Abstract: A high-gradient linear accelerator comprises a solid-state stack in a vacuum of five sets of disc-shaped Blumlein modules each having a center hole through which particles are sequentially accelerated. Each Blumlein module is a sandwich of two outer conductive plates that bracket an inner conductive plate positioned between two dielectric plates with different thicknesses and dielectric constants. A third dielectric core in the shape of a hollow cylinder forms a casing down the series of center holes, and it has a dielectric constant different that the two dielectric plates that sandwich the inner conductive plate. In operation, all the inner conductive plates are charged to the same DC potential relative to the outer conductive plates. Next, all the inner conductive plates are simultaneously shorted to the outer conductive plates at the outer diameters. The signal short will propagate to the inner diameters at two different rates in each Blumlein module.

Abstract: A slant angle laser scanner for detecting underwater hazards, particularly those having a long axis along a radial from the ship such as torpedoes, using a laser, an electro-optical scanner and a rotatably mounted mirror to scan the ocean surface with optical beams at a low angle of incidence to form a circular pattern of radial scans surrounding the ship. The time of return of reflections can be measured to determine the depth of the hazard and the element illuminated within the liner array of photosensitive detectors indicates the location of the hazard along the radial scan. A boresight detector is used to detect the reflections and determine location and depth of the hazard.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for quickly closing off the return path for an amplified laser pulse at the output of an amplifier so as to prevent damage to amplifiers and other optical components appearing earlier in the chain by the return of an amplified pulse. The apparatus consists of a fast retropulse or post pulse shutter to suppress target reflection and/or beam return. This is accomplished by either quickly placing a solid across the light transmitting aperture of a component in the chain, such as a spatial filter pinhole, or generating and directing a plasma with sufficiently high density across the aperture, so as to, in effect, close the aperture to the returning amplified energy pulse.