USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Andres Larraza

David M Wolfe

Jeffrey K Catterlin

Provided is a light activated piezoelectric converter comprising a cantilever vane coupled to a foundation. The vane comprises a first surface and a second surface. The first and second surfaces are generally co-planer and adjacent to a common boundary and have differing emissivities. A piezoelectric material is additionally coupled to the vane, arranged such that a deflection of the free end of the vane generates stress acting on the piezoelectric material. When the piezoelectric converter is illuminated with a radiant flux, the differing emissivities of the first and second surfaces produce a temperature gradient across the vane and a thermal creep force across the planar surface generates a deflection of the vane, and a subsequent voltage induced by the stress on the piezoelectric material generates a voltage between a first electrode and second electrode in electrical contact with the piezoelectric material.

Light activated piezoelectric converter

Provided is a light activated rotor comprising typically a plurality of vanes affixed to a hub rotatable around the longitudinal axis of an axle. Each vane comprises a planar surface oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axle with each vane separated into a first surface and a second surface. The first and second surface are adjacent and share a common boundary generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axle. Additionally, the first and second surfaces have differing emissivities. When the light activated rotor is illuminated with a radiant flux, the differing emissivities of the first and second surfaces produce a temperature gradient across the vane and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a thermal creep force across the planar surface of the vane generates a revolution of the vane and the affixed hub around the longitudinal axis of the axle.

Light activated rotor

Provided is a light activated generator comprising typically a plurality of vanes affixed to a hub rotatable around the longitudinal axis of an axle. Each vane comprises a conductor and comprises a planar surface oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axle with each vane separated into a first surface and a second surface. The first and second surfaces are generally co-planer and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axle. Additionally, the first and second surfaces have differing emissivities. When the light activated generator is illuminated with a radiant flux, the differing emissivities of the first and second surfaces produce a temperature gradient across the vane, and a thermal creep force across the planar surface generates a revolution of the vane around the longitudinal axis of the axle to motivate the conductor through a magnetic field, generating a voltage across the conductor.

Light activated generator

A THz reverse micromagnetron includes a MEMS-based reverse magnetron configuration in which the anode is located at the center of the magnetron surrounded by a cathode ring. Electrons move radially inward in the combined electric and magnetic cross-fields and can reach orbiting angular frequencies in the THz region, even with a magnetic field of the order of 1 T or less. The THz reverse micromagnetron is portable, operates at room temperature, and can be bright.

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Salinas, CA, United States of America

Andres Larraza