Abstract: A method for mixing an in-situ aluminum matrix composite with an aluminum-litium alloy via the spray deposition process to obtain an Al—Li composite.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating high density monolithic metal and oy billets. The process requires preheating precursor materials of metal or alloy billets by means of a combustion synthesis called Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis (SHS). The reaction takes place in an insulated reaction vessel where the precursors, in a powder form, are heated to high temperatures. The precursors are then compacted to high density by means of pressure waves generated by detonation of an explosive. The method is capable of producing high purity tungsten and tungsten-based alloys of greater than 90% theoretical density.

Abstract: A method for the extraction of TNT from high explosves comprising the contacting the explosive with a supercritical fluid at a temperature above the meltng point of TNT and recovering the TNT.

Abstract: A multi-layer Ferroelectric composite wave guide in which the effective dielectric constant of the waveguide can be reduced while maintaining tunability. The waveguide is constructed of high and low dielectric constant layers. The multi-layer waveguide is comprised of bias plates which are perpendicular to the laminate direction on direction of film deposition to maintain tunability in the structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating high density monolithic metal and alloy billets. The process requires preheating precursor materials of metal or alloy billets by means of a combustion synthesis called Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis (SHS). The reaction takes place in an insulated reaction vessel where the precursors, in a powder form, are heated to high temperatures. The precursors are then compacted to high density by means of pressure waves generated by detonation of an explosive. The method is capable of producing high purity tungsten and tungsten-based alloys of greater than 90% theoretical density.

Abstract: The method and system quickly and simultaneously generate multi-resolution and high-resolution imagery from projection data obtained, e.g., through synthetic aperture radar, magnetic resonance imaging, x-ray CAT scans, seismic imaging, sonar imaging, and acoustic imaging. The backprojector technique is modified by a quadtree decomposition of the image area. The sensor elements are grouped into subapertures, and an image is formed in each subaperture by backprojection. The subapertures are grouped into larger subapertures and an image is formed in each of the larger subapertures by backprojection. This operation is repeated until a single large subaperture is defined which covers the entire antenna array. In this way, common additions are factored, computed once and reused many times. A set of N projections can produce an N.times.N image through O(N.sup.2 log N) operations.

Abstract: A method for depositing thin films of improved uniformity on solid objects y the technique of ion-beam assisted deposition. In the ion-beam deposition technique, the surface of a solid substrate is exposed both to a stream of atoms or molecules evaporated from a crucible placed below the substrate and to a beam of ions. The most uniform films are deposited on the substrate when the evaporated particles are emitted in a particular angular direction that depends on the angle of tilt of the substrate. An improved method is disclosed for placing the substrate in a particular angular position relative to the evaporation source. Surface properties such as friction, wear life, surface hardness and resistance to corrosion of many types solid objects can be improved by coating their surfaces with a thin film using this technique.

Abstract: A method of making ferroelectric thin film composites includes the step of roviding a barium strontium titanate material with an additive magnesia-based and forming a thin film ferroelectric composite using pulsed laser deposition. The method forms a thin film composite having enhanced electronic properties.

Abstract: A subsurface soil contaminant identification system employs a cone penetrometer unit for continuously measuring the concentration of energetic materials in potentially contaminated soils. The sensor is rugged, reliable, and has a fast response time. The invention utilizes two pulsed, time-delayed miniature lasers. An infrared laser is used for decomposing the energetic material into NO and other products, while a visible laser operating near 452 nm is used for NO detection by (2+2) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI). The system employs a fiber optic to transmit the output radiation at distances of approximately 30-50 meters, a lens assembly to focus one or both laser beams, a pair of miniature electrodes to collect the ions, a penetrometer, and data acquisition/processing equipment. A REMPI spectrum of 0.1% NO at atmospheric pressure reveals that the spectral resolution is sufficient such that characteristic spectral features of NO can be identified unequivocally.

Abstract: A method for approximating dynamic effects of atmospheric turbulence on infrared digital imagery utilizing the application of at least one spatially varying system to an object intensity distribution to obtain at least one image intensity distribution. The spatially varying system represents atmospheric turbulence which varies phase and/or amplitude as a function of a spatial index. The object intensity distribution and the image intensity distribution are related by an image warping transformation. Two configurations for experimental verification of the utility of a turbulence simulation technique are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for the ultra-sensitive detection of atmospheric and surface adsorbed nitrocompounds such as propellants, explosives, and nitro-pollutants employs an excimer (ArF) laser operating at or near 193 nm to photofragment the target molecule and facilitate the detection of the characteristic NO fragment, formed from the dissociation of NO.sub.2, by resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) and/or laser induced fluorescence (LIF) via its A-X, B-X, C-X, and/or D-X electronic transitions. In addition to NO, the detection of other fragments, such as C, CH, C.sub.2, NH and OH, by their ionization and/or prompt emission resulting from 193 nm excitation enhances the analyte identification. The analytical utility of this apparatus and method has been demonstrated on a number of compounds including dimethylnitramine (DMNA), nitromethane, nitrobenzene, orthonitrotoluene, para-nitrotoluene and trinitrotoluene (TNT).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining ocular gaze point of regard and fixation duration utilizing Electrooculographic measurements and head position and orientation data. The Electrooculographic (EOG) potentials from an unipolar measuring configuration, are first amplified, filtered and digitized. A computation scheme based on the mathematical relation for the sum and difference potentials between opposing electrodes placed about the eye is then used to compute ocular orientation and amplifier gains and DC bias offset voltages. The sensor system of the invention may be embedded in a neoprene holder for a helmet mounted display; the holder fitting around the eyes like a set of goggles, is against the face well out of the way of the natural field of view. The invention is easily extended to the simultaneous tracking of both eyes thereby allowing the measurement of the optical convergence point in the user's three dimensional workspace either real or virtual.

Abstract: A missile or other smart munitions simulator uses an analog function simuor to simulate the detector signal of the missile's optical tracking components. The analog function simulator stores convoluted scene data for respective ranges between the missile and the `target` it is tracking. The scene data are stored in respective data matrices, and may correspond to the target itself or to the background. Depending on the value of variables produced during the missile tracking simulation, the analog function simulator accesses elements in the data matrices and interpolates between them, thereby producing an analog signal which simulates the detector signal of the missile's optical tracking components.

Abstract: In a pulsed laser deposition system, the two optical actions of focusing rastering, and the optical chamber window are combined into a single optics system. The single optics system is mounted on the processing chamber. Combining the three separate optical functions into one optics system facilitates laser beam control and reduces the space needed for the apparatus.

Abstract: A miniature, planar, inertially-damped, inertially-actuated delay slider uator is micromachined on a substrate and consists of a "slider", with zig-zag or stair-step-like patterns on the side edges, interacting with similar vertical-edged zig-zag patterns on "racks" which are positioned across a small gap on each side. The slider has been released from the substrate, and is captured vertically in its track by a non-interfering lattice or cover or other feature that bridges across from the top of one rack to the other. The racks are fixed to the substrate and the slider is forced axially down the "track" by an inertial load in the slider's axial direction. The slider is drawn along the track such that the "teeth" on the right edge of the slider engage with the teeth on the right rack. The slider is forced to move to the left as it slides down the faces on the right rack, until it is thrown clear of the right rack and goes across to engage similarly with the left rack.

Abstract: A laminated ceramic ferroelectric material has adjacent layers of Barium ontium Titanate (BSTO)--oxide composite stacked in order of descending oxide content and sized in thickness to produce a generally equal capacitance across each layer, resulting in a material having a graded dielectric constant for use in phased array antenna, for example. The oxides are from the metallic oxide group consisting of alumina, zirconia and magnesia and the layers are produced by tape casting.

Abstract: A ceramic nanocomposite made from silicon, oxygen and nitrogen is provided hich has a very low dielectric constant, low dielectric loss along with good strength and hardness. The ceramic nanocomposite finds use in millimeter-wave radomes and microwave radomes used on aircraft which must resist erosion from high speed impact with water, ice and dust in the atmosphere.

Abstract: A device and method for estimating a mental decision to select a visual cue from the viewer's eye fixation and corresponding single event evoked cerebral potential. The device comprises an eyetracker, an electronic biosignal processor and a digital computer. The eyetracker determines the instantaneous viewing direction from oculometric measurements and a head position and orientation sensor. The electronic processor continually estimates the cerebral electroencephalogramic potential from scalp surface measurements following corrections for electrooculogramic, electromyogramic and electrocardiogramic artifacts. The digital computer analyzes the viewing direction data for a fixation and then extracts the corresponding single event evoked cerebral potential.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced composite structure for transmitting high shear loads includes a laminate with an edge defining a buttress groove. The buttress groove includes a pressure flank oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the structure to transmit shear loads in one direction only. The laminate is formed of a plurality of plies having fibers disposed in a matrix material at angular orientations relative to the longitudinal axis of the structure. A first plurality of the plies have fibers oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis and a majority of the other plies have fibers oriented at an angle .theta. relative to the longitudinal axis corresponding to a direction of the largest tensile component of the shear load.

Abstract: A novel ceramic ferroelectric material having a high dielectric constant, a ow loss tangent, a low threshold voltage, a high nonlinear voltage exponent and a high tunability. The material is a composite comprising Barium Strontium Titanate (BSTO) and zinc oxide (ZnO). The preferred composite is represented by Ba.sub.1-x Sr.sub.x TiO.sub.3 --ZnO, wherein x is greater than 0.00, but less than or equal to 0.75, and wherein the percent weight ratio between BSTO and ZnO ranges from approximately 99%-50% and 1%-50% respectively. The novel materials possess superior electronic properties, and they may be employed in multilayer capacitors, capacitor-varistors, non-volatile computer memory or phased array antenna systems.