Abstract: A negative ion source is disclosed wherein an electron beam produced in one chamber is used to sustain a discharge in another chamber whose conditions are independently adjusted for optimum production of vibrationally excited hydrogen molecules. By including a provision for an independently controlled source of low energy electrons in a region near the extraction aperture, the optimum conditions for creation of H.sup.- ions by dissociative attachment are produced. In this manner the current and brightness of a H.sup.- beam may be maximized.

Abstract: A process for fabrication of a filler for a ballast container used with frescent lighting employs a mixture of a high-density polyethylene in powdered form (derived from recycled milk containers) and dry sand. After loading the specified mixture into a ballast container to fill the unfilled volume remaining after the ballast container has electrical components installed, a closure means is placed on the loaded and filled ballast container, subsequently heated for a predetermined time period to achieve melting of the specified high-density polyethylene and dry sand mixture. After cooling the melted, high-density polyethylene, the high-density polyethylene and dry sand mixture fuses into a solid mass. A preferred mixture is comprised of a 50/50 weight percent ratio of the specified high-density polyethylene and dry sand.

Abstract: Para-polyphenylene sulfide, a non-composite, ultrahigh-temperature-resist, thermoplastic resin, is employed for the manufacture of interceptor motor cases. The thermoplastic resin, para-polyphenylene sulfide, has a combination of properties which are of particular interest in the fabrication of interceptor rocket motor cases. Para-polyphenylene sulfide in ribbonized forth is wound directly onto the required mandrel and then fused into a solid mass. The fused, solid mass has the properties which enables it to serve as both insulator and motor case material. The manufacture of a combination insulated motor case is achieved by the following method: The equipment, first, involves the fabrication of a breakout mandrel by one of several methods. The para-polyphenylene sulfide is ribbonized by extrusion and wound down on the breakout mandrel to the required thickness and fused into a solid mass by heating to its melt temperature of about 285.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention is a beam rider system and method that utilizes polarization-agile millimeter beams. Information is spatially encoded in the beams by varying the rate of rotation of the linearly polarized vector of the beams. In one embodiment, information is encoded on a beam that is nutated around a centerline flight path of a missile. In another embodiment, information is encoded on four parallel beams that form a centerline which is the intended flight path of the missile. Receiver means in the flying missile receive and decode information from the beams and use this decoded information to guide the missile to a target.

Abstract: Solid fuel gas generator compositions for use in ducted rockets, in which fullerenes or substituted fullerenes are used. Fullerene compounds in which easily oxidizable groups, oxidizing groups, or salts of oxidizing acids are attached to the spherical carbon skeleton of the fullerene.

Abstract: The mirror elements mirror device spatial light modulator are selectively deflected. Such deflection causes incident infrared radiation to be reflected in selected directions. The number of deflected mirror elements as well as the degree of deflection determines the amount of reflected radiation which travels through an aperture and is collimated by suitable imaging optics, thus creating an infrared image that appears to be at infinity.

Abstract: A laser pulse fiber optic neutron detector which is capable of discriminating against background neutrons and gamma rays while measuring both the energy of an incoming neutron and its direction has a sensor having a plurality of vertically-stacked organic fiber light pipes and a reflector at one end of the light pipes. Ionized tracks in the light pipes caused by neutron radiation are detected by directing pulsed laser radiation into one end of the light pipes and detecting the laser radiation backscattered and reflected from the light pipes.

Abstract: A turns count anomaly detector for detecting any irregularities in the pat count of a fiber optic able from fiber optic dispensers. The detector receives an input from an infrared source and receiver that monitors a fiber optic cable during fiber optic cable payout at speeds up to 700 feet per second. A turns count pulse electronics circuitry supplies an input to a turns count anomaly detector. The turns count anomaly detector is comprised of transistor transistor logic one-shot configured as a negative recovery monostable multivibrator. Input to the one-shot is received from a pulse conditioning circuit comprised of a logic signal inverter and a digital flip-flop. The input to the pulse conditioning circuit is the output from the turns count pulse electronics.

Abstract: A method to extract and recover nitramine oxidizers from solid propellant ing liquid ammonia employs four basic steps which are: (1) propellant removal by cutting or eroding into small pieces, followed by, (2) solution of the oxidizers by liquefied gas solvent ammonia, (3) separation of the insoluble binder, metal fuel, and additive components by filtration and recovery of the solid oxidizer by evaporation of the liquefied gas solvent ammonia, and (4) recompression to liquefy the gas solvent for reuse. The process is a closed system with no release of solvent to the environment. Cycle 1 reduces propellant size to 1/4 inch or less to achieve efficient extraction in cycle 2 where insoluble ingredients (binder, metal fuel, additives) are separated from soluble ingredients. Insolubles are recovered and the solubles are recovered in cycle 3 by evaporation of the liquefied gas solvent ammonia. Cycle 4 is a solvent liquefaction and recycling of the liquid ammonia to the closed system.

Abstract: A high resolution video acquisition system is disclosed that provides a rrding capability at extended time with full resolution. Two real time digital scan converters, a synchronizing computer and image frame buffers cooperate to provide two high resolution Red, Green, and Blue 60 hertz video channel outputs for recording systems in digital format and for real time video display. The respective channels are sampled at approximately one frame per second per channel for approximately 2 hours, thereby providing a full resolution extended time recording capability.

Abstract: The coacervation of ferrocene and ferrocene derivative is carried out in a ater-soluble polyol, coacervation mixture at a reaction temperature from about 40.degree. C. to about 55.degree. C. The coacervation mixture is comprised of about 70 to about 80 parts of a 1:1 ratio of water and a water soluble polyol selected from glycol, a glycerol, and an erythritol, a urea derivative selected from melamine and triazine, and an aldehyde or ketone selected from the water soluble aldehydes or ketones consisting of methanal, ethanal, propanal, propanone, and 2-butanone. Micro-droplets of the ferrocene derivative, 2,2-bis(ethylferrocenyl)propane, are formed by vigorous agitation of the coacervation mixture containing the ferrocene derivative. A polymeric coating on the outer surface of the micro-droplets produces a coacervate which is separated from the coacervation mixture.

Abstract: Para-polyphenylene sulfide, a non-composite, ultrahigh-temperature-resist, thermoplastic resin, is employed for the manufacture of interceptor motor cases. The thermoplastic resin, para-polyphenylene sulfide, has a combination of properties which are of particular interest in the fabrication of interceptor rocket motor cases. Para-polyphenylene sulfide in ribbonized form is wound directly onto the required mandrel and then fused into a solid mass. The fused, solid mass has the properties which enables it to serve as both insulator and motor case material. The manufacture of a combination insulated motor case is achieved by the following method: The equipment, first, involves the fabrication of a breakout mandrel by one of several methods. The para-polyphenylene sulfide is ribbonized by extrusion and wound down on the breakout mandrel to the required thickness and fused into a solid mass by heating to its melt temperature of about 285.degree. C.

Abstract: Described here is an all-optical switch having two states, one that absorbs ncident coherent optical radiation and another that amplifies incident coherent optical radiation. The state of switch is changed in response to the passage of an ultra-short coherent optical pulse when the peak field strength of the pulse is in a wide region about the effective dipole moment per unit volume, a characteristic material parameter proportional to the density and the dipole transition moment of the selected active two-level systems which are uniformly distributed with sufficient density so that there is more than one two-level system per cubic transition wavelength causing dipole-dipole interactions to be non-negligible.

Abstract: A method of fabricating composite optical channel waveguides in electro-ocal polymers. An electrically conductive substrate is coated with an ultraviolet epoxy resin which is cured by subjecting the composite to an ultraviolet light. Another layer of ultraviolet epoxy resin is applied and developed into a predetermined waveguide configuration by selective curing. The uncured epoxy is removed with a solvent which does not effect the cured ultraviolet epoxy resin. A non-linear polymer is coated over the composite and a gold electrode is deposited on its upper surface for poling purposes. After poling, the gold electrode is removed and an upper cladding is applied along with the device electrode. The invention also provides a novel waveguide as produced by the method. Where a simple waveguide is desired, the steps of applying the gold film, poling, heating, and acid etching the gold film may be omitted.

Abstract: An Infrared Fiber Optic Distribution Sensor (IFODS) and control system is ed in a non-contact method for ensuring that a fiber optic cable is unwound from a supply spool at a nominal angle to thereby reduce the twist and stress imparted to the cable. The system is mounted to a fiber optic winding machine platform for an automatic fiber winding system (AFWS). The AFWS is used to precision wind fiber optic dispensers for the Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) weapon system as well as the Naval Weapons Center's SKYRAY program. The IFODS uses pairs of infrared sources and receivers mounted directly across from each other and perpendicular to the plane of the fiber to sense the position of the fiber. Three pairs of sources/receivers are utilized. They are arranged so that the axis of each pair is offset from the center pair by 0.06 inches. If the fiber optic cable breaks the beam of the top pair the distribution motor will drive the supply spool down until he fiber breaks the beam of the middle pair.

Abstract: Micromachined depressions are created at a surface of lithium crystal/wavide composite and suitable optical components are inserted into these depressions and precisely aligned with waveguides so that light can be coupled into and out of the waveguides without fiber pigtails. The optical components can be independent or be a part of a mating unit which may incorporate appropriate electronics to support the optical components. Instant invention produces an application-ready integrated optics chip without the necessity for labor-intensive pigtailing or for separate provision of supporting electronics after the user acquires commercially available lithium crystal/waveguide composite.

Abstract: A fiber optic adhesive composition for applying to a fiber optic having a ffer coat thereon and subsequently, partially cured to a tacky outer surface prior to its being wound onto a bobbin from which the adhesively coated fiber optic material is to payout during use to transmit a signal to a missile in flight. The partially cured adhesive composition functions to hold the fiber optic material in place on the bobbin during storage and allows consistent payout during use of the fiber optic material. The typical composition of the fiber optic adhesive comprises hydroxyterminated polybutadiene from about 88.14 to about 92.48 percent by weight, isophorone diisocyanate from about 6.23 to about 6.42 percent by weight, a catalyst of ferric acetylacetonate or dibutyltin dilaurate in an amount from about 0.89 to about 1.15 percent by weight respectively, and a thixotropic agent in an amount of about 4.48 by weight.

Abstract: A general aspherical surface optical testing device comprised of a collimator lens system having lens designed to a predetermined radius of curvature that perfectly collimates a focused laser beam through an aberration compensating lens. The aberration compensating lens is designed to a predetermined radius of curvature to compensate for the aberration of an ellipse mirror, a parabola, or hyperbola mirror. A computer generated holographic general aspheric compensating plate is positioned between the collimator and the aberration compensating lens to make additional correction as needed in addition to the aberration compensations lens. For an aspheric mirror having a large numerical aperture, the hologram is order type.

Abstract: An optical correlator system for encoding a complex optical image onto a erent beam of light such as a laser and comparing it with a reference complex image. One embodiment of the invention encodes phase only information of the complex image onto the coherent beam of light by means of a liquid crystal television receiver. The light beam is passed through the liquid crystal television receiver, whose pixels are manipulated to provide phase information concerning the image. A second embodiment of the invention encodes both phase and amplitude components of a complex image onto the coherent beam of light such as a laser beam. Either or both encodings are utilized in the optical correlator system.

Abstract: Liquid ammonia is maintained at the required operating conditions to efficiently and rapidly achieve propellant demilitarization including recovery of ammonia perchlorate (AP) for reuse, by an environmentally safe method to comminute and remove propellant from existing rocket motor hardware. The method is also applicable to both solid and ground composite propellant which includes scrap or waste propellant. A disclosed demilitarization unit employed in the ammonium perchlorate recovery method is comprised of a supply and high pressure spray system for liquid ammonia, an extraction system, oxidizer recovery system, and an ammonia recovery, drying,* and recycling system. The method is workable at ambient temperature since ammonia is liquified under its own vapor pressure at 114 psig; however, increased temperature further enhances the extraction efficiency of the system.