Many optical imaging, ranging, and communications systems rely on the estimation of the arrival time of an optical pulse. Recently, such systems have been increasingly employing photon-counting photodetector technology, which changes the statistics of...

Compact, highly efficient, 3.0 to 3.4 μm light emitters are in demand for spectroscopic analysis and identification of chemical substances (including methane and formaldehyde), infrared countermeasures technologies, and development of advanced infrared scene projectors. The...

A self-nulling beam combiner is proposed that completely eliminates the phase inversion subsystem from the nulling interferometer, and instead uses the intrinsic phase shifts in the beam splitters. Simplifying the flight instrument in this way will be a valuable enhancement of mission...

LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) is one of the most challenging missions to be undertaken by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). This mission will provide, among other data products, direct proof of the existence of Gravitational Waves. The LISA instrument measures...

A company seeks a way to disinfect and sanitize hands and surfaces that does not depend on chemicals for bacteria kill, does not involve applying liquid, and does not use UV light. The method may be active or passive and must kill or remove microbes from a surface (hands or...

A company seeks a flexible, non-foil, food-grade packaging that offers high oxygen and moisture barriers. The packaging must withstand high-temperature processing, high-pressure processing, or microwave processing. It should be lightweight, and able to protect food for up to five years....

This technology produces a silica glass material with a promising negative refractive index. The material changes volume via irradiation under UV light, and results in a refractive index capability of 10-2. This makes it applicable to a wide range of fields, including holograms, optical memory, digital...

The most important feature of this solar collector is the technical solution where the heat-absorbing surface is the same as the heat-transferring surface, which results in the highest heat performance and efficiency. There is no mediatory unit between the heat-transferring surface of the absorber and the...

While pursuing a master’s degree in aerospace guidance, navigation, and control theory at UT Austin, Terry Hill got an opportunity to work at NASA JSC as a primary investigator on a project his educational advisor was conducting. This...

The 2010 Create the Future Design Contest, sponsored by COMSOL, Inc., PTC, and Tech Briefs Media Group (publishers of NASA Tech Briefs), recognized innovation in product design in six categories: Consumer Products, Machinery & Equipment, Medical, Safety & Security, Sustainable Technologies, and Transportation....

COMSOL, PTC, and Tech Briefs Media Group thank the following judges for their participation.