Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Harry R Clark

Brian S Ahern

Keith H Johnson

Carl O Bozler

Robert K Reich

Shaun R Berry

Gerald W Iseler

Philip J Bos

David W Weyburne

Theodore M Lyszczarz

Douglas Bryant

Jeremy Bert Muldavin

Valerie A Finnemeyer

A novel system for generating random numbers is disclosed. The radioactive source emits photons, which causes the release of electrons on the surface of the detector. The detector is configured as a two dimensional array having a plurality of pixels. This release of electrons creates a splatter pattern on the detector, which is then read by the processor. Subsequent photon emissions create a second splatter pattern, which is then read by the processor. The processor compares these two splatter patterns, and generates random numbers based on these two splatter patterns. In certain embodiments, the processor creates a difference matrix which represents a comparison of the two splatter patterns. The processor then classifies each pixel in the difference matrix in accordance with certain rules. In certain embodiments, these classification rules may vary as a function of time or as a function of where on the detector the pixel is disposed.

Random number generator

Liquid crystal photonic devices and microcavities filled with liquid crystal materials are becoming increasingly popular. These devices often present a challenge when it comes to creating a robust alignment layer in pre-assembled cells. Previous research on photo-definable alignment layers has shown that they have limited stability, particularly against subsequent light exposure. A method of infusing a dye into a microcavity to produce an effective photo-definable alignment layer is described, along with a method of utilizing a pre-polymer infused into the microcavity mixed with the liquid crystal to provide photostability. In this method, the polymer layer, formed under optical irradiation of liquid crystal cells, is effectively localized to a thin region near the substrate surface and thus provides a significant improvement in the photostability of the liquid crystal alignment. This versatile alignment layer method, which can be used in microcavities to displays, offers significant promise for new photonics applications.

Methods and apparatus for liquid crystal photoalignment

The high-pixel-count uncooled thermal imaging arrays disclosed herein have liquid crystal (LC) microcavity transducers separate from the read-out integrated circuit (ROIC). The transducer converts incident infrared (IR) radiation in birefringence changes that can be measured with visible light. In other words, the system uses the temperature sensitivity of the LC birefringence to convert the IR scene to a visible image. Measurements on sample arrays indicate that the LC material quality is similar to that of bulk samples and has good noise performance. Additionally, high-fill-factor arrays on fused-silica substrates may be processed to enable optimization of conditions for greatly improved temperature sensitivity. An additional IR absorber layer may be integrated into the process to tune the structure for the infrared.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for sensitive thermal imaging

The invention provides a scheme for combusting a hydrocarbon fuel to generate and extract enhanced translational energy. In the scheme, hydrocarbon fuel is nanopartitioned into nanometric fuel regions each having a diameter less than about 1000 angstroms; and either before or after the nanopartitioning, the fuel is introduced into a combustion chamber. In the combustion chamber, a shock wave excitation of at least about 50,000 psi and with an excitation rise time of less than about 100 nanoseconds is applied to the fuel. A fuel partitioned into such nanometric quantum confinement regions enables a quantum mechanical condition in which translational energy modes of the fuel are amplified, whereby the average energy of the translational energy mode levels is higher than it would be for a macro-sized, unpartitioned fuel. Combustion of such a nanopartitioned fuel provides enhanced translational energy extraction by way of, e.g., a reciprocating piston because only the translational energy mode of combustion products appreciably contributes to momentum exchange with the piston. The shock wave excitation provided by the invention, as applied to combustion of any fuel, and preferably to a nanopartitioned fuel, enhances translational energy extraction and exchange during combustion by enhancing translational energy mode amplification in the fuel and by enhancing transfer of an appreciable amount of energy from that translational mode to the piston before the combusted fuel re-equilibrates the translational energy into other energy modes.

Combustion of nanopartitioned fuel

An electroluminescent display device having a semiconductor host matrix which is characterized by a conduction band energy level, a valence band energy level, and a bandgap energy corresponding to an energy difference between a minima of the conduction band and a maxima of the valence band energy levels. Semiconductor particles are disposed in the semiconductor host matrix, and at least a portion of these semiconductor particles are characterized by a conduction band energy level that is less than that of the host matrix. These semiconductor particles are further characterized by a valence band energy level and a bandgap energy, corresponding to an energy difference between a minima of the conduction band and a maxima of the valence band energy levels of the particles, that is less than the bandgap energy of the semiconductor host matrix. There is included in the display configuration a mechanism for providing electrons and holes at locations of the semiconductor particles, by way of conduction through the semiconductor host matrix, for recombination at the particle locations, between the conduction band minima and the valence band maxima of the particles, to produce luminescent radiation. With a semiconductor host matrix that enables conduction of holes and electrons freely through it, the electroluminescent display of the invention overcomes the severe quantum efficiency limitations imposed by conventional luminescent display configurations.

Semiconductor particle electroluminescent display

For a condensed matter system containing a guest interstitial species such as hydrogen or its isotopes dissolved in the condensed matter host lattice, the invention provides tuning of the molecular orbital degeneracy of the host lattice to enhance the anharmonicity of the dissolved guest sublattice to achieve a large anharmonic displacement amplitude and a correspondingly small distance of closest approach of the guest nuclei. The tuned electron molecular orbital topology of the host lattice creates an energy state giving rise to degenerate sublattice orbitals related to the second nearest neighbors of the guest bonding orbitals. Thus, it is the nuclei of the guest sublattice that are set in anharmonic motion as a result of the orbital topology. This promotion of second nearest neighbor bonding between sublattice nuclei leads to enhanced interaction between nuclei of the sublattice. In the invention, a method for producing dynamic anharmonic oscillations of a condensed matter guest species dissolved in a condensed matter host lattice is provided. Host lattice surfaces are treated to provide surface features on at least a portion of the host lattice surfaces; the features have a radius of curvature less than 0.5 microns. Upon dissolution of the guest species in the treated host lattice in a ratio of at least 0.5, the guest species undergoes the dynamic anharmonic oscillations.

Method of maximizing anharmonic oscillations in deuterated alloys

The invention provides a method for producing semiconductor particles in which a semiconductor material of the type for which particles are desired is placed in an electrolytic solution of an anodic cell. The anodic cell is configured with a cathode also positioned in the electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution of the anodic cell includes an etchant and a surfactant that is characterized by an attractive affinity for the semiconductor material. To produce semiconductor particles from the semiconductor material, an electrical potential is applied between the semiconductor material in the electrolytic solution and the cathode in the electrolytic solution to anodically etch the semiconductor material. During the etch process, particles of the semiconductor material form and are encapsulated by the surfactant. This method for producing semiconductor particles uses an uncomplicated apparatus and procedure that results in inexpensive and high-volume production of particles of a semiconductor material.

Method for producing semiconductor particles

An instrument for forming nanometric features on surfaces of materials having a motor driven support for moving a workpiece on an X-Y-Z axis, a scribing tool of nanometric proportion engagable with the workpiece and a laser system for sensing movement. The tool is mounted on piezoelectric actuating means and the entire system is under the control of a programmed computer processing unit.

Method and apparatus for forming nanometric features on surfaces

A wafer cutting device has a plurality of individually highly tensioned diamond impregnated wires that are mounted in a translatable head. Each wire has a tension monitor connected thereto for the purpose of insuring uniform tension and also alerting to breakage. Further, a differential DC voltage is applied to the wires and the crystal with the assistance of electrolytes to improve the removal of material for minimizing damage to the surfaces. The crystal is mounted on a two dimensional stage. During normal cutting the crystal is moved vertically into the cutting wire. The vertical cutting rate is adjusted due to the configuration of the crystal. At the end of cutting, the crystal is moved laterally so as to place a notch in the wafers for the purpose of removing the wafer in a clean break.

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Townsend, MA, United States of America

Harry R Clark