Abstract: An axial extractor to efficiently extract microwave power from any magnetron. The axial extractor is both more compact and offers improved overall performance compared to the prior art. The axial extractor allows for suppression of the parasitic magnetron 0 mode, lowers field stress inside the device, and lowers the frequency of operation. These improvements also make it possible for the magnetron itself to be made smaller without a loss of power output.

Abstract: A simplified implementation of molecular field programmable gate arrays described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,327 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,788, reducing the complexity in a tiled array template to that of a 1-input lookup table.

Abstract: 1064-nm and 1319-nm light respectively generated by two lasers is combined and injected into a doubly resonant sum-frequency generator. The optical path length of the sum-frequency generator is adjusted responsive to feedback of the 1319-nm light to maintain 1319-nm resonance. Feedback of 1064-nm light is concurrently used to adjust the 1064-nm laser responsive to the optical path length to maintain 1064-nm resonance. Light output from the sum-frequency generator is compared to the sodium D2a wavelength i.e., approximately 589 nm, and the 1319-nm laser is responsively adjusted to eliminate any differential. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, and is intended to allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Quantum well stacks are used in combination with linear gratings to determine the degree of polarization of incident light in terms of Stokes parameters. Interference from multiple reflections, diffractions and transmissions of the light propagating from and through the linear gratings modulates the absorption of the ±1-diffracted orders at each quantum well stack. Each quantum well stack is included in separate circuit having a voltage bias and a current meter. The voltage bias across each circuit is individually adjusted, and the photocurrent in each circuit, as measured by the respective current meter, is proportional to the flux of light absorbed by the respective quantum well stack. The four photocurrents are linearly mapped to the four Stokes parameters, which, in turn, represent the polarization of the incident light.

Abstract: A method for making a field emission cold cathode for use in vacuum tubes. A carbon velvet material is coated with a low work function cesiated salt and bonded to a cathode surface. Alternatively, the carbon velvet material is bonded to the cathode surface before being coated with the cesiated salt. The coating may be applied by spraying the carbon velvet material with a cesiated salt solution, or by dipping the material into a crucible of molten cesiated salt. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, and is intended to allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning the claims.

Abstract: A vacuum tube having its anode/collector coated with carbonized resin plus pyrocarbon material to reduce out-gassing and secondary electron emission and the method of coating the anode/collector.

Abstract: A method for solving a wide variety of linear partial differential equations by exploiting the normally undesirable parasitic resistances present in flexible digital switching components. The terminal relationships of these field programmable interconnect devices can be manipulated under program control to directly mimic the nodal relationships defined in finite difference method models of a partial difference equation problem. Adding analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog converters (“ADCs/DACs”) to automate the solution process can extend the method of analog equation solving. It is also possible to segment larger problems using this approach, feeding sections into the device and injecting/capturing voltages as appropriate to produce an overall solution that will eventually converge after a number of presentation/solution sub-cycles.

Abstract: A resonant switching-type capacitive charging power conditioner circuit includes a trap switch assembly to prevent the energy initially delivered to the circuit by an electrical energy source, from returning to the source. Once trapped, all of the energy is transferred to a capacitive store over a number of cycles. The period for each cycle is a function of the state of charge of the capacitive store, and the period decreases for each successive cycle as the charge on the capacitive store increases to its final value. Switches are turned on and off in response to the absence of certain currents in the circuit, to match the decreasing period of each successive energy transfer cycle throughout the entire energy transfer process. This adaptive clocking prevents energy from returning to the energy source, and eliminates dead time for each cycle.

Abstract: A lightweight self-contained vibro-acoustic device is disclosed for dissipating low frequency vibration and acoustic energy within the payload fairing of launch vehicles. The device can be mounted on the interior surfaces of a fairing and adaptively tuned to match targeted structural and acoustic dynamics using electronic feedback loops.

Abstract: This invention presents a novel means to passively achieve a compact moving-coil actuator with a very low natural frequency. The diaphragm and voice coil are mounted in a sealed enclosure from which the air is partially or completely evacuated. This reduces the air spring effect. The diaphragm is supported by a non-linear, buckling, or collapsible support apparatus. By taking advantage of the non-linear stiffness properties of such structures, the stiffness of the actuator can be designed to be small at the operating point, which when combined with the moving mass, yields a low natural frequency.

Abstract: A multiplexing device using N-stages of double-coated planar glass mirrors or coated mirror pairs to coherently combine the output of 2N narrow-bandwidth, diffraction-limited, polarized, and phase-locked optical beams to produce a single diffraction-limited beam with a power close to 2N times that of a single beam. A multiplexer system is also disclosed to control the relative phases of the 2N beams used in conjunction with the multiplexing device.

Abstract: A method for maximum power transmission through a turbulent medium using the minimum size telescope aperture. Two telescopes are both equipped with an adaptive optical system to correct the aberrations observed on the received beam, at the same time pre-compensating an outgoing laser beam for the effects of atmospheric turbulence. By iterating back and forth between the planes of the two telescopes, maximum power is transmitted between the two telescopes.

Abstract: A field emission cold cathode for use in vacuum tubes. A carbon velvet material is coated with a low work function cesiated salt and bonded to a cathode surface. The cathode will emit electrons when an electric field is applied. The carbon velvet material is comprised of high aspect ratio carbon fibers embedded perpendicular to a base material.

Abstract: An adaptive electrical manifold is comprised of switchbox assemblies containing a plurality of non-volatile MEMS relay switches, apparatus for controlling these switches, and apparatus for controlling a daisy-chained group of switchbox assemblies.

Abstract: A high power fiber laser/amplifier is comprised of a multi-mode rare-earth-doped helical core disposed within a cylindrical inner cladding. The inner cladding is enclosed within an outer cladding whereby the core effectively produces single-mode operation with a circularly polarized near-diffraction-limited beam quality output when pump radiation is injected into the inner cladding.

Abstract: A vacuum tube having its anode/collector coated with carbon nanotube-based material in which five percent or more of the carbon nanotubes are aligned parallel to the anode/collector's surface.

Abstract: A transparent flow channel fluidly communicates a fluid source and a collection reservoir. A light beam passes through a first polarizer having a first plane of polarization. The flow channel is orthogonal to the light beam. The light beam passes through a fluid sample as it flows through the flow channel. The light beam is then filtered through a second polarizer having a second plane of polarization rotated 90° from the first plane of polarization. The birefringence of certain crystalline materials present in the fluid sample rotates the plane of polarization of the light beam. The presence of these microcrystals thus causes a component of the beam to pass through the second polarizer and impinge an electronic photo-detector located in the path of the beam. The photo-detector signals the presence of the microcrystals by generating voltage pulses. A display device visually presents the quantitative results of the assay.

Abstract: A method for the undetected surveillance of structures or vehicles in low light or night time conditions by illuminating the interior with a near infrared light source and viewing the illuminated scene with a standard video camera/monitor.

Abstract: A new birefringence compensation scheme that requires only a single rod was implemented and modeled. This new scheme uses a single pump head, a Faraday rotator, and a curved mirror. An analytic expression to accurately determine the position of the curved mirror given its radius of curvature was presented. Dramatic performance enhancements due to the birefringence correction were obtained. A new configuration for a birefringence compensated amplifier mirror and an injection-locked ring resonator using this birefringence compensated amplifier mirror was also presented.

Abstract: A method of radiation hardening microcircuits including the steps of removing hydrogen from the microcircuit in a vacuum furnace and annealing in deuterium-containing forming gas.