Abstract: Method and apparatus for isotope separation by selective ionization of a desired isotope in an environment of plural isotopes without corresponding ionization of the other isotopes in the environment. The selective ionization is achieved through a three step excitation of atoms of the desired isotope in response to laser radiations applied to the environment. The transition for each step is selected to be less than one half the ionization potential for the isotopes to avoid two step nonselective ionization.

Abstract: A face-plate of an image pick-up tube having a plurality of electrodes formed thereon and a plurality of conductors provided for external connection extending from said plurality of electrodes across the outer periphery of the face plate to the outer surface thereof. At least one of the plurality of conductors for said external connection comprises a thin film which is electrically insolated from the other conductors by a thin insulating film formed thereon. This thin insulating film also serves to seal, in an air tight manner, a vacuum envelope together with the conductor or conductors for external connection extending to the outer surface of the face-plate.

Abstract: A ferroelectric wave transducer device comprising an unpoled ferroelectric substrate having a substantially sinusoidal poled region at a surface thereof. A metal plate electrode is disposed on the opposing surface of the substrate. In operation an A.C. voltage applied across the two electrodes gives rise to a surface elastic wave in the substrate. Also disclosed is a method of producing a surface wave transducer of the type described. A pair of interdigitated metal electrodes are applied to a surface of an unpoled ferroelectric substrate. A poling potential is applied between the electrodes, preferably while the substrate is heated. The interdigitated electrodes are then removed and a metal plate electrode is applied over the region where the interdigitated electrodes had been. Finally, another metal electrode is applied to the opposite surface of the substrate. Further disclosed is a surface wave variable delay device which includes a metal plate slidably disposed over a sinusoidally poled region.

Abstract: A crawler is disclosed for traveling through a workpiece such as a pipeline and inspecting the same for defects. The crawler is a completely self-contained, self-propelled and self-operated vehicle adapted to travel through a pipeline, stop at particular locations such as a girth weld between adjoining sections of pipe, inspect the weld, for example by X-raying it and then proceed onto the next location to be inspected.

Abstract: Isotope separation is achieved between species A and B having an absorption resonance separated by an isotopic shift by selectively exciting a portion of species A using a tunable photon source of narrow emission line with and subsequently causing collisions with an optically excited third species to selectively ionize the excited portion of species A. When ionized, species A is easily separated by any technique, using its ionized condition to distinguish it from species B.

Abstract: The center of tissue within a patient to be subjected to radiation treatment is located in terms of coordinates with respect to a predetermined origin defined by three mutually orthogonal reference axes. Projections of at least one of the axes are superimposed upon two radiographs in different radiographic planes showing the tissue center and surrounding features in enlarged dimensions. In order to determine the reduced, true coordinates of the tissue center in cases where frontal and lateral radiographs are obtained, one method is disclosed in which analytic geometry is applied to reduce the values of the projected coordinates. Reduction factors for the two radiographs are also ascertained so that the actual length, width and breadth of the treatment volume may be calculated.

Abstract: An optical fiber ribbon structure is formed by enveloping a plurality of optical fibers with a predetermined spacing between two laminate elements spaced in parallel array. Once formed, either element can be peeled back from the other end from the fibers to expose fibers for subsequent splicing. The forming process embodies the fibers equally in each laminate, forming semicircular grooves in each. These become guide channels for splicing.

Abstract: A detector for detecting ions and/or electrons present in a resonance cell of an ICR spectrometer is disclosed. The detector which operates on the Q-meter principle is driven by an external rf oscillator capable of providing rf frequencies up to about 15MHz at an adjustable low rf signal level, e.g., below 20mV. The detector is connected across the resonance of the cell to detect ions by detecting their cyclotron frequency. Electrons are detectable by connecting the detector across the cell's trapping plates and thereby detect the electrons' trapping motion, the frequency of which is in the megahertz range.

Abstract: Ionizing gaseous substances (e.g., for mass spectral analysis) by passing the neutral gaseous substances sequentially through a chemical ionization (CI) zone and an electron impact ionization (EI) zone and impelling gaseous ions formed in one or both of the zones to a mass spectrometer. CI, EI, simultaneous EI--EI, and closely alternating CI and EI spectra are obtainable.

Abstract: A hot surface detector for heavy ions following their separation on the basis of charge-to-mass ratio. Upon striking the hot surface, the heavy ions decompose and give up their lighter constituent and/or impurity atoms and molecules to the surface. Those constituent and/or impurity atoms and molecules with ionization potentials or electron affinities comparable to the work function of the hot surface become surface ionized and are emitted from the surface as a burst of either positive or negative ions which are then detected by conventional means, including detection at an electrode, by an electron multiplier or by a mass spectrometric detector for light ions. Where negative ions are to be detected, a magnetic field is applied to prevent electrons from the hot surface from reaching the detector.

Abstract: An atomic beam tube provides a single sealed envelope structure that serves both as vacuum envelope and as structural member to which the operative components are attached. The envelope is composed of a heavy and relatively rigid frame and a relatively thin and flexible cover sealed to the frame. The operative elements are separately assembled in independent subassembly units which are secured to the frame at a minimum of locations to provide fixed alignment and thermal isolation of the operative elements, and easy disassembly of the tube.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating and accelerating ions in a vapor by use of relatively polarized laser radiation and a magnetic field. As applied to uranium isotope enrichment, a flowing uranium vapor has particles of the U.sub.235 isotope type selectively ionized by laser radiation and the ionized flow is subjected to a transverse gradient in a magnetic field. The magnetic field gradient induces an acceleration on the ionized particles of U.sub.235 which deflects them from their normal flow path toward a collecting structure. High magnetic field and corresponding high ion accelerations are achieved without loss in ionization selectivity by maintaining a polarization between the applied laser radiation and magnetic field which minimizes Zeeman splitting of the uranium energy states.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sputtering particles of plural isotope types to produce a particle flow of the plural isotope types into a region where laser radiation is generated to produce isotopically selective ionization of at least one isotope type in the sputtered particle flow. Separate collection of the ionized particles is accomplished through application of a magnetic field in the region of ionization and beyond.

Abstract: In a system for isotope separation wherein a plasma of ions of one isotope type is created, method and apparatus for magnetically extracting the ions from the plasma without impairing the ionization selectivity and efficiency. In a particle flow of plural isotope types, radiant energy is applied to selectively excite and ionize ions of at least one isotope type without corresponding ionization of particles of other isotope types. A magnetic field is applied to divert the ions of the one isotope type sufficiently to permit separate collection of those ions without the other particle constituents of the flow. The system of the present invention balances the requirements for a high magnetic field to provide sufficient diversion before charge exchange with the requirement for a limited magnetic field to prevent interference with the selective ionization process due to Zeeman broadening of the isotope absorption lines.

Abstract: A pulse-type ion source derived from a pulse laser produced plasma provides an ion beam which is analyzed in a time-dependent field which varies monotonically as an inverse function of time for the pulse period. Ions of common charge to mass ratio are collected at different points after executing a trajectory, which, because of the time dependent nature of the field, traverses the same path for ions of the same charge to mass ratio, irrespective of their initial velocity when entering the field; thus, facilitating the determination of the mass, charge and energy spectrums of the entire population of particles emitted in pulses or bursts, simultaneously and even from individual bursts.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for determining the concentration of nitric oxide n a gas mixture, particularly exhaust gases, wherein a beam from a hollow-cathode tube is directed through a modulator, an absorption cell containing a gas mixture with an unknown concentration of nitric oxide, and a monochromator, to a beam detector. A readout arrangement displaying the concentration of nitric oxide gas is operatively connected to the beam detector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the gas content of inorganic conductive and semiconductive elements and compounds having a low sublimation temperature, in which a melt of the substance in a crucible has a pressure approximately equal to the saturation vapor pressure maintained above the melt with a high vacuum maintained in the extraction chamber. In the disclosed embodiment, this is accomplished in a gas extraction system which can be evacuated and in which is contained a graphite crucible used as a sample vessel with means for heating the crucible by direct passage of current with the crucible having a conically fitted and drilled graphite cover into which a sintered filter is pressed for maintaining the pressure above the melt.

Abstract: An auxiliary collimator is added to the main collimator of a radiotherapy apparatus and comprises a master-container filled with mercury and a localising container containing a block of non absorbent material having a predetermined shape; means being provided for automatically positioning these containers with respect to the main collimator and for allowing the mercury to enter the localising container when once it has taken its working position.

Abstract: A method of producing ionized material for mass analysis, in which ions are produced in a gaseous medium at high temperature in a region at substantially atmospheric pressure; the material is introduced into the medium, to be ionized, and the medium containing ions of the material is fed at low pressure to a mass analyzer.

Abstract: Analysis of the composition of polyphase gas or liquid mixtures circulated continuously within pipe systems is carried out by withdrawing samples from primary circulation loops at regular intervals and passing them into a mass spectrometer connected to a computer for recording the results of analysis and controlling chemical processes which yield the different mixtures as effluents. Withdrawal and analysis of samples are performed in real time without any manual operation in order to permit adjustments of the unit in which the mixtures under analysis are circulated.