Abstract: Laser radiation is employed to initiate and promote chemical reactions by creating states of molecular vibrational mode excitation exceeding those appropriate to the translational temperature of the medium in one or more of the reactants. In favorable cases, vibrational excitation in a certain vibrational normal mode of a reactant will act to accelerate the rate of a desired chemical reaction. The reactants can be pressurized so that their vibration-rotation spectrum can be broadened to the point that laser radiation can be absorbed without the need for exact coincidence between a line or lines of the spectrum of the reactant and that of available lasers. Provision can be made for isolation and analysis of products, recycling of unused reactants, temperature control of reactants and real-time monitoring of the state of vibrational excitation of the reactants.

Abstract: A laser having a radial flow configuration which may be utilized to achieve lasing in both chemically and electrically excited gas lasers.

Abstract: A projectile housing. A body of pyrotechnic material in the housing. A delay casing containing fusing material fixed to the housing fabricated of a material that looses its structural integrity in response to the heat of a fuze flame front, whereby upon impact of the projectile the casing separates permitting the burning fuze material to come in contact with and ignite the pyrotechnic. There is further provided means to release the casing from the housing upon premature or short range impact prior to the ignition of the fusing material contained therein.

Abstract: The radio frequency source for a low power, lightweight radar is provided by operating a transistor in the avalanche mode. An open delay line is in the collector circuit and a shorted delay line in shunt with the output line is part of the emitter load. The resulting device can be employed as a low power, nanosecond, monocycle pulse generator with low range, or time domain, sidelobes.

Abstract: An image processing device for enhancing and digitizing images made up primarily of continuous parallel lines such as contour maps and fingerprints. An image is focused on a photodiode detector array and a digital logic signal is produced which is the binary representation of the portion of the image centered on the array.

Abstract: A method suitable for the rapid colorimetric testing of raw water supplies, domestic sewage or industrial wastes for determining the residual presence and concentration of either anionic or cationic surfactants. An appropriate dye will react with ionic surfactant and form a chloroform-soluble, colored complex in the presence of chloroform. The color intensity of the vigorously rocked and subsequently settled chloroform layer is proportional to the concentration of the "dye-ionic surfactant complex", and can then be measured by making spectrophotometric readings of the chloroform solution at the optimum wavelength of the instrument used.

Abstract: A process of and apparatus for colorimetry, whereby an indicator is added cyclically to a fluid stream to indicate the presence or absence of a condition in the stream. The presence of the condition may be indicated by the formation of a precipitate, a change of color, etc. A light source and photocell are located downstream of the point of addition of the indicator and by the difference in an optical characteristic such as the transmissivity or scattering of the fluid, at one or more wavelengths, due to the introduction of the indicator, a measure is obtained of the degree to which the tested-for condition is present in the fluid.

Abstract: An oil slick sampling apparatus and method wherein a substantially annular hoop-like frame adapted to float on water and surround the slick, has an inner annular surface coacted with a surface active material which functions by spreading to compress the area of the oil slick. According to one embodiment the frame is hollow and has one or more openings to collect the oil slick as it is compressed by the inwardly spreading area of the surface active coating; according to a second embodiment the frame is impervious and the slick is compressed by the surface active material inwardly toward a central area thereof whereat suitable collecting means is located to collect the oil slick for further analysis.

Abstract: Bundles of chaff fibers are fed into a rotating preacceleration chamber having a diverging outlet. The chaff fibers are rotated with the preacceleration chamber and are forced radially outward by centrifugal force. A feed mechanism forces the rotating chaff fibers toward the diverging outlet from which they are propelled outwardly at a high velocity and at an angle almost orthogonal to the rotational axis of the chaff dispenser.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an analysis procedure which permits the calibration of airborne thermal infrared systems to absolute ground temperature and the removal of variations due to slant angle without the need for ground measurements. Absolute ground temperature are extrapolated from data taken at a plurality of altitudes over a selected reference point.

Abstract: A method for analyzing sea water, raw water supplies, domestic sewage or industrial wastes for the presence of ionic surfactants, such as detergents, and the determination of whether surfactant is anionic or cationic. The method employs the back titration of a sample to which an excess of cationic surfactant has been added.

Abstract: The retrodirective array antenna of the present invention employs a circular, focusing parallel plate lens to interconnect array elements, thus producing a body with an inherently large radar cross section. By modulating the radiated signal from such an array, it is possible to meet the requirements for passive beacon and data transmission applications. Information transmittal is accomplished via the selection of the modulation function.

Abstract: A rotary compressor having a pair of rotatable impellers in mating engagement in working chambers, each impeller having a plurality of constant cross-sectional profiles, each profile having a plurality of lobes and wells, the trailing well region of each profile communicating with the leading well region of an adjacent profile, an inlet communicating with the working chambers and an outlet located out of the plane of at least one of the profiles on each impeller.

Abstract: A nonpredictable, nondeterministic actuator for switches or the like having two unsynchronized pulse generators delivering pulses to an AND gate which passes an actuating signal only when the pulses from the generators are coincidental. One generator produces a pulse train at a frequency much higher than the other generator which produces very short pulses and has a maximum timing uncertainty or jitter which is greater than the period of the first mentioned generator.