USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Anthony J Kalinowski

Fletcher A Blackmon

Lynn T Antonelli

Rolf G Kasper

Craig A Wagner

Lynn T Antonellli

Jayant S Patel

A device and system is provided for amplifying vibrations resulting from underwater acoustic signals. In operation, a laser interrogation beam is directed along an axis at the retro-reflector device and is responsive to reflections directed along the axis of the interrogation beam. The retro-reflector device reflects a signal back to a source and a tracking signal superimposed on an interrogation beam enables continuous sensing of the reflected signal to reduce signal dropout. A glint tracker is provided for steering the tracking beam on the surface. A tracker system superimposes the tracking and interrogation beams and is responsive to reflected glints in order to establish a directional location. An interferometer responsive to the reflected interrogation beam produces an interference signal for enabling continuous measurement of surface vibrations.

System for measuring vibrations occuring on a surface

A device and system is provided for amplifying vibrations resulting from underwater acoustic signals. In operation, a laser interrogation beam is directed along an axis at the retro-reflector device and is responsive to reflections directed along the axis of the interrogation beam. The retro-reflector device reflects a signal back to a source and a tracking signal superimposed on an interrogation beam enables continuous sensing of the reflected signal to reduce signal dropout. A glint tracker is provided for tracking the tracking beam on the surface. A tracker system superimposes the tracking and interrogation beams and is responsive to reflected glints in order to establish a directional location. An interferometer responsive to the reflected interrogation beam produces an interference signal for enabling continuous measurement of surface vibrations.

Laser based acousto-optic sensing enhancement using tailored retro-reflectors

A buoyant antenna for providing sufficient transmission time windows for munication at ultra-high and extremely-high frequencies. The antenna is configured to float on the surface of a body of water and is connected to a vessel through a communications cable. The buoyant antenna has a length and a stabile or rotation resistant cross-section which minimizes wash over when deployed in a manner which essentially eliminates in line tension on the antenna. The antenna is cylindrically shaped with sensor elements offset from the centerline. A high density mass is placed diametrically opposite the sensor elements and a high buoyancy foam fills out the remaining cylindrical shape. The high density mass creates a righting moment to maintain the sensor elements above the water line. The absence of in line tension during communication periods serves also to eliminate any detectable wake during those communication periods. The lack of detectability makes the antenna and its deployment method particularly well suited for use when the vessel is a submarine.

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East Lyme, CT, United States of America

Anthony J Kalinowski