Abstract: BN toughened bodies having isotropic properties are produced by reacting ub.2 O.sub.3, H.sub.3 BO.sub.3 or a mixture thereof with a metal nitride or a mixture of metal nitrides. The process described may be carried out using metal tooling.

Abstract: A synergistic quasi-free electron laser for generating infrared radiation. The laser includes a means for producing a volume of ionized gas plasma, a means for directing an electron beam through the gas plasma in a first direction, and a means for directing a laser pump beam into the gas plasma in a second direction opposite to the first direction to produce synergistic bunching of the electron beam and the ionized gas plasma. A portion of the laser pump beam is backscattered by the bunched electron beam and gas plasma to form an output beam having a frequency up-shifted from that of the laser pump beam. The frequency of the output beam may be tuned by changing the velocity of the electron beam.

Abstract: A polarimetric Fabry-Perot sensor comprising a source of coherent polarized light, an optical cavity, preferably an optical fiber, capable of supporting two independent modes of that light and coated with partially reflecting material on both ends, a sensing element for detecting the external field that differentially affects the two modes, and means for measuring interference between the two modes.

Abstract: A process for patterning a target for lasing at X-ray wavelengths from materials which cannot be readily shaped. A substrate of one material is placed in a gaseous atmosphere of another material, and the substrate is cooled below the freezing point of the other material so that a frozen layer of the other material condenses onto the substrate. Part of the frozen layer of the other material is masked, and the unmasked part of the frozen layer is vaporized so that the substrate of the one material is coated with the other material according to the pattern of the mask. The target made by the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A single substitution of pentafluorosulfur on diacetylene by a reaction of iacetylene with pentafluorosulfur bromine, followed by a dehydrobromination with potassium hydroxide. The substituted diacetylene polymerizes in the liquid and gas phases. The polymer is useful as a coating and surface treatment.

Abstract: A high power amplifier for amplifying millimeter-wave radiation comprising: a length of metallic waveguide tapered from a small cross-sectional end to a larger cross-sectional end; a magnetron-type electron injection gun for injecting a spiral beam of relativistic electrons at the small end of the waveguide for propagation axially therein so that the wall radius of the tapered waveguide increases in the downstream direction of the electron beam; an input coupler for launching electromagnetic waves to be amplified into the waveguide at the large waveguide end thereof such that the individual frequencies in the input waves are reflected at various points along the constriction of the waveguide taper so that they copropagate with and are amplified by the electron beam; and a magnetic circuit for generating an axial magnetic field within the tapered waveguide with a unique profile approximately in accordance with the following equation to maintain synchronism: ##EQU1## where the z subscript is the waveguide axial

Abstract: A method of preparing alloy of a transition metal and lanthanide comprising the steps of alloying a transition metal, boron, at least one lower-weight lanthanide having none or few stable compounds with iron, optionally one or more higher-weight lanthanides, a glass former, and optionally the pseudo lanthanide, yttrium; forming an amorphous or nearly amorphous metastable microstructure in the alloy; and heating the amorphous alloy to form a polycrystalline, multiphase, fine-grain single-domain structure.

Abstract: A signal processor for generating the ambiguity integral using a modulatable, broadband, incoherent light source, a multiplicity of acousto-optic cells and diffraction gratings, and a two-dimensional time-integrating photodetector array. The various colors of the source spectrum are shifted by differing radio frequencies. These modified spectral components are also modulated by an input signal and serve as input sources for performing a multiplicity of correlations using an acousto-optic cell with an unknown Doppler-shifted signal. The answer is displayed on a two-dimensional time-integrating photodetector array where the spectral components are dispersed within the columns. The row corresponding to the color that has been properly frequency-compensated will contain the correlation or ambiguity peak, thereby identifying the Doppler component. Position within the row determines range.

Abstract: An optical Fourier transformer comprising an acousto-optical cell such as a Bragg cell upon which is impressed a chirp signal, a laser which is modulated by the signal to be analyzed, optical means for dividing the laser beam into two beams which strike one side of the acousto-optical cell with opposite orientations. The chirped acousto-optical cell diffracts the beams incident thereupon. The two diffracted beams are then recombined with their original orientations reestablished so that they interfere upon striking a time-integrating photo-detector array. The distribution of integrated intensities is related to the Fourier transform of the signal to be analyzed. Polarization discrimination can be used to split and recombine beams and to reduce extraneous beams. Background noise and direct current terms can be eliminated by comparing runs with 180.degree. of phase shift added between runs.

Abstract: An optical Fourier transformer comprising a laser which is modulated by the signal to be analyzed, a beam splitter for dividing the beam into two beams which are directed by optical means to opposite sides of a Bragg cell with the corresponding rays in the two beams striking opposite ends of the Bragg cell. A chirp signal impressed upon the Bragg cell causes each of the beams incident thereon to produce a diffracted beam. The diffracted beams are recombined by optical means with the corresponding rays becoming coincident and the recombined beams are directed to a time-integrating photo-detector array. The distribution of intensities on the array is related to the Fourier transform.

Abstract: A microbending fiber optic acoustic sensor. A point hydrophone according to a first preferred embodiment of the present Invention includes two opposed pistons which are subjected to an acoustic pressure wave. In response to the pressure wave, the opposed pistons push a pair of deformer plates against an optical fiber to deform the fiber thereby intensity modulating an optical signal passing through the fiber. An extended hydrophone according to a second preferred embodiment of the present Invention includes an optical fiber wound in a helical groove formed in a cylindrical surface. A plurality of parallel axial slots are located in a spaced-apart relationship to each other at positions about the cylindrical surface and are oriented in parallel with the axis of the cylindrical surface. Each axial slot intersects with the helical groove at a plurality of locations and has a depth greater than the depth of the groove.

Abstract: A metal oxide composition containing a water soluble polymer, erythorbic acid, a surfactant, a buffer, ascorbic acid (optional), and citric acid (optional). The novel composition may be used according to at least two novel methods. The composition may be sprinkled as a powder onto a wetted, oxidized surface, and then rinsed off, or it may be dissolved in water and the metal surface exposed to the resulting solution.

Abstract: A conductive polymer composite system is made by dissolving an electron dting polymer and a simple or complex N-methylphenazinium TCNQ salt in a mutual solvent and casting a film of the resulting solution on a suitable substrate.

Abstract: Xenon is isolated from a gaseous mixture containing xenon and krypton. Fline is added to the mixture and the resulting mixture then irradiated with light of about 250-370 nm to form crystals of xenon difluoride. The unreacted gases are removed and the remaining crystals are decomposed, typically by thermal means, to yield xenon and fluorine gas. The xenon gas may be easily isolated by conventional means from the fluorine gas. Krypton may also be easily isolated from the remaining gases by conventional means. The process is particularly applicable to the treatment of offgases from a nuclear reactor or reprocessing plant.

Abstract: A novel antistatic packaging material and method employing a F.sup.+ -impted electractive polymer are described. The implanted polymer contacts the surface of the substrate and conducts away any static charge that may exist upon the substrate.

Abstract: A method of welding two HY-steel members to produce a weld joint having improved impact toughness. The surface to be welded are first machined, roto-blasted and cleaned with acetone. Then, an insert of Inconel 600 is provided and cleaned with acetone. Next, the Inconel 600 insert is introduced between the surfaces to be welded and the HY-steel members are butted against the insert. Then, a laser welding beam is applied to the Inconel 600 insert to weld together the assembly of steel members and insert.

Abstract: A pulse expansion and compression system, especially useful for radar rang, comprising a pulse coder for expanding an input pulse and a pulse compressor of the matched-filter type. The coder consists of a plurality of delay stages into which the input pulse is fed, a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) circuit to which the output signals of the delay stages are fed by way of respective phase weights and for which every other frequency port is inverted prior to entry to a time-dispersion-means (TDM) comprising an arrangement of adders interconnected by delay stages for differently delaying the output signals from the DFT. The TDM output is fed to a phase modulator and then to the transmitter.The echo signals are conjugated, time-inverted, and passed through the same DFT as the input pulse signal by way of the phase weights. The outputs of the DFT are then inverted at every other frequency port and passed through the TDM, but this time in time-inverted order.

Abstract: A pulse expansion and compression system, especially useful for radar rang, comprising a pulse coder for expanding an input pulse and a pulse compressor of the matched-filter type. The coder consists of a plurality of delay stages into which the input pulse is fed, a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) circuit to which the output signals of the delay stages are fed by way of respective phase weights and for which every frequency port is phase-shifted prior to entry to a time-dispersion-means (TDM) comprising an arrangement of delay stages for differently delaying the output signals from the DFT. The TDM output is fed to a phase modulator and then to the transmitter.The echo signals are conjugated, time-inverted, and passed through the same DFT as the input pulse signal by way of the phase weights. The outputs of the DFT are then phase-shifted at every frequency port and passed through the TDM, but this time in time-inverted order.

Abstract: A system for polyphase encoding transmitted pulses of energy and for decog the received signals to enhance returns from the range interval being examined during a particular processing period and attenuate returns from contiguous range intervals (pulse compression). The system includes a decoding device which comprises a delay circuit having N distributed outputs including its input for producing a uniform delay between adjacent outputs corresponding to N inputted elements of a received phase-coded signal of length N.sup.2 ; a conjugator circuit coupled to the first N/2 successive outputs of the delay circuit; a first signal-combining circuit coupled to the conjugator circuit and to the last N/2 successive outputs of the delay circuit; a multiplier circuit coupled to the first signal-combining circuit; and a second signal-combining circuit coupled to the multiplier circuit. The decoding device provides a decoding phase shift -.DELTA..phi..sub.k,p to the signal elements of the phase-coded signal wherein.DELTA.

Abstract: A w-shaped diffused stripe GaAs/AlGaAs laser and a method for making the e. A double heterostructure layered structure includes a p-type GaAs active layer in contact with a p-type AlGaAs current blocking layer. These layers are sandwiched between two N-type AlGaAs confinement layers. A p-type zinc diffused stripe region having a w-shaped diffusion front extends longitudinally between two reflective surfaces located on respective ends of the device and extends vertically from the surface of the upper confinement layer through a portion of the lower confinement layer and through portions of the various intervening layers. In a method of forming the device, the various layers are formed by epitaxial growth or by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The stripe region is formed by diffusing zinc into the device from a source through a pair of parallel slots in a diffusion mask. The zinc diffused into the device is further driven-in by heating the device in the absence of the zinc source.