Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080237579 | QUANTUM COMPUTING DEVICE AND METHOD INCLUDING QUBIT ARRAYS OF ENTANGLED STATES USING NEGATIVE REFRACTIVE INDEX LENSES - A quantum computing device and method employs qubit arrays of entangled states using negative refractive index lenses. A qubit includes a pair of neutral atoms separated by or disposed on opposite sides of a negative refractive index lens. The neutral atoms and negative refractive index lens are selectively energized and/or activated to cause entanglement of states of the atoms. The quantum computing device enjoys a novel architecture that is workable and scalable in terms of size and wavelength. | 10-02-2008 |
20090071529 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EXTRACTING ENERGY FROM A HEAT SOURCE USING PHOTONIC CRYSTALS WITH DEFECT CAVITIES - Methods and systems for extracting energy from a heat source using photonic crystals with defect cavities generally comprise a photonic crystal, a cavity, and a converter. The photonic crystal is responsive to a heat source and generates an electromagnetic beam in response to incidence with the heat source. The photonic crystal exhibits a band gap such that wavelengths within the band gap are substantially confined within the photonic crystal. The cavity is substantially within the crystal and is responsive to the electromagnetic beam such that the cavity transmits the electromagnetic beam to a specified location. The converter is substantially collocated with the specified location and extracts energy in response to incidence with the electromagnetic beam. | 03-19-2009 |
20100012021 | EPITAXIAL GROWTH AND CLONING OF A PRECURSOR CHIRAL NANOTUBE - A precursor chiral nanotube with a specified chirality is grown using an epitaxial process and then cloned. A substrate is provided of crystal material having sheet lattice properties complementary to the lattice properties of the selected material for the nanotube. A cylindrical surface(s) having a diameter of 1 to 100 nanometers are formed as a void in the substrate or as crystal material projecting from the substrate with an orientation with respect to the axes of the crystal substrate corresponding to the selected chirality. A monocrystalline film of the selected material is epitaxially grown on the cylindrical surface that takes on the sheet lattice properties and orientation of the crystal substrate to form a precursor chiral nanotube. A catalytic particle is placed on the precursor chiral nanotube and atoms of the selected material are dissolved into the catalytic particle to clone a chiral nanotube from the precursor chiral nanotube. | 01-21-2010 |
20100108916 | THERMALLY POWERED LOW DIMENSIONAL NANO-SCALE OSCILLATORS IN COUPLED MICRO-SCALE PHOTONIC CRYSTAL RESONANT DEFECT CAVITIES FOR GENERATION OF TERAHERTZ OR INFRARED RADIATION - A thermally powered source of IR or THz radiation combines low dimension nano-scale oscillators such as nano-wires and nano-tubes with micro-scale photonic crystal resonant defect cavities for efficient generation, coupling and transmission of electromagnetic radiation. The oscillators have M=0, 1 or 2 resonant dimensions on a micro-scale (approximately 1 um to approximately 1 mm) to emit radiation having a local peak at a desired wavelength in the IR or THz regions. The oscillators have at least one non-resonant dimension on a nano-scale (less than approximately 100 nm) to suppress vibration modes in that dimension and channel more thermal energy into the local peak. The photonic crystal defect cavities have N=1, 2 or 3 (N>M) resonant dimensions on the microscale with lengths comparable to the length of the oscillator and the desired wavelength to exhibit a cavity resonant that overlaps the local peak to accept and transmit emitted radiation. The energy from multiple oscillator/defect cavities pairs can be collected and transmitted by an internal waveguide or external mirrors and lens to a specified location where it is output. To improve coupling efficiency, the oscillators and defect cavities preferably exhibit a physical symmetry so that they are substantially “mode matched”. The integration of nano-scale emitters with micro-scale photonic crystal defect cavities creates a new class of metamaterials that more efficient generate radiation. | 05-06-2010 |
20100139289 | HEAT TRANSFER DEVICES BASED ON THERMODYNAMIC CYCLING OF A PHOTONIC CRYSTAL WITH COUPLED RESONANT DEFECT CAVITIES - A heat transfer device exploits the properties of photonic crystal solids with resonant defect cavities to execute a thermodynamic cycle to accomplish the conversion between heat flow and useful energy in the form of a heat engine or heat pump. The device comprises a photonic crystal having at least one and preferably several resonant defect cavities that radiate electromagnetic energy in an emission band. In a heat pump or refrigerator configuration, work means perform work on the photonic crystal to cycle the photonic crystal between a first state to permit the crystal to collect thermal energy from a cold region to heat the crystal and a second state to permit the photonic crystal to radiate electromagnetic energy to a hot region to cool the photonic crystal. The efficient collection of heat energy and radiation of electromagnetic energy in the cycle is accomplished by cycling the heat transfer into the photonic crystal and/or the crystal's emission band. In a heat engine configuration, the emission band is positioned so that the photonic crystal cycles between a first state to permit the crystal to collect thermal energy from the hot region to heat the crystal and a second state to permit the photonic crystal to radiate electromagnetic energy to the cold region to cool the crystal. This cycling transfers heat from the hot region to the cold region. The work means extracts mechanical work from this heat transfer either through the cyclic expansion and contraction, heating or radiation of the crystal. | 06-10-2010 |
20100304218 | STIMULATED EMISSION RELEASE OF CHEMICAL ENERGY STORED IN STONE-WALES DEFECT PAIRS IN CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES - Stone Wales defect pairs in a carbon nanostructure are used to store energy. Energy is released by a chain reaction of phonons disrupting the defect pairs to generate more phonons until the lattice returns to its original hexagonal form and the energy is released in the form of lattice vibrations. Devices may be configured as a battery to release electrical energy in a controlled manner or as an explosive to release energy in an uncontrolled manner. | 12-02-2010 |
20110001063 | ACOUSTIC CRYSTAL SONOLUMINESCENT CAVITATION DEVICES AND IR/THZ SOURCES - An acoustic crystal structure includes defect cavities that concentrate the driving pressure from applied sound waves into the cavities to cavitate gas bubbles in a liquid to produce sonoluminescence. This device may be used to study sonoluminescence or cavitation or to perform sonochemistry, nuclear fusion etc. in the cavities. A waveguide may be operatively coupled to the acoustic crystal to extract, collect and route a band of electromagnetic (EM) radiation around a specified source wavelength to an output port for emission by an antenna to provide an EM source. The waveguide may, for example, be a photonic crystal defect waveguide, a photonic crystal optical fiber or Sommerfeld waveguide. The marriage of the sonoluminescence phenomena with an acoustic crystal and embedded waveguide provides for an efficient source of narrow or broad band IR or THz radiation | 01-06-2011 |
20110031104 | CARBON ION BEAM GROWTH OF ISOTOPICALLY-ENRICHED GRAPHENE AND ISOTOPE-JUNCTIONS - Isotopically-enriched graphene and isotope junctions are epitaxially grown on a catalyst substrate using a focused carbon ion beam technique. The focused carbon ion beam is filtered to pass substantially a single ion species including a single desired carbon isotope. The ion beam and filtering together provide a means to selectively isotopically-enrich the epitaxially-grown graphene from given carbon precursor and to selectively deposit graphene enriched with different carbon isotopes in different regions. | 02-10-2011 |
20120006216 | ACOUSTIC CRYSTAL EXPLOSIVES - An acoustic crystal explosive, which gains its properties from both its periodic structure and its composition, may be configured to suppress or enhance the sensitivity of detonation of the explosive in response to an acoustic wave. An explosive material and a medium (explosive or inactive) are arranged in a periodic array that provides local contrast modulation of the acoustic index to define a band gap in the acoustic transmission spectrum of the explosive materials. At least one defect cavity in the periodic array creates a resonance in the band gap. The defect cavity concentrates energy from an incident acoustic (shock) wave to detonate the explosive. Multiple defect cavities may be configured to provide a desired shaped charge or volumetric detonations. Means may be provided to reprogram the defect cavity(ies) to reconfigure the explosive. | 01-12-2012 |
20120091345 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTICAL FOCUSING USING NEGATIVE INDEX METAMATERIAL - In an embodiment of methods and systems for optical focusing For laser guided seekers using negative index metamaterial, the methods and systems comprise a light focusing system comprising: a lens comprising a negative index metamaterial to focus at least one selected wavelength while defocusing other wavelengths, and a sensor upon which the lens focuses the selected wavelength. | 04-19-2012 |
20120128574 | CARBON NANOSTRUCTURE SYNTHESIS FROM CARBON-EXCESS EXPLOSIVES IN SUPERCRITICAL FLUID - Carbon nanostructures are synthesized from carbon-excess explosives having a negative oxygen balance. A supercritical fluid provides an environment that safely dissolves and decomposes the explosive molecules into its reactant products including activated C or CO and provides the temperature and pressure for the required collision rate of activated C atoms and CO molecules to form carbon nanostructures such as graphene, fullerenes and nanotubes. The nanostructures may be synthesized without a metal reactant at relatively low temperatures in the supercritical fluid to provide a cost-effective path to bulk fabrication. These nanostructures may be synthesized “metal free”. As the supercritical fluid provides an inert buffer that does not react with the explosive, the fluid is preserved. Once the nanostructures are removed, the other reaction products may be removed and the fluid recycled. | 05-24-2012 |
20120152725 | FABRICATION OF PILLARED GRAPHENE - A method of fabricating pillared graphene assembles alternate layers of graphene sheets and fullerenes to form a stable protostructure. Energy is added to the protostructure to break the carbon-carbon bonds at the fullerene-to-graphene attachment points of the protostructure and allow the bonds to reorganize and reform into a stable lower energy unitary pillared graphene nanostructure in which open nanotubes are conjoined between graphene sheets. The attachment points may be functionalized using tether molecules to aid in attachment, and add chemical energy to the system. The arrangement and attachment spacing of the fullerenes may be determined using spacer molecules or an electric potential. | 06-21-2012 |
20120177808 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOW-POWER NANOTUBE GROWTH USING DIRECT RESISTIVE HEATING - Direct resistive heating is used to grow nanotubes out of carbon and other materials. A growth-initiated array of nanotubes is provided using a CVD or ion implantation process. These processes use indirect heating to heat the catalysts to initiate growth. Once growth is initiated, an electrical source is connected between the substrate and a plate above the nanotubes to source electrical current through and resistively heat the nanotubes and their catalysts. A material source supplies the heated catalysts with carbon or another material to continue growth of the array of nanotubes. Once direct heating has commenced, the source of indirect heating can be removed or at least reduced. Because direct resistive heating is more efficient than indirect heating the total power consumption is reduced significantly. | 07-12-2012 |
20130269508 | SHOCK WAVE BARRIER USING MULTIDIMENSIONAL PERIODIC STRUCTURES - A shock wave barrier comprises a periodic structure having the proper symmetry and local contrast modulation of the acoustic index to divert an incident shock wave by using constructive/destructive interference phenomena that produce a “band gap” in the transmission spectrum of the periodic structure. In general, shock wave energy within the band gap is reflected from the structure. Defect cavities may be formed in the periodic structure to create transmission resonances or “windows” in the band gap. A portion of the incident energy passes through the window and is concentrated in the defect cavities where it is dissipated by other means. The band gap can be quite wide, at least 50% of the center wavelength, and thus can provide an effective barrier from a wide variety of threats with varying blast pressure and range. The structure may be periodic in two or three dimensions providing a band gap barrier in two or three dimensions, respectively. | 10-17-2013 |
20130341535 | INFRARED SCENE PROJECTOR - An apparatus for displaying a scene with light in a range of infrared wavelengths, includes: an array of elements configured to emit light in a range of infrared wavelengths, each element having one or more nanotubes; a stimulator configured to apply a stimulus to each element in the array in order for each element to emit light in the range of infrared wavelengths; and a processor configured to send a signal to the stimulator in order to apply the stimulus to one or more selected elements in the array to display the scene. | 12-26-2013 |
20140118514 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGE STACKING - An optical imaging system and method in which a second channel is used to provide alignment data for achieving image frame stacking of image data in a first channel. In one example, image stacking of infrared images is achieved by obtaining and analyzing corresponding visible images to provide alignment data that is then used to align and stack the infrared images. | 05-01-2014 |
20150028212 | DUAL FIELD OF VIEW TELESCOPE - A multiple field-of-view telescope and optical sensor system and imaging methods using the system. In one example, an optical sensor system includes a primary imaging detector having a first field of view, a telescope configured to receive and focus electromagnetic radiation onto the primary imaging detector along a primary optical axis, a secondary detector having a second field of view different from the first field of view, and relay optics configured to direct and focus a portion of the electromagnetic radiation onto the secondary detector. In certain examples, the system further includes a fold mirror positioned to reflect the portion of the electromagnetic radiation to the relay optics. | 01-29-2015 |