Steven E Hughes

US Patent:

8274735, Sep 25, 2012

Filed:

Sep 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/283698

Inventors:

Robert C. Fry - Omaha NE, US
Steven K. Hughes - Longmont CO, US
Madeline J. Arnold - Lincoln NE, US
Michael R. Dyas - Waterloo NE, US

International Classification:

G02B 21/26

US Classification:

359393, 356244, 359398

Abstract:

The present invention facilitates improvements in laser ablation of solid samples to be analyzed by an external inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometer, ICP/mass-spectrometer (ICP-MS), or flowing afterglow (FAG) mass spectrometer (FAG-MS) for elemental analysis (ICP and ICP-MS) or molecular analysis (FAG-MS). A novel invention mirror-with-hole beam combiner eliminates chromatic aberration in the invention sample view and allows rad-hardening the laser ablation invention for use in a radiation hot cell for analysis of high activity nuclear waste. Many other novel invention rad-hardening attributes facilitate a comprehensive rad-hardened laser ablation system (the world's first). In other embodiments, invention novelties include unusually large homogeneous focused laser spot diameters, unusually long laser objective lens focal length, wide range operationally variable laser path length with built-in re-alignment, operationally variable demagnification ratio and diameter of the focused laser spot, the use of significantly higher powered SMR lasers in a large spot diameter to facilitate high sensitivity bulk analysis of solid samples, a demountable and gravitationally self-sealing stack assembly laser ablation cell, and the world's first auto-samplers (mechanized sample changers) for analytical laser ablation.

US Patent:

20220390016, Dec 8, 2022

Filed:

Feb 24, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/680123

Inventors:

- Boulder CO, US
Steven Michael Hughes - Louisville CO, US

International Classification:

F16J 15/10

Abstract:

A monolithic break-seal includes a membrane that separates an outer ring from an inner ring. The inner ring is bonded to a vacuum cell and the outer ring is bonded to a vacuum interface. To protect against unintentional breakage of the membrane, a surface of the outer ring not bonded to the vacuum interface contacts the vacuum cell. An external vacuum system evacuates the vacuum cell through an aperture of the break-seal. Once a target vacuum level is reached for the vacuum cell, a cap is bonded to the inner ring, blocking the aperture and hermetically sealing the vacuum cell. The membrane is broken so that the hermetically sealed vacuum cell can be separated from the vacuum interface to which the outer ring remains bonded.

US Patent:

20220291268, Sep 15, 2022

Filed:

Mar 9, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/690577

Inventors:

- Boulder CO, US
Haoquan Fan - Erie CO, US
Ying-Ju Wang - Boulder CO, US
Eric Magnuson Bottomley - Broomfield CO, US
Steven Michael Hughes - Louisville CO, US

International Classification:

G01R 29/08

Abstract:

An electromagnetic field detector including a vapor cell, an excitation system, and a frequency tuner is described. The vapor cell has a plurality of quantum particles therein. The excitation system excites the quantum particles to a first Rydberg state. The first Rydberg state has a transition to a second Rydberg state at a first frequency. The frequency tuner generates a tunable field in a portion of the vapor cell. The tunable field shifts the first Rydberg state and/or the second Rydberg state such that the transition to the second Rydberg state is at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The detection frequency range for the electromagnetic field detector is continuous and includes the first frequency and the second frequency.

US Patent:

20220262609, Aug 18, 2022

Filed:

Feb 8, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/667433

Inventors:

- Boulder CO, US
Steven Michael Hughes - Louisville CO, US

International Classification:

H01J 41/12

Abstract:

A vacuum cell is described. The vacuum cell includes an inner chamber, a buffer channel, and a buffer ion pump. The buffer channel is fluidically isolated from the inner chamber and fluidically isolated from an ambient external to the vacuum cell. The buffer ion pump is fluidically coupled to the buffer channel and fluidically isolated from the ambient and the inner chamber.

US Patent:

20220262929, Aug 18, 2022

Filed:

Oct 4, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/493155

Inventors:

- Boulder CO, US
Steven Michael Hughes - Louisville CO, US

International Classification:

H01L 29/66
H01L 21/02

Abstract:

A pulsed-laser applies short (e.g., less than 10 pico-seconds) pulses to modify quantum particle (e.g., alkali-metal and alkaline-earth-metal atoms) ultra-high vacuum (UHV) cells to bond, ablate, and/or chemically modify vacuum-facing surfaces of the cell. The pulses are generated outside the cell and are transmitted through a vacuum-boundary wall. In one example, one vacuum-boundary wall is first contact bonded to other vacuum boundary walls at a relatively low temperature (below 200 C.), sufficient to form a temporary hermetic seal. Pulsed laser bonding is used to reinforce the contact bonds, correcting defects and generally increasing the robustness of the seal. The pulses provide high peak power to ensure strong bonds, but low total heat so as to avoid heat damage to nearby cell components and to limit quantum-particle sorbtion to and into cell walls.

US Patent:

20230070293, Mar 9, 2023

Filed:

May 24, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/752069

Inventors:

- Boulder CO, US
Steven Michael HUGHES - Louisville CO, US

International Classification:

G02B 1/00

Abstract:

Metamaterial optics are integrated with vacuum-boundary walls of ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) cells to manipulate light in a manner analogous to various bulk optical elements including lenses, mirrors, beam splitters, polarizers, waveplate, wave guides, frequency modulators, and amplitude modulators. For example, UHV cells can have metasurface lenses formed on interior and/or exterior surfaces on one or more of their vacuum-boundary walls. Each metasurface lens can include a plurality of mesas with the same height and various cross-sectional dimensions. The uses of metasurface lenses allows through-going laser beams to be expanded, collimated or focused without using bulky refractive optics. Each metasurface lens can be formed on a cell wall using photolithographic or other techniques.

US Patent:

20210410266, Dec 30, 2021

Filed:

Jun 6, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/340039

Inventors:

- Boulder CO, US
Thomas William NOEL - Lafayette CO, US
Steven Michael HUGHES - Louisville CO, US

International Classification:

H05H 3/04
G06N 10/00

Abstract:

A vacuum cell provides for electric field control within an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) for cold-neutral-atom quantum computing and other quantum applications. Electrode assemblies extend through vacuum cell walls. Prior to cell assembly, contacts are bonded to respective locations on the ambient-facing surfaces of the walls. Trenches are formed in the vacuum-facing surfaces of walls and via holes are formed, extending from trenches through the wall and into the contacts. Plating conductive material into the trenches and via holes forms the electrodes and vias. The electrodes are contained by the trenches and do not extend beyond the trenches so as to avoid interfering with the bonding of components to the vacuum-facing surfaces of the walls. The vias extend into the contacts to ensure good electrical contact. An electric-field controller applies electric potentials to the electrodes (via the contacts) to control electric fields within the vacuum.

US Patent:

20210280898, Sep 9, 2021

Filed:

Mar 4, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/192793

Inventors:

- Broomfield CO, US
Marc Roger Flinders - Broomfield CO, US
Thomas Ray Hinklin - Broomfield CO, US
Steven William Hughes - Broomfield CO, US
Mykola Makowsky - Broomfield CO, US
Mathew Richard Robins - Broomfield CO, US

International Classification:

H01M 10/054
H01M 10/615
H01M 50/434
H01M 10/0569
H01M 4/58
H01M 4/38
H01M 4/74
H01M 4/80
H01M 4/66

Abstract:

The present technology provides rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur galvanic cells and batteries incorporating such cells as well as methods of using such cell and batteries. The present galvanic cells provide high specific energy and high power at lower cost than conventional alkali metal-sulfur cells.