Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Grumman Aerospace Corporation

Grumman Aerospace Corportion

Robert E Ryan

Theodore W Hilgeman

Edwin Gerard Haas

John D Hulsmann

Walter G Egan

Richard A Oman

Sal Soriano

George P Gayes

Ron G Pirich

Eric H Schnittger

Stanley Rudman

John Cox

Spin-polarized xenon gas is provided in medical-grade purity for use as a contrast medium in MRI studies by use of collision-induced transfer of spin energy to the xenon gas from laser-pumped spin-polarized Rb gas. The Rb gas is provided by thermally vaporizing solid Rb at low pressure in a container having an inside surface coated with a siliconizing agent and exposed to the Rb gas. The combined xenon and Rb gases are separated after transfer of the spin energy in order to provide a sufficient purity of the xenon gas by use of a cryogenic separation process. The Rb gas is removed from the xenon gas and is returned cryogenically to a solid stated to an acceptable level of purity for the xenon gas. The gas may be analyzed optically to measure the remaining Rb concentration.

Method and apparatus for production of spin-polarized medical-grade

An interferometer comprising a base forming an interior, and first and second optical members located in the interior of the base. The interferometer further comprises a first retainer assembly connecting the first optical member to the base, translation means for moving the second optical member relative the first optical member to vary the distance between the first and second optical members, and a second retainer assembly connecting the second optical member to the translation means. The preferred mechanical configuration and design features of the interferometer produce a very durable instrument that can rapidly scan and accurately filter light across a wide bandwidth. This uniquely designed instrument combines high speed switching, high resolution, wide bandwidth, and adjustable damping capabilities in a durable flight capable instrument.

Interferometer comprising translation assemblies for moving a first

A short path scanning interferometer comprising a base forming an interior, and first and second optical members located in the interior of the base. The interferometer further comprises a first retainer assembly connecting the first optical member to the base, translation means for moving the second optical member relative the first optical member to vary the distance between the first and second optical members, and a second retainer assembly connecting the second optical member to the translation means. The preferred mechanical configuration and design features of the interferometer produce a very durable instrument that can rapidly scan and accurately filter light across a wide bandwidth including short path scanning at low orders. This uniquely designed instrument combines high speed switching, high resolution, wide bandwidth, and adjustable damping capabilities in a durable flight capable instrument.

Short path scanning interferometer

A multi-image detector assembly has an array of detector elements formed upon a single focal plane and a plurality of focusing members, each focusing member focusing a substantially identical scene upon a corresponding one of a plurality of sections of the array. An optical element such as a spectral or polarizing filter is disposed within a plurality of the optical paths of the focusing members, preferably proximate the focal plane. Image detection occurs continuously and simultaneously so as to provide a spatially and temporally correlated set of separate images utilizing the single focal plane.

Multi-image detector assembly

The feedback in a laser system is measured in near real time by inducing a frequency shift and the feedback being based on the phase shift undergone by the feedback beam in an external cavity. The frequency shift is induced by phase modulating the feedback beam, for example by varying the position of an optical element placed in the feedback beam upon applying a ramp signal to the optical element. Frequency is detected by a Fabry-Perot interferometer which generates an interference fringe pattern, the intensity of the central fringe being detected to determine the induced frequency shift in real time, the amount of feedback being proportional to the time of flight multiplied by the frequency shift.

Apparatus and method for providing a feedback measurement in a laser

A Fourier-transform spectrometer includes a plurality of detectors (118-1 through 118-L), each of which receives light from a pair of optical paths of different optical path lengths. A movable mirror (116) varies the difference between the path lengths of each pair. Analog-to-digital converters (124-1 through 124-L) sample the resultant outputs at regular distance-difference intervals so as to generate sequences of sample values. The distance-difference ranges for the pairs of paths associated with different detectors are different, and the sequences together make up a synthetic interferogram that covers a range of distance differences 2L times the range of motion of the movable mirror (116). A Fourier transformation circuit (126) computes the Fourier transform of the synthetic interferogram, thereby determining the power spectrum of the incoming light, and operates a display (128) to indicate the result.

Fourier transform spectroscopy by varying the path length difference

Alignment of antenna radiating elements is monitored by diode lasers which have polarized light reflected from the body of the antenna toward a detector array. The array monitors displacement of polarized radiations from a diode laser corresponding to displacements of the antenna body. Signals from the array to electronically compensate for misalignment or may be utilized in a servo system for mechanically correcting misalignment.

System for compensating antenna membrane deflection

A glass bead laser amplifier which is designed to operate efficiently at relatively high optical power outputs, and which is designed to be easily manufactured and scaled up in size to produce high power laser beams. The laser amplifier cavity if filled with doped glass lasing beads or elements which are packed therein to be in contiguous contact with each other. The shape of each glass element preferably provides a relatively large ratio of the external area to volume of the glass lasing element, to provide for efficient cooling thereof. A cooling system is provided for the laser amplifier cavity in which a coolant fluid circulates through the laser cavity around and between the contiguous glass lasing elements for cooling thereof. The cooling fluid is selected to have an index of refraction substantially matching that of the glass lasing elements to substantially reduce scattering of light passing through the glass/cooling fluid interfaces in the laser amplifier cavity. Moreover, a conjugate mirror is placed adjacent to one end of the laser amplifier cavity for reflecting the laser light which has passed once through the laser amplifier cavity back therethrough, to cancel the initial optical distortions introduced into the light beam as it initially passed through the laser amplifier cavity and the glass/cooling fluid interfaces therein. This results in the production of an output laser beam substantially unaffected by optical distortions which would otherwise be introduced by the laser amplifier.

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Levittown, NY, United States of America

Robert E Ryan