A method for determining a characteristic of a direct-gap semiconductor comprises measuring at least one optical constant of a first sample of a direct-gap semiconductor with an optical spectrometer, calculating an estimated value of an optical parameter of the first sample of the direct-gap semiconductor based on fitting the model .sub.g(ln(1+e.sup.(h-E.sup.g.sup.)/(pE.sup.u.sup.))/ln(2)).sup.p to an optical absorption curve based on the at least one optical constant, obtaining at least one second value of the optical parameter, and calculating an estimated characteristic of the direct-gap semiconductor from the estimated value of the optical parameter and the obtained second value of the optical parameter. A method for determining a temperature of a direct-gap semiconductor and a system for determining a characteristic of a direct-gap semiconductor are also disclosed.

A method for measuring a temperature of a fluid for use with a microfluidic analysis apparatus includes a reading step and a determination step. During the reading step, at least one diffusion signal is read, the latter representing a diffusion characteristic of the diffusion of the fluid. During the determination step, the temperature is determined using the at least one diffusion signal.

A system for passive microwave remote sensing using at least one microwave radiometer includes a fixed body portion, the fixed body portion being configured to attach to a mobile platform, and a mobile body portion, the mobile body portion being configured for rotatably coupling with the fixed body portion for rotation about a rotation axis. The mobile body portion is configured for supporting the at least one microwave radiometer therein such that the at least one microwave radiometer rotates about the rotation axis when the mobile body portion is rotated about the rotation axis such that a polarization axis of the at least one radiometer is aligned with an earth axis. The fixed body portion includes a motor mechanism for effecting rotation of the mobile body portion such that the at least one microwave radiometer provides a vertical scanning below and above the mobile platform.

The present invention relates to a device for evidencing when a stimulus sensitive product has been exposed to a predetermined stimulus, and the invention further may include a method for manufacturing aspects of that device.

The present invention relates to a device for evidencing when a stimulus sensitive product has been exposed to a predetermined stimulus, and the invention further may include a method for manufacturing aspects of that device.

Wireless acoustic communication apparatus and related methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first rod and a second rod. The first rod and the second rod are to form a rod string. The example apparatus includes a first acoustic repeater mechanically coupled to the first rod. The first acoustic repeater is to communicate with a second acoustic repeater to convey data via the rod string. The second acoustic repeater is to receive the data from a first tool.

The inventive technology comprises a novel gun barrel thermal indicator system that incorporates one or more thermogenic compounds that may be coupled to a gun barrel and indicate the temperature of a gun barrel during and after use. Additional embodiments may comprise a digital gun barrel thermal indicator system that may be coupled to a gun barrel and digitally indicate the temperature of a gun barrel during and after use. This novel gun barrel thermal indicator system may indicate the temperature at which the gun barrel will cause burns, is unsafe to store, or if a pre-determined threshold temperature has been reached resulting in a loss of firing accuracy, as well as imminent and/or actual barrel failure.

The present invention relates to a device (1) for measuring a magnetic field (B) and/or an electric field (E) comprising:a measurement cell (3) enclosing a gas that is sensitive to the Zeeman effect and/or to the Stark effect, a polarised light source (7) the wavelength of which is tuned to an absorption line of the gas that is sensitive to the Zeeman effect and/or to the Stark effect,at least one polarimetry system (11) configured to measure a first parameter corresponding to the rotation by a polarisation angle caused by the passage of the beam (9) through the measurement cell (3) enclosing a gas that is sensitive to the Zeeman effect and/or to the Stark effect,a system (13) for measuring absorption, configured to measure a second parameter corresponding to the absorption of the beam (9) by the gas that is sensitive to the Zeeman effect and/or to the Stark effect in the measurement cell (3), and a processing unit (15) configured to combine the measurement of the first parameter corresponding to the rotation by the polarisation angle and the absorption measurement in order to extract therefrom a third and/or fourth parameter corresponding respectively to an electric field (E) and/or a magnetic field (B) to be measured.

The present invention relates to a device (1) for measuring a magnetic field (B) and/or an electric field (E) comprising:a measurement cell (3) enclosing a gas that is sensitive to the Zeeman effect and/or to the Stark effect, a polarised light source (7) the wavelength of which is tuned to an absorption line of the gas that is sensitive to the Zeeman effect and/or to the Stark effect,at least one polarimetry system (11) configured to measure a first parameter corresponding to the rotation by a polarisation angle caused by the passage of the beam (9) through the measurement cell (3) enclosing a gas that is sensitive to the Zeeman effect and/or to the Stark effect,a system (13) for measuring absorption, configured to measure a second parameter corresponding to the absorption of the beam (9) by the gas that is sensitive to the Zeeman effect and/or to the Stark effect in the measurement cell (3), and a processing unit (15) configured to combine the measurement of the first parameter corresponding to the rotation by the polarisation angle and the absorption measurement in order to extract therefrom a third and/or fourth parameter corresponding respectively to an electric field (E) and/or a magnetic field (B) to be measured.

A method of monitoring the pressure of a tire of an aircraft, the method including: taking two or more pressure readings from the tire at different times; calculating an estimated deflation rate based on the pressure readings; and calculating a time for the tire to deflate to a reference pressure level based on the estimated deflation rate. Two or more temperature readings are each associated with one of the pressure readings, and the estimated deflation rate is calculated by normalising each pressure reading based on its associated temperature reading and a common reference temperature to obtain a temperature-normalised pressure reading, and calculating the estimated deflation rate based on the temperature-normalised pressure readings. The estimated deflation rate is compared with a threshold, and a warning provided if the estimated deflation rate exceeds the threshold.