Abstract: A gas discharge laser includes a cylindrical symmetric discharge tube, having a prescribed gas therein at a low pressure, centered within a microwave-resonant cavity immersed in an axial magnetic field. Appropriate mirrors, optically aligned with a longitudinal axis of the discharge tube, are positioned at each end of the plasma column, one of which is partially transmissive. A pair of Brewster windows, or a pair of flat windows with antireflective coatings, one at each end of the discharge tube, are interposed between the mirror and discharge tube. Electromagnetic energy in the microwave range, e.g., greater than 1 GHz, is injected into the cavity and made to resonate in an appropriate mode. A large portion of the resonating energy is coupled into the discharge tube, causing a plasma to be created and maintained. The axial magnetic field confines the plasma to the center regions of the discharge tube, away from the walls, so as to form a plasma column.

Abstract: A shuntable low loss variable current vapor cooled lead (VCVCL) configuration delivers current to and from a superconductive load, such as a superconductive magnet, immersed in a cryogenic liquid in a way that minimizes the boil-off rate of the cryogenic liquid. The VCVCL configuration includes superconductive lead assemblies containing superconductive segments. The assemblies are connected in parallel between the superconductive load and an output current source or sink. Each assembly is controlled so that its superconducting segment is either superconducting or non-superconducting.

Abstract: Liquid deicing and anti-icing compositions are provided by aqueous solutions of (a) alkali metal acetates, e.g., KAc or NaAc, (b) phosphate ion, e.g., K.sub.3 PO.sub.4, and (c) soluble silicate, e.g., K.sub.2 SiO.sub.3 or Na.sub.2 SiO.sub.3. These compositions are environmentally safe and meet FAA standards for metal corrosion resistance. They are effective at very low temperatures, e.g. -40.degree. F., and provide particularly effective deicing compositions when used in combination with granular CMA.

Abstract: A neutral or plasma sound wave is launched into a plasma used within a plasma processing chamber in order to selectively control the location and concentration of plasma constituents, including (1) contaminants; (2) reactants, including ions or molecules; and/or (3) reaction products. The plasma sound wave comprises a periodic waveform controlled to include at least a second harmonic component. Oseen or Oseen-like forces associated with a neutral or plasma sound wave impart a drift velocity to contaminant particles, e.g., micron-sized dust particles, that moves such particles in a desired direction, e.g., away from a wafer or other work surface being processed by the plasma. An analogous Oseen or Oseen-like force associated with a plasma sound wave imparts a drift velocity to the reactants or reaction products in the plasma so as to move such atomic-sized reactants or products in a desired direction, e.g.

Abstract: A method of making a fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite of complex shape by first rigidifying a fibrous arrangement made of woven or braided material by impregnating with a preceramic resin, and then curing and pyrolyzing the resin to form a rigid or stiff preform. The rigid preform is then densified by chemical vapor infiltration, e.g., using a forced-flow/thermal-gradient process. Using three-dimensional woven fabrics made of ceramic fibers, such as silicon carbide or silicon nitride, strong high-temperature resistant composites are produced having porosities from about 20 percent to less than about 5 percent.

Abstract: Inexpensive process is provided for the application of substantially uniform metal oxide coatings onto continuous multi-filament refractory fiber tows. The resulting coated refractory fiber tows are useful, for example, for the preparation of refractory fiber composites having excellent physical and mechanical properties. Composites can be prepared employing a ceramic, metal or glass matrix.

Abstract: A distributed microwave window couples microwave power in the HE.sub.11 mode between a first large diameter waveguide and a second large diameter waveguide, while providing a physical barrier between the two waveguides, without the need for any transitions to other shapes or diameters. The window comprises a stack of alternating dielectric and hollow metallic strips, brazed together to form a vacuum barrier. The vacuum barrier is either transverse to or tilted with respect to the waveguide axis. The strips are oriented to be perpendicular to the transverse electric field of the incident microwave power. A suitable coolant flows through the metallic strips. The metallic strips are tapered on both sides of the vacuum barrier, which taper serves to funnel the incident microwave power through the dielectric strips.

Abstract: Beads for use in beds in electrostatic separators for the separation of suspended particles from hydrocarbon oils. Electrostatic separators employing a bed of these beads have the capacity to remove as much as 99 weight percent of contaminating particles, such as catalyst fines, from various oil fractions to levels of less than 100 parts per million and even less than 5 ppm. A method and apparatus for purifying various FCC oils using these beads is also provided.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously sequencing both strands of a target DNA is provided. The method involves "shifting" one or both strands of the target DNA by addition or deletion of one or more nucleotides to one or both strands of the duplex to produce shifted DNA. Both strands of the shifted DNA duplex and the target DNA are sequenced and the sequences of the shifted and unshifted target DNA are compared. Since portions of the sequenced strands of the target and shifted DNA are identical, all or a portion of sequence of the target DNA can be determined.

Abstract: A shaft seal comprising a plurality of members which collectively engage the shaft exterior in substantially uninterrupted 360.degree. sealing contact in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft while providing relatively high capacity for wear using nonflexible materials such as graphite. The provision of 360.degree. contact in a single plane enables engagement between the shaft seal and the shaft to be limited to a single ring structure, rather than requiring a pair of rings in side-by-side abutting relation. The seal members comprise a plurality of followers and an equal plurality of drivers, with each of the members being movable inwardly as it wears. Each of the followers is driven inwardly by drivers on each side as it wears. Each follower has a wear surface configured for sealing engagement with the shaft, and a pair of bearing surfaces for engagement with drivers on either side.

Abstract: Generation of a high power rf pulse is achieved in a simple transmitting device that uses permanent magnet material(s) to store energy. Such energy is released through the thermal quenching of the magnetic material(s). Thermal quenching is accomplished, e.g., through an explosion. Such thermal quenching is facilitated in one embodiment by using a magnetic composite material comprising both magnetic particles and explosive particles. The rf pulse thus generated may be used for any desired purpose, e.g., tracking or research. The transmitting device includes a permanent magnet for establishing a constant magnetic flux for so long as the magnet retains its normal magnetic properties. The magnetic flux passes through a coil. Upon the thermal quenching of the magnetic material(s), the magnetic properties rapidly change, causing the magnetic flux to also rapidly change, thus inducing a high power electrical pulse in the coil.

Abstract: A comb-line antenna structure (80) includes a multiplicity of parallel current straps (86) through which an appropriate rf electrical current passes in order to launch a desired magnetosonic wave (42) into an adjacent plasma mass (39). The current straps are mounted within a conductive, shallow, open box (88, 90) that faces the plasma mass. The current straps are inductively coupled, thereby requiring only a single rf input port (82) at one end of the comb-line structure. The rf input port provides a substantially constant impedance to an rf power source. A single rf output port (84) at the other end of the comb-line structure allows for the recirculation of the rf power. A multiplicity of U-shaped wickets (92) loop over and enclose each current strap. Such wickets function as a Faraday shield to shield the plasma and adjacent current straps from electrostatic fields.

Abstract: A superconducting structure is provided comprising a substrate, a superconductor coating supported by the substrate and a diffusion barrier positioned between the superconductor coating and the substrate to inhibit diffusion of contaminants from the substrate to the superconductor coating. The coating is a ceramic oxide having superconducting properties. The diffusion barrier may likewise be a ceramic oxide, but differs in its specific composition to provide it with a peritectic decomposition temperature greater than the superconductor coating. Accordingly, the diffusion barrier exhibits substantially lower atomic mobility than the superconductor coating during manufacture of the superconducting structure, thereby preventing contamination of the coating by the substrate.

Abstract: A compact multilayer ceramic-to-metal seal structure, and method for manufacture, includes a ceramic core with opposed metallic surface layers. Between the ceramic core and each of the metallic surface layers is a transition zone which is made from graded layers of metallic and ceramic powders. These layers have progressively greater concentrations of metallic constituents than ceramic constituents the nearer the layer is to the metallic surface layer. Conversely, within the transition zone, the nearer a layer is to the ceramic core, the greater is its concentration of ceramic constituents. This seal is manufactured by simultaneously sintering a multilayer structure of compressed ceramic and metallic powders.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled micropipette adaptor includes a metal base sandwiched between two plastic layers. The metal base has an orifice to hold a micropipette. The plastic layers hold lenses in alignment for spectrophotometric measurements of a sample contained in a micropipette inserted into the orifice. A resistive heater wire or thermoelectric heater/cooler is held between the metal base and the plastic layer to transfer heat from the heater wire or thermoelectric device to the metal base and thus to the micropipette sample. A thermocouple is attached to the metal layer to monitor temperature changes. A feedback control system is coupled to the device for monitoring and programmably controlling changes in temperature of the heated sample over time.

Abstract: Refractory filaments in the form of a multifilament tow or fabrics woven therefrom are coated with protective oxide coatings to provide reinforcing materials that are useful in creating refractory composites. The refractory filaments are contacted with a liquid medium which contains a metal oxide or metal oxide precursor so that a substantially continuous coating of metal oxide or metal oxide precursor forms on the surface of each of the filaments. The filaments are then treated to substantially remove residual components of the liquid medium other than the metal oxide or metal oxide precursor. The coated filaments are stabilized, the above steps optionally are repeated to increase the coating thickness, and the coated filaments are heated to convert the metal oxide or metal oxide precursor into substantially continuous, uniform metal oxide coatings on the filaments.

Abstract: High density plasma is produced in a long cylindrical cavity by the excitation of a high frequency whistler wave within the cavity. The cylindrical cavity, and hence the plasma, is imbedded in a high magnetic field, with magnetic lines of force passing axially (longitudinally) through the cavity. The magnetic field has an electron cyclotron frequency associated therewith that is much greater than the wave frequency associated with the whistler wave. In one embodiment, electromagnetic energy is coupled axially into the cylindrical cavity using a resonant cavity, which coupled energy excites the whistler wave. In another embodiment, electromagnetic energy is coupled radially into the cylindrical cavity using a slow wave structure. The plasma is created without using electrodes; and the excitation of the whistler wave is achieved at a high Q value.

Abstract: Improved deicing compositions are provided which comprise calcium magnesium and potassium acetate containing up to about 50% potassium acetate which have improved melting properties as compared to calcium magnesium acetate deicing compositions.

Abstract: An integrated LIDAR receiver includes a single detection element to provide both imaging and ranging functions. The single detection element includes an opaque photocathode, a microchannel plate (MCP) electron multiplier, and a phosphor coated anode covered with a metalized layer. The metalized layer on the phosphor anode allows electrons striking the anode to be detected as a prompt electrical current. The prompt electrical current is detected through a transformer that couples the anode to a power supply. The power supply biases the anode relative to the MCP and photocathode such that the MCP is grounded. The use of a transformer allows the prompt anode current to be detected without having to ground the anode, thereby simplifying the power supply circuitry. The detection of the prompt electrical current provides a first output signal useful for ranging information.

Abstract: A process for joining ceramic superconductor fibers with a channel to fabricate a superconductor wire includes concertedly drawing the fibers and the channel together to feed the fibers into the channel. A flowable solder paste is continuously dispensed into the channel over the fibers. The combination of channel, fibers and solder paste is then subjected to a rapid rise in temperature which melts the solder. The molten solder is then frozen to encase the fibers in the solder and attach the solder to the channel to create a superconductor wire.