Abstract: Contact structures and methods for forming such contact structures are disclosed. An example contact structure includes a layer of semiconductor material having an interface and an electrical contact at the interface of the layer of semiconductor material, where the electrical contact includes a granular metal. An example method for forming a contact structure includes providing a substrate and producing a granular metal on at least part of the substrate, where the granular metal includes a cluster of metal islands extending essentially in a two-dimensional plane. The method further includes depositing a layer of a semiconductor material on top of the substrate and the cluster of metal islands.

Abstract: An optical fiber and method of making the same, the optical fiber being characterized by an axial symmetry and comprising a core, doped with phosphorescent or fluorescent impurities, and a transparent envelope. The transparent envelope comprises a cladding layer and optionally a jacket layer surrounding the cladding layer. The optical fiber may further comprise an associated light source comprising an inner electrode, an outer electrode, and an active area, located between said inner electrode and said outer electrode. The light source and said optical fiber are integrated as a unit. The light source is characterized by an axial symmetry and is positioned coaxial with respect to the axis of the optical fiber. The inner electrode is substantially transparent, such that light generated in said active area may propagate outside said light source and into the optical fiber.

Abstract: Contact structures and methods for forming such contact structures are disclosed. An example contact structure includes a layer of semiconductor material having an interface and an electrical contact at the interface of the layer of semiconductor material, where the electrical contact includes a granular metal. An example method for forming a contact structure includes providing a substrate and producing a granular metal on at least part of the substrate, where the granular metal includes a cluster of metal islands extending essentially in a two-dimensional plane. The method further includes depositing a layer of a semiconductor material on top of the substrate and the cluster of metal islands.

Abstract: An optical cable and method of making the same, the optical cable being characterized by an axial symmetry and comprising a core, doped with phosphorescent or fluorescent impurities, and a transparent envelope. The transparent envelope comprises a cladding layer and optionally a jacket layer surrounding the cladding layer. The optical cable may further comprise an associated light source comprising an inner electrode, an outer electrode, and an active area, located between said inner electrode and said outer electrode. The light source and said optical cable are integrated as a unit. The light source is characterized by an axial symmetry and is positioned coaxial with respect to the axis of the optical cable. The inner electrode is substantially transparent, such that light generated in said active area may propagate outside said light source and into the optical cable.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling atmospheric conditions in a portion of the atmosphere for weather modification is described. The control of atmospheric conditions is carried out by controllably urging the collisions between the water droplets in the atmosphere so as to cause their controllable coalescence. The urging is characterized by adjusting non-gravitational attraction forces between the droplets to a predetermined value so as to alter a collision rate between the water droplets to a desired value. The changes of the non-gravitational attraction force between the droplets are achieved by dosed seeding in a portion of a cloud or fog a particulate material that is electrically charged to a required magnitude and polarity. The dosed seeding of the charged materials controls the concentration of the charged droplets and the electric attraction between the charged droplets with neutral droplets as well as the electric interaction between the charged droplets.