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The recent emergence of the Silicon Drift detector (SDD), for use in Energy Dispersive x-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), has made possible x-ray event streams with input count rates in the range of 1-10 Mcps. Modern digital pulse processors are therefore required to run at fast time constants to achieve reasonable throughput; however, this causes significant coincidence artifacts to appear in the spectrum ...

During the past century, physicists have explored subatomic particles in an attempt to understand the fundamental components of the universe, explain the origin of mass, and probe the possibility of an extra-dimensional universe. To advance these explorations, scientists from around the world are working together to develop the International Linear Collider (ILC). ILC applications will require det ...

Lithium-ion technology has revolutionized the portable electronics industry by providing high energy density batteries at affordable prices. The popularity of lithium-ion batteries is now steadily spreading into other industries, such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) where the application requirements differ from those for portable electronics. For example, the energy storage materials (such as ...

Biodiesel production using supercritical alcohols not only is fast and clean but also allows the treatment of fats and oils that are lower in quality than those used in the usual method of base catalysis. However, the supercritical method has not been considered practical because of economic and safety issues associated with the high temperatures, high pressures, and amount of excess alcohol requi ...

Fluorescent and incandescent lighting consumes more than 50% of the lighting energy budget. However, these technologies are relatively inefficient, losing approximately 37% and 85%, respectively, of their energy to IR, rather than visible, frequencies. Efficient IR-to-visible upconversion phosphors could have a significant impact on lamp efficiency and design. This project will develop Concentrica ...

There is a strong correlation between cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning and the altitude of the 40-dBZ radar reflectivity levels with respect to the height of the -100C level. T he proposed Phase I effort will develop an algorithm for lightning probability based upon these studies, perform basic assessment, prototype a web page for dissemination of the lightning probability or threat risk, and assess ...

The pulp and paper industry in the United States is in a state of decline due to overseas competition, rising energy costs, declining virgin fiber access, and limited capital infusion. Over eleven million tons of paper and paperboard products capacity have been closed in the U.S., resulting in a loss of over ten thousand high paying manufacturing jobs. Current production technologies require the u ...

The Department of Energy seeks revolutionary innovations with respect to miniature seismic sensors for the monitoring of nuclear detonations. Specifically, the performance must be comparable to that obtainable by only an elite few products available today, but with orders of magnitude reduction in size, weight, power, and cost. This project will develop the desired sensors, based upon several adva ...

Under this proposal, Virtual Global, Inc. proposes to work with NIST to develop RBAC-BASED WORKFLOW, a workflow system that will use RBAC in a web services model as a form of middleware that can be "packaged" accessed, configured, and reused by integrating with existing trusted RBAC implementations.

Rechargeable lithium ion batteries incorporating liquid or polymer electrolytes are currently the most advanced battery type available on the market. However, the liquid/polymer electrolyte and its interface with the electrodes limits energy density, long-term cycle life, and the rate of charge/discharge capability of these batteries. The removal of these limitations is a prerequisite for lithium ...