US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Other

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Thomas E Honeycutt

Thomas G Roberts

William F Otto

Raymond W Conrad

William B McKnight

William L Gamble

Andrew H Jenkins

Walter B Jennings, Jr

Andrews H Jenkins

The missile system disclosed herein involves directing a beam from a modeely powered laser on a taget for such time that a hot spot is produced. This hot spot is then used as a target for a cooperating infrared seeking missile.

Thermally marked target missile system

The IFF System consists of an unpolarized light source like an infrared laser or a short wavelength radar. On a friendly target, a wire grid polarizer is mounted so that the polarization can be varied. Mounted to the back of the grid is a corner reflector which sends the signal right back on itself and utilizes the principle of optical enhancement so that the return signal is collomated and diffraction limited. A wire grid polarization analyzer is also mounted so as to be rotatable and is mounted in front of a detector for receiving signals reflected from the target.

System and device for recognition or IFF use

A wire resistor is mounted so that its position may be rotated continuously. The resistance of the wire (when subjected to the high energy laser beam) is measured as a function of position by use of a bridge circuit for determining the resistance and a potentiometer for determining the position. This device may also be used to analyze moderate power (greater than 1 watt) cw laser beams but here it is necessary to chop the beam in order to obtain the data.

Polarization analyzer for high energy pulsed laser beams

A system for measuring the density of certain ions or neutrals within a plasma without probe intervention. When cylindrical symmetry is present, the system also provides measurement of spatial distribution of excited ionic states within the plasma. The system allows spatial distribution of contaminant ions in magnetic confinement thermonuclear fusion devices to be monitored. These functions are accomplished by directing two laser beams through a region containing a plasma. The laser means are at respective wavelengths chosen to be in and closely adjacent to a spectral region near the electronic transition frequency of the ionic species of interest in the plasma. The intensities of the two wavelengths are then measured and compared to obtain the desired data and characterization.

Apparatus for plasma diagnostics

The meter consists of wire resistors arranged so as to sample the energy in a laser beam at different locations in the beam. Each resistor is part of a bridge which includes three other resistors, a power source, a detector (volt meter) and a display unit which may be a recorder. One of the three additional resistors may be an additional set of wires which are made nearly identical to the set being used to sense the laser beam's position or to determine its intensity distribution. When the wire resistors are exposed to the laser beam the wires are heated, their resistance changes, and the various bridges become unbalanced. The magnitude of the voltage produced in each bridge is proportional to the energy in the laser pulse at the location of each wire.

Precision laser beam positioner and spatially resolved laser beam

A system of lasers which produces a single pulsed laser beam carrying many channels of digital information simultaneously. The information content of each laser output pulse is determined by the presence or absence of one or more input signal channel frequencies. The presence or absence of each frequency is provided by a plurality of low power CW lasers operating at different frequencies and which are selectively gated in a binary fashion by pulse coded digital input signals to provide digitized low power laser outputs in accordance with the digital input signals. The low level pulses of the various optical frequencies are combined and utilized to preload a relatively high power pulsed CO.sub.2 output laser. A pair of mirror assemblies are utilized to respectively combine the multifrequency channel pulses and transmit a single pulsed output laser beam generated by the pulsed output laser. The presence or absence of each frequency component in each output pulse is determined by the frequency components preloading the cavity modes of the pulsed high power output laser.

Pulsed digital multiplex laser generator

A laser weapon countermeasure method in which a chemical countermeasure is eployed into the atmosphere along a predetermined length that is located between that which is desired to be protected and a high power laser weapon so as to cause the laser energy emanating from said laser weapon to bloom and be dissipated when the laser energy is directed into the atmosphere containing said chemical countermeasure.

CO.sub.2 laser weapon countermeasure

A laser welder is provided that generates output energy focused in a circr or cylindrical shape for simultaneously welding around a 360.degree. circumference without unnecessarily heating large amounts of material. The welder may be used to fasten cylindrical shaped objects, gears and shafts together, which is difficult to do by conventional means. The welder may also be used to fasten one cylinder to another. To accomplish the welding, a laser has an unstable optical cavity arranged with its feedback mirror centered to generate a circular output beam having an obscuration in the center. A circularly-symmetric, off-axis concave mirror focuses the output beam onto the objects being fastened and away from the center line or axis of the circular beam.

Cylindrical laser welder

The pulsed gas supply consists of a cylindrical gas reservoir which conta a multiplicity of small release ports in a helical pattern and an inner cylindrical rotary valve which also contains a multiplicity of small release ports in the same helical pattern. The reservoir and valve constitute an integral unit which has the advantage of totally balanced forces on a single moving part. This allows for motion free of friction caused by the high pressures of the gas supply.

Pulsed gas supply

A laser gyro has two adjacent laser cavities which are parallel and separated so that there are no common parts between the respective mode volumes. Each cavity supports a wave traveling in only one direction. Passive optical means external to the cavities are provided for establishing these directions of travel. Additionally, the passive means allows quick reversal of these directions of travel, which allows for the compensation of all frequency shifts which are not proportional to rotations. The passive reversal is accomplished with an optical element that is controlled to act alternately as a window and then as a mirror for light of only one wavelength. The gyro produces two output waves whose frequencies are shifted in opposite directions by rotation. The two frequencies are mixed and the resultant beat frequency is detected by optical heterodyning. The response is a linear output signal. Very low rotation rates may be sensed down to zero rotation and its accuracy is limited by quantum effects.

Compensated dual cavity laser gyro

A laser effects simulator having inner and outer cylinders which serve as parate plenums for two gases--a fuel and an oxidizer. Each plenum contains a multiplicity of small release ports or holes. An inner cylinder serves as a combustion chamber. The inner cylinder contains two sets of small release ports or holes arranged to simultaneously match or line up with the multiplicity of ports in the two plenums. Thus, allowing both fuel and oxidizer to be admitted to the combustion chamber and become mixed. On one end of the inner cylinder is an igniter that starts the combustion process. The reaction creates a high temperature mixture which expands to a low density hot gas that simulates the results that are produced when a high energy laser beam interacts with a solid surface.

Laser effects simulator

A spherical RF source tube which requires no magnetic fields for its operation which consists of two concentric spherical shells. The inner shell, which is open and which is nearly transparent to electrons, is charged positively with respect to the grounded outer shell, which is solid. The outer shell contains ports for the vacuum system, for the high voltage bushing that supports the inner shell, for the output coupling devices, and for plasma devices used in starting and maintaining operation.

Sphericon

A laser weapon which has no boresighting problems in that only one laser is sed to perform all the functions of search, track, and negation. The laser weapon is made to operate in both a low power cw mode and a high energy pulsed mode about the boresight. This is accomplished here by the application of a material which can be rapidly switched from a transmissive to a reflective state so as to be able to utilize the same laser for search, travel, and negation; thus eliminating the need for boresight and requiring only alignment.

Inherently boresighted laser weapon alignment subsystem

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. A percentage of prevailing atmosphere is controllably forced through a portion of the container and continuously sampled to indicate potential fire and nuclear hazards.

Monitor system for potentially hazardous radiation and combustion

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.

Growing community of inventors

Somerville, AL, United States of America

Thomas E Honeycutt