Abstract: A GaAs FET structure with a high electric field region, or active region, contacted by source, gate and drain electrodes is provided which can be used for high speed optical detection or for microwave oscillator optical injection locking. The device provides for efficient coupling of incident optical radiation into the active region, employing confinement and waveguiding regions lying in the plane of the device and adapted to guide incident optical radiation to the active region. GaAs photoconductors are also provided by eliminating the gate electrode.

Abstract: A missile or rocket detent and positive release mechanism, actuated by the rocket's thrustor, is mounted on the outside of a rocket launcher tube. A notched-end (52) of a spring-loaded lever (50) extends into the launch tube for positively locking a rocket (10) into place. One end of a sear (60) extends over the spring lever for maintaining the lever in its locked position. A toggle lever (44) is pivotally connected to the other end of the sear and extends into the blast region of the rocket, whose high speed exhaust gasses cause it to be pivoted out of the way, to withdraw the sear from the spring loaded lever, and thus to permit release of the rocket.

Abstract: A payload such as a spacecraft is deployed from launch vehicle with linear and angular velocity, using a structural arrangement for applying a tangential, single point ejection force to the spacecraft, in which, the single point ejection force and the spacecraft/launch vehicle reaction points enclose the spacecraft center of mass and center of percussion.

Abstract: A ceramic broadband radome is provided, comprising alternating layers of silicon nitride and fused silica, including a layer of silicon nitride at both outer and inner surfaces of the radome wall and at least one additional layer of silicon nitride within the wall. Elevated temperature processing is used to form an in situ prestressed condition. Resistance to stresses induced by thermal differentials, rain erosion, particle impact, aerodynamic loads and crack propagation is improved over other monolithic and sandwich ceramic radomes, while high transmission efficiency is maintained over a wide band of radar frequencies.

Abstract: A laser beam flow tube arrangement is disclosed in which the Ranque-Hilsch effect is advantageously utilized to reduce thermal blooming in a laser beam. The arrangement includes a tubular member through which the laser beam is propagated longitudinally and a vortical flow generator in gas flow communication with the interior of the tubular member. The flow generator produces vortical flow of a gas having low absorption properties at the wavelength of the laser beam and introduces the vortically flowing gas into the tubular member. The gas flows along a helical path within the tubular member with a tangential velocity selected to provide a negative temperature gradient between the wall and axis of the tubular member which is substantially equal in magnitude to the positive temperature gradient therebetween due to the thermal blooming.

Abstract: Gimbal ring 32 has torquer positioner 34 and position detector 36 connected by servo loop 38, 40. Vibration sensor 52 on ring 32 provides ring vibration signals to amplifier shifter 54, 58 and the resultant signals are added to the servo loop at amplifier 40 to damp out the detected vibration.

Abstract: Arrangements and methods are described employing input optical intensity to output spatial position mapping, for performing optical computing or logic processing functions. An electro-optical device which receives discrete input optical object beams of different intensity levels and a separate readout optical beam, diffracts portions of the readout optical beam to unique spatial positions in two dimensional space, each portion as a function of the intensity of individual discrete input beams or of combinations of the intensities of the input beams. A spatial filter having discrete apertures at selected ones of the unique spatial positions transmits the selected diffracted optical outputs for implementing logic or computing functions.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal image display system, a fiber optic faceplate which transmits light only through a well defined acceptance cone is optically coupled to the liquid crystal display surface of a reflective dynamic scattering mode liquid crystal display device.In an image projector embodiment, light from an external light source is directed through the faceplate onto the liquid crystal display surface. Light scattered by activated (on-state) regions of the liquid crystal is substantially absorbed by the faceplate while light reflected from the non-activated (off-state) regions of the display surface is transmitted back through the faceplate to a projection lens which forms an image on a viewing screen.In a second embodiment of the invention, a viewer directly observes the liquid crystal display surface under ambient light from either natural or artificial light sources.

Abstract: A multi-mode optical fiber is used to detect electrical currents or magnetic fields from a remote source. The optical fiber, which serves as the sensor, is composited with metal capable of conducting electricity. Optical radiation is introduced into the fiber from a source which may be either coherent or incoherent. An electrical current is applied to the portion of the electrically conducting optical fiber and a magnetic field is applied to the current-carrying optical fiber. A known value of one permits a determination of the presence or absence of the other through electromotive forces on a metallic conductor in a magnetic field, which are used to induce differential phase shifts (coherent optical radiation input) or losses (incoherent optical radiation input) between the fiber modes. These phase shifts or losses are detected by a suitable detector. For a magnetic field of 1 kGauss, good linearity is obtained in the 5 to 2,000 mA current range. Magnetic fields of about 0.

Abstract: An arrangement for reducing non-symmetrical, thermally induced strains in a gun tube (12) comprising a heat pipe jacket (18) in thermal engagement with the gun tube to provide both high radial and circumferential thermal conductance from the tube.

Abstract: A GaAs FET structure with a high electric field region, or active region, contacted by source, gate and drain electrodes is provided which can be used for high speed optical detection or for microwave oscillator optical injection locking. The device provides for efficient coupling of optical radiation into the active region through an opening in a semi-insulating substrate used to support the device. A buffer layer between the active region and the substrate prevents leakage current to the substrate, permits a larger illumination window for improved optical coupling and provides mechanical support for the FET detector. GaAs photodetectors are also provided by eliminating the gate electrode.

Abstract: The torque from differential solar pressure acting on a spinning spacecraft body and tending to tilt the spacecraft about an axis transverse to the spin axis, is reduced or eliminated by shifting the center of gravity of the spacecraft axially or longitudinally of the spin axis in a direction toward the center of solar pressure.

Abstract: A plurality of beam generating units 76, 78, 80 and 82 each produces separated rectangular ion beams for implantation onto a targets 52 and 54 rotatively moving therepast. Each rectangular footprint is long in the direction of motion and is scanned transversely to the direction of motion. A plurality of beam generating units can be positioned adjacent to each other to multiply implant targets because of the compact structure of the separated ion source.

Abstract: A process for producing single crystal Hg.sub.1-x Cd.sub.x Te is disclosed. An ingot of Hg.sub.1-x cd.sub.x Te is prepared from a stoichiometric mixture of mercury, cadmium and tellurium by the supercooling of a heated mixture thereof from a point above liquidus to a point, a predetermined function of x, below liquidus. The ingot is then quenched in ambient air, producing a large amount of crystallites with small grain boundaries. The subsequent application of heat to the ingot yields a relatively large amount of single crystal material.

Abstract: An automatic responsivity control (ARC) circuit compensates for the nonuniform deviation .DELTA.R in the average responsivity R of a column of photodetectors from a nominal responsivity R.sub.0 which is uniform from column to column. The ARC circuit first establishes a reference level by subtracting two known calibration signals occurring during optical retracing and then multiplies the reference level by each image signal occurring during optical scanning. The resulting product contains undesirable signal components or terms which are algebraic functions of .DELTA.R.sup.2 and other terms which are algebraic functions of .DELTA.R. The terms in .DELTA.R.sup.2 are ignored because .DELTA.R is significantly less than R.sub.0. The terms in .DELTA.R are eliminated by establishing a second reference level, which itself includes terms in .DELTA.R, and then subtracting the foregoing product from the second reference level.

Abstract: Thermal coupling structure 40 has a tubular collar 42 which embraces the cold end of cold finger 14. Fingers 44 on collar 42 resiliently engage within inner wall 24 of dewar 22 so that heat is conducted from device 32 to be cooled through this inner wall 24 to fingers 44, collar 42 to cold finger 16.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for operating an electro-optical system for producing high quality images from a liquid crystal light valve.A polarized projection beam is directed to the reflective surface of a liquid crystal light valve for polarization modulation by means of an input image. The beam is polarization analyzed to thereby generate an output image which typically suffers from color and brightness defects caused by economically unavoidable tolerance variations in the electro-optical system. A second beam of light is generated having a light of a selected color different from the projection beam, is spatially varied in intensity by a spatially graded filter, and super-imposed on the output image so as to eliminate the color and brightness defects as well as enhance color contrast and brightness of the image.

Abstract: An NMOS non-volatile latch having N-channel drivers Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 and variable threshold N-channel FATMOS transistors Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4 as depletion loads. The control gate of each FATMOS transistor is coupled to its own node (X.sub.1 or X.sub.2) so as to operate in depletion, whereas to obtain the correct voltage stresses the tunnels of the FATMOS floating gates are cross-coupled to the opposite latch nodes.

Abstract: Improved multicomponent fluorozirconate glasses, doped with chlorine, and a process for making them are disclosed that are continuously transmissive in the infrared spectrum.

Abstract: The specification describes a mask structure comprising a resist pattern having a controlled line profile, for use in defining a predetermined region on and above a substrate. First, a composite electron-beam sensitive resist comprising a bottom layer of resist, a middle layer of a chosen conductive material, and a top layer of resist is formed on a selected substrate. The substrate with the composite resist is exposed to a beam of electrons to simultaneously define a predetermined pattern in the top and bottom layers of the resist. Next, a first chosen solvent is applied for a first predetermined period of time to develop the pattern in the top layer of resist, with the layer of conductive material protecting the bottom layer of resist from exposure to the first chosen solvent. Then, the portion of the conductive layer which is exposed after development of the top resist layer, is removed.