Abstract: This invention involves a process for achieving more energetic fuels by ug high density fullerenes and fullerene derivatives, mixed with liquid hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative fuels. The advantages of the these materials are that they constitute a form of high density carbon which will evaporate or sublime quite easily by comparison to particles of carbon. The fullerenes, or derivatives of fullerenes, exist as molecules which are relatively volatile. These materials are generally solids and therefore easily compounded into hydrocarbon fuels slurries. The derivatives can be tailored for high solubility in hydrocarbon solvents. In addition, the fullerenes can be modified easily to adjust the oxidization susceptibility so that the residence time in the combustion zone can be shortened even further.

Abstract: A gas generator propellant formulation suitable for use in an air turbo ret (ATR) which employs an air breathing system that uses fuel gases produced by a gas generator propellant to operate the engine's turbine is provided which can also be used with other airbreathing propulsion systems that require a high gravimetric heating value (GHV). The basic fuel gas generator propellant formulation comprises in weight percent a tetraalkylammonium borohydride 50-100; lithium nitrate 0-50; and optional additives of hydroxy proply cellulose 0-20 and silica or silicon 0-20. The basic fuel gas propellant formulation can also employ an encapsulated tetraalkylammonium borohydride which employs an encapsulation polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethyl cellulose. When employing an encapsulated tetraalkylammonium borohydride a binder is employed selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene and polyether cured with 0.

Abstract: The fiber optic-based correlating and sensing system (the System) utilizes length of optical fiber through which the object beam travels prior to being incident on the holographic plate. First, a matched filter is created on the holographic plate of the initial condition of the environment. Then when the plate is re-placed in its original position in the System and the reference beam is blocked from reaching the plate, a correlation peak appears as the object beam passes through the holographic plate. To use the System as a correlator, the object beam is transmitted through an input scene prior to its travel through the optical fiber. The changes in the input scene from the initial scene causes broadening of the shape of and degradation of intensity of the correlation peak. To use the System as a sensor, the object beam travels through the optical fiber acquiring information regarding the environment surrounding the fiber, such as pressure, temperature, sound, electric and magnetic fields.

Abstract: An LCD projection system, located within a standard color CRT, is used to oject toward the screen decay stimulation patterns that vary dynamically from one frame to the next for each pixel based on the video signals received from external sources. This controls the output light intensity of the phosphors that are excited by a single electron gun. This system eliminates the three-electron-gun configuration of the standard CRT as well as the requirement of a shadow mask. What results is a CRT that is more rugged, easier to manufacture and that produces brighter and sharper images on its screen.

Abstract: This invention involves a process for improving the energy and ignitability of a metal slurry gel rocket fuel by the use of an energetic metal compound of higher energy than the parent metal. An energetic metal compound is added slowly to a liquid rocket fuel with appropriate stirring to form a suspension of the metallic compound in the liquid fuel. To this is added a small quantity of a gelling agent, such as silicon dioxide, with stirring, to form an energetic metal fuel gel. The energetic metal compound is prepared by using a high purity metal in the form of a wire. As an example, a sample of aluminum wire weighing 2.26 grams is supplied with an external source of high voltage and amperes, while the wire is in an environment of an inert gas (e.g., argon) under about 40 atmospheres pressure, to achieve electrical explosion of the wire. The product produced is a fine, gray, non-conductive powder in high yield. This powder contains aluminum and argon.

Abstract: A negative ion source with an automatic control system wherein a low power igh frequency discharge is used to sustain a high power low voltage dc discharge in a chamber that magnetically confines the plasma produced. The low power high frequency discharge and the high power low voltage direct current discharge are two discharges along with the gas flow rate which are independently adjusted, automatically, so that the conditions for optimum production of vibationally excited hydrogen molecules consistent with the production of maximum H.sup.- output current is obtained and maintained. This chamber is separated by a magnetic filter field from a second chamber which maintains the low temperature plasma in the second chamber necessary for the optimum production of H.sup.- ions by the process of dissociative attachment, utilizing the vibrationally excited molecules produced by the first chamber.

Abstract: The conversion of carbon-carbon of a composite material at the surface to licon carbide-hybridized carbon-carbon in accordance with the method of invention is accomplished by reacting the carbon fibers and matrix with silicon monooxide at elevated temperature from about 1500.degree.-1700.degree. C. The conversion of bulk graphite or carbon-carbon composite materials is achieved in 30-60 minutes at 1700.degree. C. With conversion the density is increased from the density of carbon of 1.45 grams/cc to that of silicon carbide of 3.21 grams/cc. The method of reaction in the vapor phase of silicon monooxide with the carbon-carbon bond releases a C atom in exchange for the Si atom with a release of CO from the composite material. Photomicrographic studies indicates a depth of conversion from about 50 to 100 mils.

Abstract: The addition of silicon (Si) powder from about 0.40 to 6.00 weight percent o ammonium nitrate (AN) propellant formulations as a fuel source results in a substantial increase in performance specific impulse (Isp). Theoretical Isp of AN propellant can be enhanced to levels approaching conventional in-service propellant formulations containing much more hazardous ingredients. Using inert or energetic polymer binders, AN propellant formulations are possible that will meet the performance requirements of most tactical missile systems when silicon is used as a fuel additive. Silicon powder when used to replace elemental carbon in most formulations has two major advantages: (1) an increase in theoretical Isp and (2) an improved propellant combustion efficiency by increasing propellant burning temperature. An improvement in propellant burning properties are also expected. The adjustment of weight percent ammonium nitrate in the AN propellant formulation is made as the silicon powder is adjusted over the range of 0.

Abstract: A lightweight telescopic lens of monolithic construction is revealed that corporates additional refractive and reflective curved surfaces to produce all the optical functions performed by an ordinary telescope. A pair of such lenses may be mounted in an eyeglass frame to yield a telescope that can be worn like a pair of eyeglasses, thus affording superior image stability as well as free the user's hands. Minor modifications involving the use of several menisci of a different index of refraction from that of the core lens can be made to achieve achromatism of emergent light from achromatic input light. The entire core lens can also be shaped into a meniscus to take advantage of the principle of total internal reflection, thereby increasing the light-gathering aperture while at the same time rendering the lens even more compact and lightweight.

Abstract: Synthetic aperture radar imaging for nonlinear trajectories utilizing range relative doppler processing, invariant mapping of information from arbitrary shaped cells onto an X--Y coordinate system, and round trip signal delay which allows accurate synthesis of a reference signal for each range cell. A synthetic signal synthesizer produces the reference signal for synchronous demodulation in the radar.

Abstract: A lightweight telescopic lens of monolithic construction is revealed that corporates additional refractive and reflective curved surfaces to produce all the optical functions performed by an ordinary telescope. A pair of such lenses may be mounted in an eyeglass frame to yield a telescope that can be worn like a pair of eyeglasses, thus affording superior image stability as well as free the user's hands. Minor modifications involving the use of several menisci of a different index of refraction from that of the core lens can be made to achieve achromatism of emergent light from achromatic input light. The entire core lens can also be shaped into a meniscus to take advantage of the principle of total internal reflection, thereby increasing the light-gathering aperture while at the same time rendering the lens even more compact and lightweight.

Abstract: A high-power oscillator which uses a quasi-optical ring resonator to prov the feedback required for oscillation allows energy to travel in one direction only within the resonator and suffers little loss of energy during operation. The oscillator is built by inserting an array of amplifiers, tuned to a desired frequency, into the quasi-optical ring resonator formed by three reflective mirrors. The mirrors are spaced such that the total loop phase shift is equal to an integer multiple of 360 degrees at the desired frequency and, by proper selection of the amplifiers, the loop gain is set to be greater than or equal to one.

Abstract: This invention provides a means for detecting local atmospheric contaminants from safe distances. The invention means of a detector system comprise a pulsed laser, a sensitive photo-detector, various optical filters, and necessary digital control circuitry. The detector system employs laser technology in combination with a sensitive photo-detector to achieve detection of any hazardous gas elements or other pollutants remotely located from personnel who may subsequently be exposed. In operation, a pulsed laser or a tunable dye laser is employed as an excitation source for the contaminant or pollutant to achieve excitation of the contaminant or pollutant. When the excited molecule of the contaminant or pollutant returns to ground-state it emits a photon at a given (measurable) frequency. A sensitive photo-detector is filtered to permit detection of only the frequency at which a harmful gas (as an example of a contaminant or pollutant) fluoresces.

Abstract: Elemental silicon is a solid high energy material which provides an advane when added to gel, hybrid, and ducted rocket fuels by increasing both specific impulse, lsp, and density specific impulse, .rho.*lsp. The quantity added depends on the specific applications for which the formulation will be used. The usual concentration ranges from about 0.5% to about 70% by weight. The important parameters to consider during formulation are particle size, concentration, combustion efficiency, physical properties, and plume signature. Comparisons for 50% solid fuel loading in a gel bipropulsion system predicts a maximum lsp of 286 lbf.s/lbm as compared to 267 lbf.s/lbm for carbon--a 7% increase. The .rho.*lsp produced by silicon is 14.5 lbf.s/cubic inch as compared to 13.7 lbf.s/cubic inch produced by carbon--a 7% increase. A 25% solid loading in solid fuel-gas generators for the hybrid rocket produced a maximum lsp of 278 lbf.s/lbm as compared to 267 lbf.s/lbm produced by carbon--a 4% increase. The .rho.

Abstract: A receptacle for receiving expended brass casing ejected from a weapon having an ejection port as the weapon is discharged. The invention comprises a hollow receptacle which is appended to the weapon with a shell casing receiving port in communication with the ejection port of the weapon for receiving shell casings ejected therefrom. The invention includes readily releaseable attaching means to permit easy emptying of the receptacle.

Abstract: A pressure controlled pintle is employed in combination with a throttling quid, gel, or hybrid engine to provide a constant pressure and variable thrust from a single operating engine. As the propellants are throttled back and the chamber pressure drops, the pintle moves and closes the gap between the pintle and nozzle throat, thereby lowering the throat area and re-establishing the design chamber pressure related to pintle spring tension. By retaining the design pressure over a wide thrust range, the engine efficiency remains at the design value. This eliminates the drop of Isp due to pressure and keeps the cost of the system reasonable because only one engine is required. When a higher thrust is desired, a throttling valve in an injector increases the propellant flow rate, which causes a higher pressure in the combustion chamber. The constant pressure actuator moves the pintle to open the nozzle throat, which reduces the pressure to the design value. The design value may not be optimum.

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 conventional rate-stabilized IR seeker is fitted with an improvement that esults in a wider FOV as well as much-reduced image smear. The improvement comprises a circular optical wedge rotatably mounted in front of the optics assembly of the seeker sensor. The combination of the primary scan vector generated by the circulating sensor of the seeker and the secondary scan vector generated by the rotating wedge produces a scan pattern that has a wider total FOV than that of the sensor alone while at the same time providing occasional points of zero or near-zero spatial scan velocity. Such points allow collection of "snapshot" data with little or no image smear.

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: A high precision transfer lamination plate/mandrel is fabricated in a sanch construction design wherein an inner core is constructed of a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) comprised of an iron-nickel alloy core member (e.g., Kovar or Invar) with stainless steel cladding on each side of the core member. The stainless steel is selected from AISI type 302, 304, or 316. The stainless steel cladding outer surface of the top and bottom plate to which an electroplated copper foil circuitry is applied must be free of pits, scratches, and defects so as to yield a continuous circuitry satisfactory for military electronics. A matched (CTE) of the transfer lamination plate/mandrel with a composite material to which the electronic circuitry is transferred results in adherence of the copper circuitry minimally to the plate/mandrel to avoid blistering and enables the transfer to be achieved without distortion of circuitry features due to CTE mismatch.