Abstract: A geophysical survey system including a remotely piloted vehicle, a geophysical sensing payload mounted thereon and ground based control and data receiving means.

Abstract: A system for performing IR spectroscopy, including a light source for transmitting a beam of light through a sample on to a detector, including a pair of first conical non-imaging concentrators tapered towards each other and disposed between the light source and the sample, so as to render the beam of light substantially uniform with respect to the sample regardless of their mutual spatial disposition.

Abstract: Improved method and means for the detection of nitrogenous material or assaying of nitrogenous material in an object on the basis of nuclear resonant attenuation of 9.17 MeV .gamma.-rays. A target in form of one or several .sup.13 C pellets at least 25.mu. thick, or alternatively in form of a body that bears a composite thin film including at least one .sup.13 C layer not more than 1.mu. thick and at least one other substance that is capable of generating supplementary .gamma.-radiation for determining the non-resonant component of attenuation, is bombarded with 1.75 MeV protons to produce a source of 9.17 MeV .gamma.-rays. The target is placed on one side of the inspected object and a .gamma.-ray detector or an array of such detectors is placed on the other side and the total and non-resonant attenuation are read and evaluated.

Abstract: In an ion mobility spectrometer comprising a spectrometer tube with an ion hutter, an ionization source within a reaction chamber, and a drift chamber, the improvement comprises providing in or around the said drift tube a plurality of conducting segments, across which an electric field is applied, the said conducting segments being separated from one another by insulating spacers, wherein the ratio between the width of the insulating spacers to the width of the conducting segments is between 2:1 and 1:1, preferably about 1.5:1.

Abstract: A hybrid gun for launching a projectile by a combined propulsion effect of a chemical propellant and electrothermal energy. The gun comprises a breech-associated electrothermal propulsion energy injector having a plasma beam generator and a tubular chamber holding a light working fluid that during the travel of the projectile in the barrel produces at the rear of the projectile a light gaseous buffer zone. Optionally the gun may have in addition one or more electrothermal propulsion energy injectors mounted on the barrel.There is also provided ammunition for use with a hybrid gun having a chemical propellant holding cartridge designed for ignition by working fluid injected by the breech associated electrothermal propulsion energy injector.

Abstract: A method and system for aiming a small caliber weapon at a target wherein a light beam is directed from the weapon towards an area of the target so as to form a light spot on an object in the target area and the light spot is imaged on a two-dimensional detector so as to form an image thereon whose displacement from an origin of the detector bears a predetermined relationship to a corresponding displacement of the object from a center of the target. The image of the light spot is projected on to a visor worn by a marksman having a reference mark thereon for visually determining the center of the target, and the cycle is repeated as required until the projected image of the light spot on the visor is coincident with the reference mark.

Abstract: An electrochemical filter which consists of a fibrous electrically conducting material to which there are bonded microscopic particles of carbon or active charcoal. A variety of fibers can be used: carbon fibers, graphite fibers, fibers of inert metal etc. A process for the production of such filters where the particles are bonded to the fibers by a pyrolyzable binder which is pyrolyzed. Electrochemical separation and filter devices based on such filter media.

Abstract: Protective composite material suitable for the making of protective garments and other protective articles to afford protection against weather hazards as well as against noxious and toxic chemicals and biological substances. The protective material comprises at least one continuous, non-porous and non-foamed synthetic material and optionally at least one additive capable of binding chemical and biological substances. The protective material according to the invention excels by good thermal conductivity in combination with a good water transportation capacity and accordingly protective garments made therefrom have good heat stress relief capability.

Abstract: An analyte specific chemical sensor for determining an analyte in a test medium. The sensor comprises a sensing surface which is coated with reversible competitive recognition units (RCRUs) each of which contains as constituent components at least one receptor and at least one ligand, one of which components is an analyte analogue. In these RCRUs the receptor and the ligand are a priori connected to each other, directly or indirectly, in such configuration that even when, for example, an analyte analogue ligand is displaced from the receptor by an analyte ligand, the analogue will still be retained in relatively close proximity to the receptor. In addition, the relative positions of the receptor and the ligand in the RCRU are such that when no analytes are present or when the analyte concentration is at a low level, they are affinity conjugated by a specific affinity interaction.

Abstract: Organohalides are dehalogenated by bringing an organohalide or a mixture of two or more organohalides into contact with an alkali hydroxide in an alcoholic solution and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a heterogeneous transfer hydrogenolysis catalyst. The process can be carried out at relatively low temperatures (50.degree.-150.degree. C.) and at low pressures.

Abstract: A method for determining a lower-bound quantity per unit volume of a physical property associated with a body, the property being susceptible to measurement in a plurality of directions. In general, the method comprises the steps of scanning a volume of interest in a predetermined number of directions so as to derive for each direction an area having a plurality of projections thereon each representing a cumulative value of said property within the volume of interest along a respective one of the directions, and determining an estimated volume of the body as the intersection of all volume elements bounded by the derived areas. For each area the sum of all the projections are compared and correction is applied as required so as to remove any disparity between the sums so as to produce a uniform sum in each of the directions. The lower-bound quantity per unit volume of the property of the body is then calculated as the quotient of the uniform sum divided by the estimated volume.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring energetic, heavy ionizing particles, such as .alpha.-particles and protons in gaseous surroundings by scanning a transparent plate that had been exposed to radiation and then subjected to chemical etching with a focused laser light beam, and counting by means of computerized counting means laser light pulses emerging at the edge of the plate in consequence of total internal reflection of laser light scattered by radiation-induced etching pits.

Abstract: A solid state holmium laser is described which comprises an elliptical or double-elliptical cavity in which pumping lamp(s) are located along one focal line of the ellipse(s) of a one piece cavity and a holmium laser rod is located along the other fold line of the ellipse(s). The laser rods are held by a rod holder and coupled to a source of coolant and a cooling mantle is provided on a cylindrical body forming the cavity.

Abstract: Method of ATR spectroscopy and substrate probe for use therein. The probe mprises a single optical fiber sensor, or a bundle of such sensors, with the sensing zone of each sensor comprising two unclad frustoconical portions merging at their frustrums.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the fast inspection of objects for the detection of elementary or compounded metals of the kind that are capable of producing with impinging X-radiation within the range of 60-160 KeV a detectable photoelectric interaction. A 110-160 KeV X-ray source is used in association with collimating and filtering apparatus, capable of generating a collimated X-ray beam consisting of repeating cycles comprising each one energy bin having a flux centred around the K-edge energy of the target metal and, if desired, comprising additionl energy bins. There is also provided a linear array of solid state, spectroscopy grade detectors.

Abstract: A laser application system comprises an amplifier and two rotating polarization devices so that a laser beam is given with linear polarization which is converted into a circular polarization. Then the beam passing through amplifier means, is reflected into a second pass and reflected back to the amplifier. The system further includes a stimulated Brillouin scattering non-linear isolator for transmitting substantially all of the light beam when its energy is below a predetermined threshold and reflecting substantially all of the light beam without substantially reducing the quality of the beam, when its energy exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A gun for accelerating projectiles in which the travelling chemical charges are ignited by electrothermal energy sources. By one mode there are provided electrothermal energy injectors along the gun barrel which are fired synchronously with the displacement of the projectile within the barrel, each such injector igniting a distinct chemical propellant charge attached to the projectile. Essentially that mode of the gun operates by the travelling charge principle in which the boosting of the thrust on the projectile is brought about by successively ignited propellant charges attached to the projectile itself while the electrothermal energy injectors on the barrel serve for ignition only.By an alternative mode a plasma injector unit is mounted at the rear of the gun coaxially with the barrel and the injected plasma acts via fluid to initiate the chemical propellant and enhances the chemical propellant burning rate to improve the gun performance.

Abstract: An IR sensing system wherein the focal area is located outside the casing at holds a detector array and a bundle of optical fibres leads from the focal area to the detector array in the array such that the inner, emitting end of each fibre of the bundle is in proximate relationship with only one single detector.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device of the kind that comprises an array of thermoelectric rods of two different materials alternatingly arranged between two carrier plates with each carier plate being a plurality of discrete conductive metal junctions to which the thermoelectric rods are pairwise connected. The two carrier plates are made of synthetic polymeric materials and each of the junctions comprises a monolithic metal member directly linked to a carrier plate.

Abstract: A method for the detection of a nitrogenous explosive material in an object is provided which makes use of nuclear resonance absorption. The object to be tested is placed between a 9.17 MeV .gamma.-rays source and an .gamma.-rays detector holding a nitrogen medium. The total and the non-resonant attenuation of the .gamma.-rays flux is read by the detector and fed into a recorder. From the measured attenuation the net non-resonant attenuation is calculated and the amount of a nitrogenous explosive present in the object is determined therefrom.Also provided by the invention is a system for detecting a nitrogenous explosive in an object.