The optical processes involved in laser trapping and optical manipulation are explored theoretically and experimentally as a means of activating a micrometer-size gear structure. We modeled the structure by using an enhanced ray-optics technique, and results indicate that the torque present on the gear can induce the gear to rotate about the gear-arm plane center with light as the driving energy source. We confirmed these findings experimentally by using gears manufactured with conventional semiconductor techniques and from a layer of polyimide. It is expected that such a simple gear design activated by use of light could lead to an entire new class of micro-optical-electromechanical systems.
A new study conducted using a Low Power Microwave Neutralization (LPMN) device is presented. The device consists of commercial off the shelf (COTS) magnetrons operating at 2.45 GHz and a simple power supply designed and fabricated at DRDC Ottawa that effectively doubles the average power of the magnetron. We describe the final design of a LPMN prototype device that was used in a live landmine field trial held at DRDC Suffield in the fall of 2004. Results of landmine trials using the LPMN to neutralize live munitions are shown. Using the LPMN to enhance landmine detection by infrared (IR) imaging is also described.
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