Abstract: A system and method for airborne geophysical exploration over the ground are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, two towing bodies are towed behind an aircraft in flight in a vertically spaced-apart relation above a ground station. Respective magnetometer measurement instruments are located within each of the towing bodies and the ground station. Each magnetometer measurement instrument collects total field magnitude data to contribute to the magnetic vertical gradient data relative to magnetic crustal anomalies of geological origin and variations in an ambient magnetic field above the surface area of the survey. Each magnetometer measurement instrument also collects location, time, and inertial data substantially simultaneously with the total field magnitude data to provide position-correlated measurements thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for airborne geophysical exploration over the ground are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, two towing bodies are towed behind an aircraft in flight in a vertically spaced-apart relation above a ground station. Respective magnetometer measurement instruments are located within each of the towing bodies and the ground station. Each magnetometer measurement instrument collects total field magnitude data to contribute to the magnetic vertical gradient data relative to magnetic crustal anomalies of geological origin and variations in an ambient magnetic field above the surface area of the survey. Each magnetometer measurement instrument also collects location, time, and inertial data substantially simultaneously with the total field magnitude data to provide position-correlated measurements thereof.

Abstract: A light polarizing material has contrast greater than 10,000 for wavelengths in the visible and near-infrared spectral band (400 nm to 3,000 nm) includes prolate spheroid metal particles uniformly distributed and aligned on the surface of an optical material. The particles are evaporatively coated on a smooth glass surface. The wavelength of peak absorption is chosen by selecting the aspect ratio of the metal particles and the refractive index of the material surrounding the metal particles. The wavelength of peak absorption can be selected to fall at a desired wavelength in the range from 400 nm to 3,000 nm by control of the deposition process.

Abstract: A radiation source (12) for optical magnetometers (10) which use helium isotopes as the resonance element (30) includes an electronically pumped semiconductor laser (12) which produces a single narrow line of radiation which is frequency stabilized to the center frequency of the helium resonance line to be optically pumped. The frequency stabilization is accomplished using electronic feedback (34, 40, 42, 44) to control a current sources (20) thus eliminating the need for mechanical frequency tuning.

Abstract: A method of making a light polarizing material having excellent polarization characteristics over wavelengths from the visible to the infrared (IR) region is disclosed. A smooth surface of an optical material, such as for example glass, plastic or IR transmitting material, is mounted in a vacuum enclosure and a vaporized material or metal is directed onto the surface. The metal may be gold, silver, copper or aluminum, for example, or any other material or combination thereof which is reflective at the wavelength to be polarized. As the deposition occurs on the surface, metal atoms are initially attached to sites on the surface with metal whiskers forming on the initial sites in the direction of the incident vaporized metal. The metal whiskers are grown with their long axis essentially parallel to the vaporized metal direction and essentially parallel to each other.

Abstract: A method of making a light polarizing material having excellent polarization characteristics over wavelengths from the visible to the infrared (IR) region is disclosed. A smooth surface of an optical material, such as for example glass, plastic or IR transmitting material, is mounted in a vacuum enclosure and a vaporized material or metal is directed onto the surface. The metal may be gold, silver, copper or aluminum, for example, or any other material or combination thereof which is reflective at the wavelength to be polarized. As the deposition occurs on the surface, metal atoms are initially attached to sites on the surface with metal whiskers forming on the initial sites in the direction of the incident vaporized metal. The metal whiskers are grown with their long axis essentially parallel to the vaporized metal direction and essentially parallel to each other.