USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

University of California

Colin C Baker

Jasbinder Singh Sanghera

Woohong Kim

Jason D Myers

Jesse A Frantz

Ishwar Dayal Aggarwal

Guillermo R Villalobos

Vinh Q Nguyen

Darryl A Boyd

Shyam S Bayya

Daniel Joseph Gibson

L Brandon Shaw

Steven C Erwin

Walter J Dressick

Bryan Sadowski

Daniel L Rhonehouse

Michael Hunt

Edward J Friebele

Geoffrey Chin

Christopher John Bardeen

Peter Alexander Morrison

Rafael R Gattass

Steven R Bowman

Alex E Moser

Robert E Miklos

Gryphon A Drake

Augustus Xavier Carlson

Nia A Pollard

Frederic H Kung

A polymer comprising one or more chalcogenide elements and one or more crosslinking moieties. The crosslinking moieties may be organic, inorganic, or both. Also disclosed is the related method for making a polymer comprising purifying a chalcogenide polymer powder comprising one or more chalcogenide elements, melting the purified chalcogenide polymer powder, adding one or more crosslinking moieties to the melted chalcogenide polymer, and curing the modified chalcogenide polymer at a temperature between 150 and 200° C.

Organically modified chalcogenide polymers

Systems and methods are provided for a mechanical actuator based on a fiber optic platform. A material that is configured to be activated by light is incorporated into an optical fiber that serves as both an actuator and a power delivery network. This platform is adaptable to different materials, types of motions, and length scales and allows for precise delivery of photons to the material.

Optomechanical fiber actuator

Methods for synthesizing fibers having nanoparticles therein are provided, as well as preforms and fibers incorporating nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may include one or more rare earth ions selected based on fluorescence at eye-safer wavelengths, surrounded by a low-phonon energy host. Nanoparticles that are not doped with rare earth ions may also be included as a co-dopant to help increase solubility of nanoparticles doped with rare earth ions in the silica matrix. The nanoparticles may be incorporated into a preform, which is then drawn to form fiber. The fibers may beneficially be incorporated into lasers and amplifiers that operate at eye safer wavelengths. Lasers and amplifiers incorporating the fibers may also beneficially exhibit reduced Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

Nanoparticle doping for lasers and amplifiers operating at eye-safer wavelengths, and/or exhibiting reduced stimulated Brillouin scattering

A bonded optical assembly comprising infrared-transparent materials. The assembly comprises two or more infrared transparent optical elements and a polymer comprising at least one chalcogenide element and crosslinking moieties between the infrared-transparent optical elements. The crosslinking moieties may be organic, inorganic, or both.

Organically modified chalcogenide polymers for use as optical adhesive materials

A method for bonding infrared transparent materials by placing a polymer comprising at least one chalcogenide element and crosslinking moieties between infrared-transparent optical elements and applying heat, pressure, or both. The crosslinking moieties may be organic, inorganic, or both. Also disclosed is the related bonded assembly comprising infrared transparent optical elements.

Systems and methods are provided for a mechanical actuator based on a fiber optic platform. A material that is configured to be activated by light may be incorporated into an optical fiber that serves as both an actuator and a power delivery network. This platform is adaptable to different materials, types of motions, and length scales and allows for precise delivery of photons to the material.

An apparatus includes an amplified spontaneous emission source, which in turn includes an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a solid core and a first end. The solid core includes a silica matrix. The silica matrix includes a rare-earth element and a glass co-dopant. The rare-earth element includes dysprosium or neodymium. The glass co-dopant includes AlO. The apparatus further includes a laser pump diode coupled to the first end of the optical fiber. The laser pump diode and the optical fiber cooperate to generate a spontaneous spectral emission confined to the solid core. The spontaneous spectral emission includes a simultaneous plurality of spectral regions.

Optical fiber superluminescent light source

A composition of matter having a coated silicon substrate with multiple alternating layers of polydopamine and polyallylamine bound copper-indium-gallium oxide (CIGO) nanoparticles on the substrate. A related composition of matter having polyallylamine bound to CIGO nanoparticles to form PAH-coated CIGO nanoparticles. A related CIGO thin film made via conversion of layer-by-layer assembled CIGO nanoparticles and polyelectrolytes. CIGO nanoparticles are created via a flame-spray pyrolysis method using metal nitrate precursors, subsequently coated with polyallylamine (PAH), and dispersed in aqueous solution. Multilayer films are assembled by alternately dipping a substrate into a solution of either polydopamine or polystyrenesulfonate and then in the CIGO-PAH dispersion to fabricate CIGO films as thick as 1-2 microns.

Method for fabrication of copper-indium gallium oxide and chalcogenide thin films

A nanoparticle containing monoclinic lutetium oxide. A method of: dispersing a lutetium salt solution in a stream of oxygen gas to form droplets, and combusting the droplets to form nanoparticles containing lutetium oxide. The combustion occurs at a temperature sufficient to form monoclinic lutetium oxide in the nanoparticles. An article containing lutetium oxide and having an average grain size of at most 10 microns.

Flame spray synthesis of nanoparticles of monoclinic Lu203 and dopant

Nanoparticle doping for lasers and amplifiers operating at eye-safer wavelengths, and/or exhibiting reduced Stimulated Brillouin Scattering

A transparent composite armor is made of tens to hundreds or even thousands of thin layers of material each with a thickness of 10-500 &#x3bc;m. An appropriate amount of impedance mismatch between the layers causes some reflection at each interface but limit the amplitude of the resulting tensile wave below the tensile strength of the constituent materials. The result is an improvement in ballistic performance and that will result is a significant impact in reducing size, weight, and volume of the armor.

Shockwave controlled ballistic protection

A method of purifying a spinel powder includes contacting a spinel powder with an acid solution to form an acid-washed spinel composition and contacting the acid-washed spinel composition with a basic solution to form a purified composition. The purified powder is suited to formation of low-absorption shaped bodies, such as windows for high intensity laser devices.

Low absorption spinel formed by acidic and basic treatments

The present invention provides a method for synthesizing a new class of inorganic-organic polymeric materials. These polymers are made with a backbone comprising chalcogenide elements such as sulfur, selenium, and/or tellurium along with organic crosslinking moieties that determine its physical and optical properties. Also disclosed are the related polymeric materials. These polymers are suitable for optical applications in short wave infrared (SWIR, 1-3 &#x3bc;m) and mid wave infrared (MWIR, 3-8 &#x3bc;m) regions.

Organically modified multicomponent chalcogenide polymers

A method for passivating the surface of crystalline iron disulfide (FeS) by encapsulating it within an epitaxial zinc sulfide (ZnS) matrix. Also disclosed is the related product comprising FeSencapsulated by a ZnS matrix in which the sulfur atoms at the FeSsurfaces are passivated. Additionally disclosed is a photovoltaic (PV) device incorporating FeSencapsulated by a ZnS matrix.

Method of passivating an iron disulfide surface via encapsulation in a zinc sulfide matrix

A passivated iron disulfide (FeS) surface encapsulated by an epitaxial zinc sulfide (ZnS) capping layer or matrix is provided. Also disclosed are methods for passivating the surface of crystalline iron disulfide by encapsulating it with an epitaxial zinc sulfide capping layer or matrix. Additionally disclosed is a photovoltaic (PV) device incorporating FeSencapsulated by ZnS.

Growing community of inventors

Alexandria, VA, United States of America

Colin C Baker