Abstract:
A method of forming a nanowire is disclosed. In one embodiment, a primary preform is formed comprising at least one central region and a support structure. The primary preform is then drawn to a cane, which is then inserted into an outer portion, to form a secondary preform. The secondary preform is then drawn until the at least one central portion is a nanowire. The method can produce nanowires of far greater length than existing methods, and can reduce the likelihood of damaging the nanowire when handling.
Abstract:
The inventions disclosed herein provide a novel 3-dimensional arrangement of probes on a probe carrier with concomitant increases in the economy of reagents, compactness and readability of the probe carriers. Novel methods of fabricating probe carriers are also disclosed. Techniques for hybridization assays and reading results of such assays are also presented.
Abstract:
The inventions disclosed herein provide a novel 3-dimensional arrangement of probes on a probe carrier with concomitant increases in the economy of reagents, compactness and readability of the probe carriers. Novel methods of fabricating probe carriers are also disclosed. Techniques for hybridization assays and reading results of such assays are also presented.
Abstract:
This invention relates to an optical fibre that comprises a core (4) of lower refractive index that is surrounded by a cladding which includes regions of a higher refractive index and is substantially periodic, where the core (4) has a longest transverse dimension that is longer than a single, shortest period of the cladding. In a fibre of this type light is substantially confined to the core area by virtue of the photonic band gap of the cladding material. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such an optical fibre, comprising the steps of forming a stack of canes (5), the stack (5) including at least one truncated cane (6) that defines an aperture (7), and then drawing the stack (5) into a fibre having an elongate cavity. The fibre is suitable for high power uses, but is equally suitable for other areas, e.g. optical amplifiers, spectral filters, lasers, gas sensors and telecommunications networks.
Abstract:
A photonic crystal fibre comprising a bulk material having an arrangement of longitudinal holes (130, 140) and a guiding core (135), wherein the fibre has at-most-two-fold rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis and as a result of that lack of symmetry, the fibre is birefringent.
Abstract:
An optical fibre having a periodicidal cladding structure provididing a photonic band gap structure with superior qualities. The periodical structure being one wherein high index areas are defined and wherein these are separated using a number of methods. One such method is the introduction of additional low index elements, another method is providing elongated elements deformed in relation to a circular cross section. Also described is a cladding structure comprising elongated elements of a material having an index of refraction higher than that of the material adjacent thereto. Using this additional material, prior art structures may obtain much better qualities.
Abstract:
A nonwoven fabric constituted of high-flatness glass fibers whose cross sections have aspect ratios of 2.0 to 10 and rates of filling of 85 % or above, preferably 90 % or above. Such glass fibers have nearly rectangular cross sections and therefore can be arranged in an extremely dense state to give a nonwoven fabric which is extremely thin and has a high bulk density. The fabric can give laminates which are enhanced in the glass fiber content and improved in the surface smoothness, thus being suitably usable as the reinforcement for printed wiring boards. The glass fibers can be produced by the use of, e.g., a nozzle equipped with a tip which has a flat orifice and whose major-axis wall is partially cut out on one side.
Abstract:
Homogeneous assays for determining quantitatively the extent of a specific binding reaction can be carried out effectively on very dilute solutions using measurements of fluorescence if a fluorescence measurement scheme that is capable or rejecting short-lived background fluorescence is employed and if the fluorescent group being measured has the following properties: a) the group being measured must be a rare earth metal chelate complex combination; b) the chelate must be water-soluble; c) The complex combination must also be stable in extremely dilute aqueous solutions, that is, the measured chelate must have at least one ligand having a metal-to-ligand binding constant of at least about 10 M or greater and it must have a fluorescent emission that is long-lived compared to the longest decay lifetime of ambient substances and have a half life of from 0.01 to 50 msec.