Abstract: A method and apparatus to decompose nonhydrolyzable ambients such as chlorofluorocarbons and nitrogen trifluoride which enables the conventional disposal of their byproducts are disclosed. It employs photo-decomposition of the nonhydrolyzable ambient using UV light and a mediating species to allow chemical reactions to occur which form an effluent which is hydrolyzed by conventional methods. This abatement process is amenable to point-of-use decomposition systems required for modular cluster tool systems used in microelectronic device fabrication.

Abstract: At least one vibration isolation module (VIM) and at least one acoustic sor module of an elongate array are uniquely accommodated by a continuously extending, hose-shaped strength member dimensioned to define a space for noncompressively containing the acoustic sensor module and allow responsive sensing. The strength member has a nonelastic first portion to contain the length of the acoustic sensor module and includes a plurality of longitudinally extending juxtaposed cords. The cords are held in an equidistantly spaced side-by-side relationship by an appropriate fill-weave that assures sufficient flexibility. A coextensive portion of the strength member is fabricated from the plurality of longitudinally continuously extending juxtaposed cords to extend in an exaggerated sine wave configuration throughout the length of the VIM. A plurality of elastic warp bogies are disposed in-between the cords and are held in a side-by-side relationship by substantially the same appropriate fill-weave.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously improving the spectral response and dark current characteristics of an image gathering detector is disclosed. The method uses an excimer laser to redistribute and activate ion implanted dopant species in the backside of an image gathering device such as a backside-illuminated CCD. Alternately, the excimer laser is used to incorporate dopants from a gaseous ambient into the backside of the image gathering device and simultaneously redistribute and activate the dopants. The redistribution of the dopant is controlled by the laser pulses and provides for a peak dopant concentration at the back surface of the image gathering device which provides for improved spectral response and simultaneously improves dark current characteristics.

Abstract: An automatic frequency control loop for maintaining a center carrier freqcy fed to a notch filter for blocking out system reverberation includes, along with the conventional elements found in an automatic frequency control loop, a control switching circuit responsive to excessive frequency deviations beyond a predetermined range as established in the AFC loop. Such excessive deviations are likely present during the time when little, if any, reverberation energy is received by a receiver carried on a moving platform, or, when signals originating from high energy level sources of countermeasure energy are being received. An interposed, selective device is included in the control switching circuit to permit operation in one of several modes as the situation demands. Including the control switching circuit in an active homing torpedo is the preferred application, although the teachings of the invention are applicable to all situations when own doppler nullification and reverberation damping is desired.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a run-by detector for a passive homing torpedo. he detector will signal the torpedo that it has passed by the acoustic source under attack, thus enabling the weapon programmer to initiate a reattack or new search maneuver. The detector will, on the basis of measured acoustic energy level, differentiate between the run-by of a real target and the run-by of a high-energy jammer or decoy.The detector is a logic circuit which makes use of two indications which occur when an acoustic source is passed by a relatively short range. First, the source which had been close to the axis of the torpedo motion (boresight) will move rapidly in angle to well off weapon boresight. Second, the measured acoustic level of the source drops at pass-by due to the highly directional character of the typical torpedo's transducer receiver. Appropriate thresholds are applied to these two indicator signals; and their near coincident occurance in time is the basis for a run-by detection.

Abstract: An inflatable high Q toroidal inductor is fabricated from an inflatable tidal-shaped shell made from a flexible material provided with a fitting adapted to receive and vent pressurized gas. A pair of flexible strips are disposed on opposite sides of the inflatable toroidal-shaped shell to hold litz windings in a predetermined toroidal configuration to thereby provide a suitable inductor of high Q and low loss. The inductor may be compactly carried to a remote instrumentation site, inflated and used and then deflated, folded and taken to the next site for reuse.

Abstract: A method uses an excimer laser to activate previously implanted dopant species in the backside of a backside-illuminated CCD or to incorporate dopant ions from a gaseous ambient into the backside of a backside-illuminated CCD and simultaneously activate. The controlled ion implantation of the backside and subsequent thin layer heating by the short wavelength pulsed excimer laser energy activates the dopant and provides for an improved dark current response and improved spectral response. The energy of the pulsed excimer laser is applied uniformly across a backside-illuminated CCD in a very thin layer of the semiconductor substrate (usually silicon) material that requires annealing to uniformly activate the dopant. The very thin layer of the material can be heated to exceedingly high temperatures on a nanosecond time scale while the bulk of the delicate CCD substrate remains at low temperature.

Abstract: A laser comprises an upconversion laser gain element made of a crystalline xide host doped with activator ions for emitting output radiation at an output wavelength. The gain element is pumped by pumping radiation at a pumping wavelength that is longer than the output wavelength. A laser resonator comprising a reflective element and an output coupler is arranged with the gain element to resonate the output radiation. The reflective element is spaced from the output coupler by a distance approaching the radius of curvature of the reflective element or the output coupler. The pumping radiation has a waist that is substantially coincident with the waist of the output radiation within the active region of the gain element.

Abstract: An elongate towed acoustic array is improved by the inclusion of a speciflly configured tensile load bearing strength member disposed within a hose-shaped sheath. The member has a plurality of longitudinally extending high strength cords formed of braids or strands of high tensile strength fibers. The cords are held in a longitudinal juxtaposed relationship by a transverse weave to define a hollow interior for non-compressively containing sensor elements. Thusly configured, the strength member possess a softness and flexibility that does not create damage inducing crimps while not overly interfering with the sensors' acoustic sensing capabilities. The hose-shaped sheath contains the tubular-shaped strength member in a non-compressive relationship to reduce the problems normally associated with flow noise. The cords are braided together in an eye-splice where they are wrapped about towing pins so that the cords' tensile strength is not compromised at the point of attachment.

Abstract: A pre-processing method and pre-processor decompose a first problem belong to a class of linear algebra problems comprising an input sparse symmetric matrix into a suite of sub-problems. The pre-processor generates a suite of signals representing the information content of a permutation of the rows and columns of the sparse symmetric matrix. These signals are used to define a block-bordered diagonal form leading to a sparse Schur-complement resolution wherein each sub-problem corresponds to a perfect parallelism in the first problem. The preprocessor allocates the sub-problems to sub-processors in a network of parallel architecture computers. The sub-processors solve the sub-problems concurrently and combine the results in a front-end computer, which outputs a solution to the first problem.

Abstract: An interference suppression system utilizes a non-adaptive filter to suppress interference from bandspread communication signals. The filter is effective in the cancellation of interference from a bandspread communication signal when the interference dominates the communication signal and Gaussian noise.This invention requires a processor without highly specialized hardware components. The components are cheaper and easier to produce because the required processor needs to perform fewer calculations by several orders of magnitude than previously existing processors providing roughly equivalent interference suppression.By forming phase-differences, the filter is used to estimate whether the signed magnitude of a component of a communication signal phase difference is either 90.degree. or 270.degree. out-of-phase with interference. By estimating this component, high quality reception of spread spectrum radio communication signals in an interference environment is possible.

Abstract: A laser produces laser emission at two or more wavelengths simultaneously. he laser includes at least two gain elements, and each gain element generates a different wavelength. A single optical pumping source is used for optically exciting all laser gain elements contained within the laser resonator cavity. A wavelength dispersing element such as a prism is disposed in the laser resonator cavity for dispersing the wavelengths operating simultaneously within the laser resonator cavity and to create separate regions for each laser gain element. Laser gain elements may be tunable laser gain elements or discretely emitting laser gain elements. Arbitrarily large wavelength separations between the wavelengths operating simultaneously may be achieved in this manner to produce stable cw or pulsed output, which may be Q-switched or line narrowed. Intracavity sum frequency generation can be produced efficiently by using a non-linear sum frequency generating crystal disposed at a laser resonator cavity waist.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing stimulated emission from a laser gain element containing an organic dye are described in which optical pumping is produced by visible laser diodes. Low threshold pump power and high optical conversion efficiency are achieved by producing a laser resonator mode waist at or near the laser gain element and spatially superimposing a pump mode waist at or near the laser resonator mode waist. Using low power visible AlGaInP laser diodes and the dyes rhodamine 700, oxazine 750, DOTCI or oxazine 1 in the laser gain element, incident pump threshold powers as low as 5.4 mW, optical conversion efficiencies of 49% and tunable emission between 700 nm and 800 nm were achieved. This laser was scaled to higher cw output power by using a DCM-based pump dye laser. In a preferred embodiment the laser resonator has two reflective elements in a nearly hemispherical configuration. Angular multiplexing of laser diodes to scale to higher laser diode pump power is described.

Abstract: A tunable laser produces laser emission at at least two wavelengths simuleously. The tunable laser includes at least two gain elements, where each gain element generates a different wavelength. Means for optically exciting each laser gain element is appropriately disposed for either end pumping or side pumping to produce a laser emission within a preselected range of wavelengths. A wavelength dispersing element such as a prism is disposed in the laser resonator cavity for dispersing the wavelengths operating simultaneously within the laser resonator cavity and to create separate regions for each laser gain element. Laser gain elements may be tunable laser gain elements or discrete emitting laser gain elements. Arbitrarily large wavelength separations between the wavelengths operating simultaneously may be achieved in this manner producing stable cw or pulsed output, Q-switched or line narrowed depending on the means disposed within the laser resonator cavity.

Abstract: A laser is end pumped by laser diodes and is repetitively Q-switched using an intracavity variable speed moving aperture. The aperture apparatus includes a precision motor which drives a pair of matched aperture blades and produces efficient Q-switched operation over a wide range of output powers and repetition rates. Each aperture blade may contain an identical number of transmissive and opaque regions, and two aperture blades may be mounted onto the motor in a manner that allows continuous adjustment of the aperture width. In a preferred embodiment the aperture blades are shaped as circular discs. The laser resonator mode is nearly hemispherical, and the aperture blade is located at or near the laser resonator mode waist. When pumped with the optimum pump flux, efficient repetitively Q-switched operation is obtained as long as the Q-switch opening time is shorter than the pulse build-up time.

Abstract: An inside fiber optic payout system uses winding and packaging techniques th an inner stabilizing tube to ensure reliable cable payout. Stiff, elastic cable is rapidly non-precision wound onto a collapsible core spool at a preferred winding pitch. Stand-off attachments are installed over the outer cable layer between opposed spool flanges to support the cable pack when the collapsible core is removed. Duct tape is wrapped around the stand-offs and the outer cable layers to assist in keeping the cable pack stable (without collapsing) even up to its last few layers. The stand-offs also prevent the tape from being drawn out as the final layers of cable are dispensed. A shroud is installed over the tape and stand-offs. Payout preparation includes removing the spool's collapsible core leaving a central aperture in at least one flange of the spool. A circular payout guide is placed over this aperture and a rubber diaphragm is attached to the guide to provide friction for payout back tension.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure having a layer of low minority carrier lifetime and a layer of high minority carrier lifetime comprises the steps of forming a silicon dioxide layer on a layer of low minority carrier lifetime silicon of a silicon-on-sapphire handle wafer and another layer of silicon dioxide on a layer of high minority carrier lifetime silicon of a bulk silicon device wafer. The silicon dioxide layers are placed in contact and annealed to form a bonded structure having an annealed layer of silicon dioxide. The layer of bulk silicon is then thinned. The thinned layer of bulk silicon and the annealed silicon dioxide layer are patterned by photolithography to form mesas of high minority carrier lifetime silicon and to expose regions of low minority carrier lifetime silicon on the bonded structure.

Abstract: An early warning system for detecting the UV from a missile plume has a wide field of view, large spectral bandwidth, solar blind detector. A coated detector passes only a spectral region that embraces UV signals of interest and a wavelength shifter includes a material that shifts the impinging UV energy into a spectrum that embraces the frequencies emitted by fluorescent photons. A photomultiplier tube responsive to the fluorescent emissions provides a responsive read-out indicative of an incoming missile.

Abstract: The invention is a passive control technique effective in eliminating reverse flow instability. The invention preferably includes two flow stabilizers each preferably having a planar face. The flow stabilizers are disposed at an exit end of an injector so that the planar faces oppose each other and diverge in a direction normal to the flow of the gas passing through the injector.

Abstract: An impervious cable connected electrical component assembly is provided wh includes an electrical component which has a conductive wire extending therefrom. An impervious container is provided which has an open top and a closed bottom. The electrical component is located within the container with its conductive wire extending out of and beyond the container's top. A cable is provided which has a conductive wire within an impervious sheath. A lengthwise portion of this wire is exposed. The conductive wire extending from the top of the container and the exposed conductive wire portion of the cable are electrically joined at a junction outside the container. An impervious sleeve is bonded to the cable sheath so as to hermetically seal the wire junction along the cable. The open top of the container and the sleeve are bonded to hermetically seal the electrical component.