The purpose of this symposium was to bring together researchers from a broad range of disciplines to discuss the challenges facing the implementation of an affordable tunable RF and microwave device technology. Low cost, tunable, microwave devices will have a tremendous impact on a variety of commercial and military systems, including, but not limited to, tunable band-select filters for wireless communications, phase shifters and true time delay devices for electronic scanning antennas, tunable radiating structures for frequency hopping, and tunable transformers to reduce RF impedance mismatch. The papers of this proceedings discuss a wide range of topics from materials issues through devices and even a system level demonstration of electronic beam steering. Specific materials issues discussed are: new tunable materials; issues of tunability, preparation and optimization of bulk and thin film properties; materials, surface, and interface characterization; evaluation of material loss and loss mechanisms; effects of microstructure; and temperature stability. At the device level, phase shifters are discussed and a new device concept for variable true time delay versus phase shift is introduced. At the system level, a paraelectric lens is used to demonstrate electronic beam steering of an antenna at 10 GHz with about 2 dB of loss.

Challenges facing the implementation of an affordable tunable RF and microwave device technology are discussed in these papers from an April 2002 meeting. Materials issues and devices are examined, with information on new tunable materials, issues of preparation and optimization of bulk and think film properties, material and surface characterization, evaluation of material loss and loss mechanisms, and effects of microstructure. At the device level, phase shifters are discussed and a new device concept for variable true time delay versus phase shift is introduced. At the system level, a paraelectric lens is used to demonstrate electronic beam steering of an antenna. Tidrow is affiliated with the US Army Research Laboratory. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This volume combines the proceedings of Symposium K, Materials and Devices for Optoelectronics and Photonics, and Symposium L, Photonic Crystals--From Materials to Devices, both from the 2002 MRS Spring Meeting in San Francisco. The two symposia served as a unique meeting place where a community of materials scientists and device-oriented engineers could present their latest results. Papers from Symposium K concentrate on materials for solid-state lighting, with particular emphasis on nitrides and other high-bandgap semiconductors and quantum dots, as well as materials for optical waveguides and interconnects. Presentations from Symposium L discuss theoretical methods and materials and fabrication techniques for 2D and 3D photonic crystals, with special emphasis on tunability of photonic crystals.

This volume contains the proceedings of two symposia held at the 2002 MRS Spring Meeting in San Francisco. Molecular imprinting (MI) technology has attracted much attention and enjoyed tremendous development over the past decade. MI technology enables the preparation of materials with host sites that recognize specific guest molecules, analogous to the "lock-and-key" paradigm of antibodies and enzymes. Advantages of molecularly imprinted materials include: a degree of specificity approaching that of antibodies but with much greater temporal and thermal stability; rapid development because precise molecular design and chemical synthesis are unnecessary; and wide applicability because materials may be imprinted with almost any shape-persistent analyte of interest. Papers from Symposium M, "Molecularly Imprinted Materials, focus primarily on the fabrication of functional materials and devices based on MI materials. Studies are presented not only by experts in MI, but more importantly, by materials scientists integrating molecular imprinting with cutting-edge techniques in microfabrication and nanotechnology.

Perovskites form a large class of materials, deceptively simple in basic structure but immensely complex in compositional variations, symmetry changes, and physical properties. They include ferroelectrics, magnetoresistive materials, oxide ion and proton conductors, superconductors, and an abundant phase in the Earth's lower mantle. This volume brings together researchers operating in diverse areas with the common goal of understanding perovskite's intrinsic and extrinsic properties and their potential use. A recurring theme is the interplay of theory and experiment in understanding and predicting properties. Sessions on theory and modeling are featured, emphasizing phase changes and elasticity of Earth materials such as MgSiO3, and CaSiO3, and underscoring new magnetic and ferroelectric materials, including thin films and multilayers. These are complemented by experimental studies of the synthesis of new families of perovskites and property measurements. The volume shows the diversity of materials, measurements, and ideas being studied at present.

Materials scientists, chemists, biologists, physicists, bioengineers and clinicians join together in this volume to focus on the formation, function and structural characterization of biologically formed organic and inorganic materials. Recent developments in bioinspired materials synthesis are also featured. In all of these areas, understanding the structures and kinetics of the interfaces between crystals and other ordered or disordered molecular assemblies requires consideration of multiple chemical species, intermolecular interactions, self assembly, molecular anisotropy, and the structure of the interface between fluid and solid phases. Of particular interest are new materials engineered to replace or restore tissue functions. Topics include: materials in natural biological tissues; imaging and characterization techniques; organic biomaterials--proteins and peptides; interface engineering, patterning and biocompatibility; composite biomaterials--bones and teeth; biomaterials; tissue engineering; biomimetics, sensors and nanotechnology; and materials for drug and gene delivery.