanide series. The second composition comprises at least one of phosphorus, silicon, boron, vanadium or aluminum. The one or more shared atoms comprise at least one of oxygen, nitrogen, or carbon. The first composition and the second composition are related as shown by the formula (first composition)2 (second composition)x (shared atom)12?x. The metal cation is disposed within an interstitial site defined by the crystalline structure.

Abstract: A scintillator composition comprising a garnet represented by (M1-x-yNxAy)3(Al5-a-bCaDb)O12, where M comprises yttrium, or terbium, or gadolinium, or holmium, or erbium, or thulium, or ytterbium, or lutetium, or combinations thereof, where N comprises additives including a lanthanide, or an alkali metal, or an alkaline earth metal, or combinations thereof, where A comprises a suitable activator ion including cerium, or europium, or praseodymium, or terbium, or ytterbium, or combinations thereof, where C or D comprises lithium, or magnesium, or gallium, or an element from group IIIa, or IVa, or Va, or IIId transition metal, or IVd transition metal, or combinations thereof, where x ranges from about 0 to about 0.90, y ranges from about 0.0005 to about 0.30, and a sum of a and b ranges from about 0 to 2.0.

Abstract: A scintillator composition of a halide perovskite material of at least one ABX3 type halide perovskite, at least one activator for the matrix material and optionally at least one charge compensator to assist the incorporation of the activator in the perovskite lattice and any reaction products thereof. Radiation detectors that use the scintillators are also described, as are related methods for detecting high-energy radiation and method of producing an activated halide-perovskite based scintillator crystal.

Abstract: A system having a heat source, a component coupled to the heat source, and at least one thermistor coupled to the component and adapted to monitor temperature of the component, wherein the thermistor has a core-shell microstructure having a shell disposed about a core, the core comprising Cr2O3 and the shell comprising a rare earth element compound.

Abstract: A conversion device for use in an imaging system is provided. The conversion device includes a first perforated plate portion forming a plurality of collimator channels separated by a plurality of thin collimator walls. A second perforated plate portion forming a plurality of scintillator channels separated by a plurality of thin scintillator walls is attached to the first perforated plate portion. A reflective coating is applied to the inside scintillator surface of the plurality of thin scintillator walls. A scintillator material is filled into the plurality of scintillator channels.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating (TBC) for a component intended for use in a hostile thermal environment. The TBC has an interior region and an outer surface region on and contacting the interior region. Both regions are formed of a ceramic material, with the interior region having a lower thermal conductivity than zirconia partially stabilized by about seven weight percent yttria. The interior region constitutes more than half of the thickness of the TBC, and the outer surface region constitutes less than half of the thickness of the TBC. The TBC has a columnar microstructure whereby the interior region and the outer surface region comprise columns of their ceramic materials. The outer surface region is more erosion and impact resistant than the interior region at least in part as a result of the columns thereof being more closely spaced than the columns of the interior region.

Abstract: A matching layer for ultrasound transducers has a gradient in impedance value from one surface to the other surface of the matching layer. The matching layer is composed of a plurality of sublayers made of composite materials and securely attached together and is disposed on the surface of the transducer element. The first sublayer adjacent to the transducer element has an impedance value less than or equal to that of the transducer element. The last sublayer adjacent to the target has an impedance value greater than or equal to that of the target. The impedance values of the sublayers decrease monotonically from the first to the last sublayer.

Abstract: An article protected by a thermal barrier coating system includes a substrate having a substrate surface, and a thermal barrier coating system overlying the substrate. The thermal barrier coating system has a thermal barrier coating formed of a thermal barrier coating material arranged as a plurality of columnar grains extending generally perpendicular to the substrate surface and having grain surfaces. A sintering inhibitor is within the columnar grains, either uniformly distributed or concentrated at the grain surfaces. The sintering inhibitor is lanthanum oxide, chromium oxide, and/or yttrium chromate, mixtures thereof, or mixtures thereof with aluminum oxide.

Abstract: Acicular bodies of a metal compound are produced by slowly precipitating an organic salt of the metal from a solution of an ester of a dicarboxylic acid having 1-5 carbon atoms and firing the precipitate in an oxidizing atmosphere. These acicular bodies have a cross-sectional dimension less than about 20 &mgr;m and are useful for providing reinforcement of a larger ceramic body. Acicular bodies of rare-earth metal oxides also are useful in reinforcing x-ray scintillator bodies without diminishing their luminescent capacity.

Abstract: A ceramic discharge chamber for a lamp, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a first member which includes a leg portion and a transition portion, wherein the leg portion and the transition portion are integrally formed as one piece from a ceramic material, and a second member which includes a body portion, wherein the body portion is bonded to the transition portion of the first member. The ceramic discharge chamber can be formed by injection molding a ceramic material to form the first member, the first member forming a first portion of the ceramic discharge chamber; and bonding the first member to a second member which forms a second portion of the ceramic discharge chamber. The members which form the ceramic discharge chamber can greatly facilitate assembly of the discharge chamber, because the discharge chamber can be constructed with only one or two bonds between the members.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer element incorporates material of low dielectric constant to confine the electric field of a stack of piezoelectric ceramic layers. Edge segments made of material having a low dielectric constant and extending in the thickness direction are formed at opposing ends of the multilayer structure. These regions of low dielectric constant material confine the electric field to the piezoelectric ceramic material of high dielectric constant, where it remains directed vertically. In this way, when a voltage is applied between the electrodes, the piezoelectrically induced strains are almost entirely vertical. Spurious modes are therefore substantially reduced.

Abstract: A glass-ceramic cooktop appliance having at least one burner assembly disposed under a glass-ceramic plate. The cooktop appliance includes a sensor assembly having a support bar mounted on the burner assembly adjacent to the glass-ceramic plate and one or more devices for sensing cooktop related properties mounted on the support bar so as to be in contact with the glass-ceramic plate.

Abstract: Acicular bodies of a metal compound are produced by slowly precipitating an organic salt of the metal from a solution of an ester of a dicarboxylic acid having 1-5 carbon atoms and firing the precipitate in an oxidizing atmosphere. These acicular bodies have a cross-sectional dimension less than about 20 &mgr;m and are useful for providing reinforcement of a larger ceramic body. Acicular bodies of rare-earth metal oxides also are useful in reinforcing x-ray scintillator bodies without diminishing their luminescent capacity.

Abstract: A ceramic discharge chamber for a lamp, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a first member which includes a leg portion and a transition portion, wherein the leg portion and the transition portion are integrally formed as one piece from a ceramic material, and a second member which includes a body portion, wherein the body portion is bonded to the transition portion of the first member. The ceramic discharge chamber can be formed by injection molding a ceramic material to form the first member, the first member forming a first portion of the ceramic discharge chamber; and bonding the first member to a second member which forms a second portion of the ceramic discharge chamber. The members which form the ceramic discharge chamber can greatly facilitate assembly of the discharge chamber, because the discharge chamber can be constructed with only one or two bonds between the members.

Abstract: A glass-ceramic cooktop appliance having at least one burner assembly disposed under a glass-ceramic plate. The cooktop appliance includes a sensor assembly having a support bar mounted on the burner assembly adjacent to the glass-ceramic plate and one or more devices for sensing cooktop related properties mounted on the support bar so as to be in contact with the glass-ceramic plate.

Abstract: Cerium-doped alkaline-earth hafnium oxide scintillator compositions have at least one alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca, and combinations thereof. The scintillator compositions can be formed into a shape having porosity less than about 0.05 percent for improved transparency. The alkaline earth metal can be partially substituted with divalent and/or trivalent ions other than cerium. Hafnium can be partially substituted with divalent, trivalent, and/or tetravalent ions. The scintillators are characterized by high light output, short decay time, and high radiation stopping power. The scintillators can be used as detector elements in PET systems.