Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for a general purpose photonic computer. A data signal is input through an encoder to encode such signal with an instruction. The encoded signal is transmitted by means of a laser beam to an input buffer where it interferes with a reference beam so as to form an interference pattern therein as a hologram, IPH. A read beam is directed through the IPH and through a decoder which reads the instruction as having, e.g. an OP Code, data source and destination. The decoded instruction is forwarded on the read beam to ALU spin media which respond to the instruction by flipping spins between two energy levels, in one or more sequences of data patterns which are read or measured by one or more sensors. Such sensors can be RF, microwave or optical sensors, which sensors output Radix=2 or digital data signals for, e.g. storage, display or further processing as desired.

Abstract: A porous light-weight getter which collects particulate and molecular contaminates that is believed a significant improvement over the prior art is provided in which a metal mesh matrix is coated with a low-density porous aerogel. In the prior art bare metal mesh matrices have been employed as getters, which are subject to ablation from high-velocity contaminant particles. In the composite getter of the present invention, the low-density aerogel coating protects the enclosed metal matrix from ablation and also can attract and hold the incoming high-velocity particle. On its part, the metal mesh provides reinforcing support to the aerogel covering and also good thermal conductivity therein so that such covering can be cooled to the low temperatures that attract such contaminants. The invention further provides method for manufacture of the composite getters of the invention.

Abstract: A ring laser gyro, RLG, is a highly accurate optical rotation sensor using counter propagating light beams to sense rotation as a rate integrating gyro. There is however, the problem of RLG blindness or loss of output data during high energy radiation, which frequently incapacitates the data-sending abilities of conventional photodetectors, mounted on RLG output prisms. This temporary RLG blindness during the high energy pulse is followed by a more permanent performance degradation, including photo darkening of the conventional RLG photodiodes which typically contain crystalline silicon or other crystalline components, which are degraded by high energy radiation, as noted above. The present invention is believed to solve this problem by providing photodetectors of amorphous material, e.g. a-Si:H PIN diode structures, which are vapor deposited onto the face of an RLG output prism.

Abstract: A porous light-weight getter which collects particulate and molecular contaminates that is believed a significant improvement over the prior art is provided in which a metal mesh matrix is coated with a low-density porous aerogel. In the prior art bare metal mesh matrices have been employed as getters, which are subject to ablation from high-velocity contaminant particles. In the composite getter of the present invention, the low-density aerogel coating protects the enclosed metal matrix from ablation and also can attract and hold the incoming high-velocity particle. On its part, the metal mesh provides reinforcing support to the aerogel covering and also good thermal conductivity therein so that such covering can be cooled to the low temperatures that attract such contaminants. The invention further provides method for manufacture of the composite getters of the invention.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an LD aerogel reflector, including large space-based mirrors is provided wherein, a) an LD silica aerogel substrate at densities between 10-500 mg/cc is prepared, b) the surface of such aerogel substrate is polished to an optical quality surface, c) a dielectric planarization layer of SiO.sub.2 is applied to the so-polished substrate surface and d) one or more reflective layers (of e.g. Al/Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 coatings) are deposited on the planarization layer to form a lightweight reflector which includes an LD aerogel substrate that was not available before the invention hereof. Such LD aerogel substrates of the invention are lighter than ULE glass substrates for mirrors by a factor of up to 6 or more. Accordingly, given the payload constraints of launch vehicles, much larger reflectors made according to the invention, can be deployed in space than previously possible with heavier prior art mirror substrates.

Abstract: A porous light-weight getter which collects particulate and molecular contaminates that is believed a significant improvement over the prior art is provided in which a metal mesh matrix is coated with a low-density porous aerogel. In the prior art bare metal mesh matrices have been employed as getters, which are subject to ablation from high-velocity contaminant particles. In the composite getter of the present invention, the low-density aerogel coating protects the enclosed metal matrix from ablation and also can attract and hold the incoming high-velocity particle. On its part, the metal mesh provides reinforcing support to the aerogel covering and also good thermal conductivity therein so that such covering can be cooled to the low temperatures that attract such contaminants. The invention further provides method for manufacture of the composite getters of the invention.

Abstract: A lightweight ring laser gyro (RLG) for vehicles including space vehicles is provided wherein the housing of such RLG, instead of being made of relatively heavy ULE glass, is made of low density silica aerogel having a density of from 600 to 1000 mg/cc. Further, where the prior art RLGs have three laser triangles, each mounted in one of three blocks, which blocks are mounted on separate orthogonal sides of a housing, the RLG of the present invention employs but one block with all three laser triangles orthogonally machined therein for a considerable size reduction or compactness and a further weight savings. The RLG of the invention can be attached to, e.g. space vehicles, including satellites for guidance and monitoring thereof. Also, the substrates of mirrors mounted on such RLG can also be made of LD aerogels for a further weight savings not seen in the prior art.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a lightweight solar cell is provided wherein a) an LD silica aerogel substrate at densities between 10-1,000 mg/cc is prepared, b) the surface of such aerogel substrate is polished to an optical quality surface c) a dielectric planarization layer of SiO.sub.2 is applied to so-polished substrate surface and d) one or more photovoltaic thin film layers are deposited on the planarization layer to form such lightweight solar cell, which includes an LD aerogel substrate that was not available before the invention hereof. Such substrates as well as the PV thin film layers are sufficiently transparent to admit energizing light not only through the PV layers of the cell but also if desired, through the substrate side of such cell, to energize such PV layers from one or both sides as desired. The solar cells of the invention, with their LD aerogel substrates are much lighter than prior art solar cells. This is advantageous in satellite applications since the solar array weight is substantial.