Abstract: A passive voltmeter that measures pulses of high voltage by periodically charging a condensor through a spark gap. The frequency at which the spark gap breaks down is a function of the voltage being measured and is detected and displayed in volts. Radioactive material within the chamber is used to insure a constant breakdown voltage by supplying the necessary free electrons. This insures constant breakdown time for the arc with minimum jitter.

Abstract: A system for monitoring potentially hazardous conditions in an area. The monitor system provides a continuous check of the atmosphere in a given area for nuclear radiation hazard and for combustion hazard. When a predetermined radiation level or combustion condition occurs in the area an alarm is activated which indicates the particular kind of danger existing. A small bomb calorimeter housing or vessel supports and houses a radiation sensor and a combustion sensor. Detection circuitry responds to the radiation and combustion sensors to provide an output signal when a predetermined, dangerous threshold condition exists in the area. A screen capacitor, electroscope, and a periodic charging circuit comprise the radiation hazard detection circuitry. A reflex surge generator comprised of a sparking circuit and a spark gap in conjunction with a resistance thermometer detector provide the fire hazard circuitry. Indicator or annunciator circuitry coupled to the detectors disclose the status of the two circuits.

Abstract: Large optic gas lens are provided for outer space application and the lens are constructed so as to have the capability of adjusting the focusing ability of the lens to focus laser energy to targets spaced at variable distances from the lens.

Abstract: A waveguide phase conjugate mirror for high power radiation at 10.6 .mu.m. The phase conjugate mirror comprises an optical waveguide of liquid nitrogen clad by gaseous nitrogen. The waveguide is maintained in a porous tube which allows the gaseous nitrogen to escape through the walls. The tube is also used to maintain a temperature gradient across the radius of the liquid nitrogen waveguide. Pressure in the waveguide, is maintained by a pressure drop across the porous walls of the containing tube. In maintaining the pressure, one or more additional porous tubes may be used around the containing tube with an additional pressure drop across the wall of each tube until a final volume is reached where the pressure may be maintained constant by the use of a small exhaust pump. An optical system such as a window or a lens or both is supplied at the input end for coupling the 10.6 .mu.m laser light into the waveguide mirror.

Abstract: A non-obstructing laser beam sampling meter which measures the power output of a laser by utilizing the optogalvanic effect in the electrode space of a glow discharge which is made to operate on the left side of the Paschen curve where breakdown voltage increases with decreasing pressure.

Abstract: A laser gyro having two cavities which are physically separated so that neither mode volumes have any common parts. Each cavity supports a wave traveling in only one direction either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Other waves, which are normally set up in a ring laser gyro, are prevented by a reversed feedback mirror. The gyro produces two waves whose frequencies are shifted in opposite directions by rotation. Lock-in is not possible. The two frequencies are mixed and the beat frequency is detected by optical heterodyne techniques. The response of this rotation sensor is linear down to zero rotation rate and its accuracy is limited by quantum effects.

Abstract: A gas generator for passing pressurized liquid monopropellants therethrough or causing exothermic decomposition of the monopropellants. A porous catalytic metal plate is used as the degeneration bed. The monopropellant decomposes exothermically upon contact with the catalytic plate. The porosity is obtained by making the plate from an alloy of the catalyst metal and one other metal, the other metal is then etched away by an acid that does not attack the catalyst metal. The porosity is controlled by the amount of other metal used. Surface areas of several hundred times the original plate surface area are obtainable. The mechanical characteristics of the metal plate allow for greater design flexibility than was available with decomposition beds made of refractory material.

Abstract: The monitor system consists of a voltage controlled oscillator for produc an acoustic wave whose frequency is proportional to the voltage being measured. An acoustic waveguide is used for transmitting the wave to an electrically isolated acoustic to electrical transducer. The output of the transducer is amplified and then displayed on an appropriate readout calibrated in volts.

Abstract: An erectable large optics for outer space application which includes a beam expander optic which is constructed as the output coupling portion of a feedback mirror of an unstable optical resonator and a large erectable gas lens has the focusing optic of an output aperture of a telescope.

Abstract: An output coupler, for laser cavities with totally reflecting mirrors, hag a beam splitter and a mirror mounted so that the direction of the output beam of the laser is invariant to changes in the output coupling coefficients. The percentage of the laser's energy which is coupled out into an external beam can be continuously varied or varied to obtain the optimum output coupling coefficient and then left set on this value. This device can also be used as a variable beam splitter with an invariant direction for the reflected beam when used external to the cavity of any laser.

Abstract: A triggering device and method for producing nuclear fusion reactions and having two or more intense pulses of high energy electrons derived from a single source and delivered to a target along separate paths but arriving at substantially the same time. The electron beams are produced in the electrode space of an electron accelerator which utilizes a cathode for producing multiple electron beams. Each electron beam is injected into a separate conventional linear pinch discharge. The high energy electron beams follow the pinch discharge and are delivered to the target. The pinch discharge tubes are curved so that each electron beam approaches the target from a different direction for irradiating the target symmetrically. Return conductors strategically located on the outer surface of each pinch discharge tube maintains the curved discharge within the center of the tube and sustains the pinch.

Abstract: A cw chemical laser which uses processed radioactive waste to produce act atoms from a chemically inactive gas before being mixed with another molecule such as hydrogen or deuterium is disclosed. This laser uses no toxic or corrosive fuels and does not require any electrical or other type of auxiliary power supply. The energy released by the radioactive material is used to produce the active atoms such as fluorine. This is accomplished by using the radiation products from processed radioactive waste to dissociate the inert gas in the plenum of the laser. The radioactive material is held in the passageway walls of a device similar to a heat exchanger. The exchanger device may be located in the gas generator section of a chemical laser. The inactive gas is passed through the exchanger device and while passing through it the radiation from the radioactive material dissociates the gas, producing a concentration of free active atoms.

Abstract: The porous wall of the capillary tube for a flowing gas laser is surrounded by a further porous copper tube. A dense copper wall surrounding the copper tube and being connected to it periodically along its length by partially open copper washers.

Abstract: A radiation detector array and a method for measuring the spectral content of radiation. The radiation sensor or detector is an array or stack of thin solid-electrolyte batteries. The batteries, arranged in a stack, may be composed of independent battery cells or may be arranged so that adjacent cells share a common terminal surface. This common surface is possible since the polarity of the batteries with respect to an adjacent battery is unrestricted, allowing a reduction in component parts of the assembly and reducing the overall stack length. Additionally, a test jig or chamber for allowing rapid measurement of the voltage across each battery is disclosed. A multichannel recorder and display may be used to indicate the voltage gradient change across the cells, or a small computer may be used for rapidly converting these voltage readings to a graph of radiation intensity versus wavelength or energy.

Abstract: An instrument (reflectometer) for continuously measuring the reflectance perties of materials as a function of the angle of incidence in which a sample and a mirror are mounted on a rotating platform in such a manner that, as the angle of incidence on the sample is varied, the reflected radiation is always incident on a detector which is fixed with respect to the rotating platform. The angle of incidence on the sample is measured and used to drive an axis of an X-Y recorder. The angle of incidence on the mirror is measured and used to correct the detected signal for any errors introduced by the properties of the mirror. This corrected signal is then used to drive the other axis of the X-Y recorder to produce a plot of the reflection coefficients vs angle of incidence for the sample. For fixed angles of incidence on the sample the detector can be moved to produce a plot of the diffused reflections as a function of the angular deviation from the specular angle.

Abstract: A device that can be used with high repetitions, high power, pulsed laser ams for beam diagnostics is described. The device utilizes a plurality of hole gratings made from wires or beam attenuators which are positioned in the laser beam by a synchronization technique for firing the high power pulsed laser. Each grating is in the high power beam for one pulse and is then out of the beam for (n-1) pulses, when n is the number of gratings used, to allow for cooling before it is used again.

Abstract: A simple self-aerating container for small marine life which requires no power. The aeration rate is easily adjusted continuously and remains constant once set. At low flow rates, the container can be aerated over night, and the high flow rates can be used when there are a larger number of small marine life in the container, or when it is desirable to have them very active. The aerator consists of a tank with a hand pump, a simple pressure regulator, and a unique mass (air) flow regulator. The tank is also equipped with a spring loaded safety valve and a valve for filling the tank at a service station.

Abstract: Ions are generated in a vacuum condition of an ion accelerator and injected hrough three aerodynamic windows to atmosphere pressure. In its travel through the windows the coil provides a magnetic field to prevent the ion beam from dissipating while it is traveling to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A means and apparatus for applying lather and moisture to a shaving surface in advance of the razor blade so that the shaving operation can be conducted in a single stroke.In one embodiment the lather is provided by a device which attaches to the handle of a conventional safety razor. This device is wetted to impart a lathering composition.In a second embodiment, the lathering device is integrally joined to a razor handle comprising a water reservoir so as to supply moisture to a confined soap cake and thereby provide lather to the shaving surface.

Abstract: An instrument for protecting sensitive infrared detectors, such as those d in satellites, from being damaged by exposure to high intensity radiation. The high intensity radiation may come from a high power cw laser. A gas absorption cell is used between the detector and the collecting optics to limit the amount of radiation reaching the detector. However, if it is desirable to also protect the collecting optics, then the gas absorption cell may be used in front of the collecting optics. In either case, the pressure in the absorption cell is controlled by the output reading of the detector; in that, when the rate of increase of the intensity is less than a predetermined value and the intensity is less than 90% of its saturation value then there is no gas in the absorption cell and the detector operates normally.