Abstract: An active lag angle device in which a structure is provided for mounting an ptical fiber to be wound on a bobbin and providing a structure whereby the optical fiber is dispensed along a substantially straight line reference relatively to a reference structure to provide a structure that lends itself to application of adhesive to the fiber just prior to winding on a bobbin.

Abstract: A lateral-shearing electro-optic field sensor in which a lateral-shearing terferometer is used in conjunction with an electro-optic crystal and a coherent light source to measure the waveform of an electro-magnetic pulse or a microwave pulse in free space. Depending on the size of the electro-optic crystal used, the device is adapted to measure frequencies as high as 20 GHz.

Abstract: A high impulse, non-detonable solid propellant grain is prepared from a cd detonable proepllant composition having a small critical diameter of less than one inch and an uncured detonable propellant composition having a large critical diameter of several inches. The method of preparation comprises grinding or cutting the cured detonable propellant composition into granules less than its critical diameter in any direction. An uncured propellant composition, in a predetermined amount of les than its critical diameter, is prepared, and the granules of the cured propellant are added and blended with the uncured propellant composition (which serves as the propellant binder) to form a homogeneous propellant blend. The homogeneous propellant blend is cured to yield a high impulse, non-detonable solid propellant grain having a critical diameter less than the critical diameter of the uncured propellant composition.

Abstract: A method of safely detoxifying mustard gases comprises reacting the gases a first reaction with incandescent pyrophoric metallic powder compounded in specific formulation. A second reaction enhances the neutralization of the toxicity of the mustard gases by thermal pyrolysis or deflagration. To accomplish the basic reaction which results in formation of thiacyclopentane, aluminum powder which is a preferred incandescent, pyrophoric metallic powder, is compounded in a basic formulation of aluminum powder, a binder, a curing agent, oxidizing agent, and burn rate catalyst. Examples of detoxification formulation which accomplishes the first reaction as well as a second reaction which enhances the neutralization of the toxicity of the mustard gases or toxic chemical agents by thermal pyrolysis or deflagration are shown under Table II and Table III.

Abstract: An electronically steered phased array antenna system. The system includes phased array radar antenna having a microwave phased shifter for inserting a predetermined amount of path delay into each of the radiated elements of the antenna. It also includes a beam steering controller connected to the microwave phase shifter which is adapted to control the phase shifter according to predetermined parameters relating to the antenna to maximize its performance. An electronically erasable programmable read only memory device is disposed on the antenna itself for storing the predetermined parameters relating to the antenna. The memory device is connected to the controller and by inputting its data into the memory of the controller converts the controller from a generic device to a dedicated controller for the antenna in question. The memory device can be reprogrammed without removing it from the antenna for changes in the antenna configuration data.

Abstract: Aligning a stable ring resonator by the use of an inversion mechanism ins the resonator and a pair of anti-symmetric masks. Each mask has opaque and clear parts and the masks are anti-symmetric in that, in use, one mask is positioned so that its opaque and clear parts are anti-symmetric to the opaque and clear parts of the other mask when it is in position. One mask is placed between the radiation source and the beam splitter while the other mask is placed between the beam splitter and the focal plane on which the two beam portions created by the beam splitter focus. One beam portion is directly reflected from the beam splitter and the other portion is transmitted into the resonator and is inverted while following a beam path within the resonator before being outcoupled through the beam splitter in a much weakened state.

Abstract: A fast-acting cure catalyst for use in hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene-ed solid propellant formulation is tris(ethoxyphenyl)bismuthine. The incorporation of this catalyst as an additive in an amount of about 0.025 weight percent into a composite propellant formulation enables the formulation to be ambient mixed and ambient cured at 80.degree. F. or accelerated oven cured at 140.degree. F. Both oven and ambient cures are considerably more cost effective than the conventional oven cure if the prior art cure catalyst, triphenylbismuthine (TPB), is used. Other composite propellant ingredients comprise ammonium perchlorate of about 65 weight percent, aluminum powder of about 14 weight percent, the organic oxidizer, cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine, of about 10 weight percent, isophorone diisocyanate additive to provide an isocyanate/hydroxyl ratio of about 0.92, and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene polymer of about 11.5 weight percent.

Abstract: A rocket system wherein a frustoconical or cylindrical casing contains fi and second rocket stages in series, with each stage having a nozzle extending in an aft direction. Each stage contains a solid rocket fuel, with the forward end of the fuel in the first stage filling and surrounding the nozzle of the second stage so that when the casing is severed along a plane aft of the second stage portion of the case the pressurized combustion products in the first stage forces the stages to separate.

Abstract: A power generation system utilizes an electromagnetic tether having a three conductor, coaxial configuration which allows the circuit to be closed internal to two orbiting objects. An outer cylinder of the tether is a conductor which is used to cut or pass through the earth's magnetic field to produce a voltage output. A cylinder within the outer cylinder is made of a metal such as soft iron and is used to shield a central conductor from the earth's magnetic field. The two outer cylinders are insulated from the center conductor except at one of the tethered objects where they are electrically connected. This causes the end of the center conductor to be at the same electrical potential as the tethered object when there is an infinite load. Useful power is produced at the other object, which may be a space ship, when a switch is closed and the potential is between the outer cylinder and the center conductor.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for mechanically scanning images at a high scan ate over a wide field of view and under low light conditions. The device comprises a first rotating reflecting means such as mirrors for intersecting an input beam of light in a first path and for redirecting the beam of light into a second path. A second rotating reflecting means intersects the second path and reflects the beam of light into a third path, onto a detecting device for detecting the presence of predetermined images in the beam of light. In order to reflect the light beams over an elliptical path the mirrors are mounted on rotating shafts at a slight angle from the perpendicular to the axis of the rotating shaft. The mirrors are rotated at varying speed relationships to each other and varying phase relationships to each other in order to produce a variety of scan patterns.

Abstract: The compound m-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (m-TMXDI), is a domestically, commercially produced aliphatic diisocyanate process produced by a non-phosgenation process for the polyurethane industry with suggested applications in reaction injection molding, surface coatings, and in soft polyurethanes with specialty applications (e.g. as solar cell encapsulants). Applicant's discovery relates to the use of m-TMXDI in an amount from about 0.5 to about 2.0 weight percent for curing a composite rocket propellant composition comprising other ingredients in weight percentages of a high solids loading of aluminum metal fuel (0-20%) and ammonium perchlorate oxidizer (65-88%), hydroxy-terminated polymer binder (7-15%) with antioxidant (0.15 to 1.0% of polymer), plasticizer (0-4%), burn rate catalyst (0.05-6%), and quick cure catalyst system of about 0.02% maleic acid (MA) or maleic anhydride (MAN) and 0.02% triphenyl bismuthine (TPB).

Abstract: A method to extract and recover plasticizers and their stabilizers from solid propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics (PEP source compositions) employs near critical liquid (NCL) or supercritical fluid (SCF) CO.sub.2 as the solvent. The extraction and ingredient recovery method provides an environmentally acceptable alternative to traditional open burning and destruction of PEP source compositions. CO.sub.2 solvent is nontoxic, nonflammable, noncorrosive, inexpensive, and does not generate any additional toxic or hazardous wastes. The solvent is totally inert when it is confined, pressurized, and possibly heated in direct contact with an energetic propellant or munition within a rocket motor or similar pressure vessel. CO.sub.2 readily undergoes a gas-to-liquid phase change to NCL conditions when confined and compressed to a pressure of 831 psig or greater at ambient temperature. By further increasing the pressure and temperature of NCL CO.sub.2 to 1058 psig and 31.3.degree. C.

Abstract: Infrared laser-induced production of nitrated products is achieved by irradiating compounds selected from propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, and cyclopropane in the gas phase while in a stainless steel cell 5.times.5.times.10 cm equipped with zinc selenide windows to admit the infrared laser radiation in the range of 10.4 or 9.4 micrometers provided by a continuous wave CO.sub.2 laser. KC1 windows on the short path are to monitor infrared spectra of reactants and products. Nitrogen dioxide or nitric acid is present as the second reactant and the nitrating agent. The infrared laser-induced method far exceeds the yield of nitrated products found in the argon-ion laser-induced nitration of isobutane reported in the literature. Applicants' method at least equals the yield from thermally activated systems with a minimum formation of undesirable side products. A representative sample, 220 torr of gaseous butane, and 20 torr NO.sub.2 is irradiated in one experiment for 30 seconds with 75 W/cm.sup.

Abstract: An explosive planar shock wave generator produces a planar wave that trav down a shape charge cone to give amplified force on the jet. In all embodiments radial waves are converted to planar waves which react with an explosive shape charge. A planar wave shaper is comprised of a conically shaped planar charge having a predetermined diameter at the base and slant heights terminating at an apex. A cylindrically shaped fast detonating charge which is positioned above the cone shaped planar charge is detonated by a detonator positioned on the surface of the cylindrically shaped fast detonating charge. A sloweer cone shaped detonating shape charge intersecting along the base of the conically shaped planar charge receive the planar shock wave as transformed by the conically shaped planar charge.

Abstract: A device that provides reconfigurable optical interconnections of multiple ata channels that have applications in highly parallel computers. The device utilizes an array of optical switches which direct a set of optical beams toward any one of a selection of holograms and each hologram when selected deflects the input beams toward a detector.

Abstract: A method of detecting chemical agents present in a sample by utilizing a ctrometer to produce an output spectrum which is transmitted to an optical correlator which processes the output spectra of the spectrometer and identifies particular chemical species present in the sample by utilizing a detector and indicator arrangement.

Abstract: A Cassegrain telescope having a primary mirror having an aperture centered n the axis thereof and a secondary mirror spaced from the primary mirror and centered on the axis of the primary mirror for receiving reflected light from the primary mirror and reflecting it through the aperture in the primary mirror and a support member extending from the primary mirror support structure to the secondary mirror. The support member is in the form of a conical honeycomb having cells extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the primary mirror. The support member is made from a carbonized polymeric material.

Abstract: A rocket motor that has a main exhaust nozzle area and a secondary exhaust ozzle area with the secondary exhaust nozzle area being closed by burst discs that rupture and open secondary nozzle areas when predetermined temperatures and pressures are reached when propellant is burned inside the rocket motor.

Abstract: An open loop seeker aiming guiding system for directing a guided missile m its launching to its impact with a target. The system includes a fire control mechanism for initially controlling the flight of missile toward the target. Located on the missile itself is a seeker homing system for homing the missile onto the target signature. The system includes transition means for transferring control of the missile flight from the ground base fire control to the homing guidance control on the missile itself whenever the signal from the fire control is interrupted, the missile has been in flight a predetermined time, or the homing device on the missile itself locks in on the target to an extent predetermined, by comparing the image it receives from the target to an image stored in a storing device on the missile itself. Whenever either of these conditions occur control of the missile is transferred from fire control to the homing device on the missile.

Abstract: A shearing interferometer, sensor head that combines advantages of standard hase shifting processing with the simplicity of shear plates. In the interferometer sensor head either a conical or a linear x-y scan is used to bring about phase shifting in the resultant interferogram, permitting routine wavefront measurements of laser beams conveniently with a sensor head based on noncomplex optical and electronic components.