Characteristics of solar-irradiance spectra from measurements, modeling, and theoretical approach.

An accurate solar-irradiance spectrum is needed as an input to any planetary atmosphere or climate model. Depending on the spectral characteristics of the chosen model, uncertainties in the irradiance may introduce significant differences in atmospheric and climate predictions. This is why several solar spectral-irradiance data sets have been published during the last decade.

Development of a programmable standard of ultra-low capacitance values.

A set of ultra-low value capacitance standards together with a programmable coaxial multiplexer (mux) have been developed. The mux allows the connection of these capacitances in parallel configuration and they together form the programmable capacitance standard. It is capable of producing decadic standard capacitances from 10 aF to at least 0.

Microfluidic chips for the crystallization of biomacromolecules by counter-diffusion and on-chip crystal X-ray analysis.

Microfluidic devices were designed to perform on micromoles of biological macromolecules and viruses the search and the optimization of crystallization conditions by counter-diffusion, as well as the on-chip analysis of crystals by X-ray diffraction. Chips composed of microchannels were fabricated in poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS), poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and cyclo-olefin-copolymer (COC) by three distinct methods, namely replica casting, laser ablation and hot embossing. The geometry of the channels was chosen to ensure that crystallization occurs in a convection-free environment.

In-Flight Calibration of the Wind Imaging Interferometer (WINDII) on Board the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite.

The Wind Imaging Interferometer (WINDII) was launched on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite to measure the Earth's upper-atmospheric wind and temperature. It is a remote-sensing instrument that employs a field-compensated Michelson interferometer to measure the Doppler shift, line width, and emission rate of naturally occurring airglow emission lines. The data analysis uses calibration data that were obtained in the laboratory prior to launch.