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Air Force Institute of Technology

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Articles 931 - 942 of 942

Full-Text Articles in Physics

A Biologically-Inspired Neural Network Architecture For Image Processing, Laurence E. Lazofson Dec 1990

A Biologically-Inspired Neural Network Architecture For Image Processing, Laurence E. Lazofson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project included a literature survey of biological and artificial neural network research followed by development and testing of high- order and image recognition hierarchical neural network algorithms. Following training, performance testing of second-order and third-order networks yielded maximum accuracies comparable to those achieved by multilayer perceptron classifiers operating on test data sets. Several versions of an image classification algorithm were tested for learning performance using pixel data from forward-looking infrared (FLIR) images of tanks, trucks, target boards, and clutter. Employing the biologically-motivated Lambertization and contrast normalization of pixel windows, correlations with multiple Gabor function wavelets, and a 'phase …


Using Error Detection And Correction Coding For A Turbulent Atmospheric Optical Communications Link, Mark A. Cloutier Dec 1990

Using Error Detection And Correction Coding For A Turbulent Atmospheric Optical Communications Link, Mark A. Cloutier

Theses and Dissertations

Probability of bit error (Pb) performance for a turbulent, atmospheric, optical, communications link with convolutional error detection and correction coding was investigated. The codes investigated were all rate 1/2 codes with constraint lengths ranging from 3 to 7. It was assumed that the coded data stream was sufficiently interleaved so that the turbulent channel could be considered memoryless. A theoretical bound on Pb, given by Viterbi for a memoryless channel, was used to plot curves of Pb versus the signal intensity of last transmitter. These curves were plotted for three different levels of atmospheric turbulence and three …


Operating Characteristics Of Xenon Gas Discharges, Michael E. Ruark Dec 1990

Operating Characteristics Of Xenon Gas Discharges, Michael E. Ruark

Theses and Dissertations

The voltage-current and spectral line intensity-current characteristics were measured for four Xenon gas discharges. The four discharge configurations were made up of two tubes, each examined at pressures of 1 and 10 Torr. The first tube was a hot filament tube with a 1 cm radius, and the second a cold cathode type tube of radius .3 cm. Intensity dependence upon current was primarily linear in all cases with some important deviations. The hot filament tube at 10 Torr showed a large decrease in intensity between 4 and 6 mA in the 8409 angstrom line. This is thought to be …


Energy Transfer In Singlet Oxygen And Bromine Monofluoride, Barrett F. Lowe Dec 1990

Energy Transfer In Singlet Oxygen And Bromine Monofluoride, Barrett F. Lowe

Theses and Dissertations

The interhalogen molecule, bromine monofluoride (BrF), is currently under study as a potential candidate for a visible chemical laser medium. Previous studies have shown a strong emission from BrF(B3π(O+)) in the presence of singlet oxygen. While singlet oxygen will pump BrF(X) to BrF(B), the exact mechanism is not known. Chemiluminescence observed from BrF(B) excited by oxygen in a gas flowtube was used to study the energy transfer mechanism. The objective of this research was fourfold. First, the pumping process was identified as a 3- Body Mechanism. Second, the observed vibrational distribution clearly showed the population of …


Fluorescent Lifetime Measurements Of Rare Earth Elements In Gallium Arsenide, Danny J. Topp Dec 1990

Fluorescent Lifetime Measurements Of Rare Earth Elements In Gallium Arsenide, Danny J. Topp

Theses and Dissertations

Lifetime measurements of the excited states of three GaAs semiconductors doped with the rare earth elements Erbium (ER), Praseodymium (Pr) , and Thulium (Tm) has been studied using a pulsed nitrogen laser and germanium detector. The measurements were made with an experimental set up with a system response time of 0.34 micro seconds. A 330 milliwatt nitrogen laser with a wavelength of 3370 angstrums was used to excite transitions of the rare earth elements.


Detection Of High Altitude Aircraft Wake Vortices Using Infrared Doppler Lidar: An Assessment, Michael J. Estes Dec 1990

Detection Of High Altitude Aircraft Wake Vortices Using Infrared Doppler Lidar: An Assessment, Michael J. Estes

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated the feasibility of air-to-air detection of high altitude aircraft wake vortices at long ranges using infrared Doppler lidar. The purpose of this technique is to detect otherwise stealthy aircraft. Three laser wavelengths were analyzed: 1.064, 2.091, and 9.115 microns. Analysis revealed that the spectral width of the return signal from an aircraft wake presented a good signature for detection. Based on the analysis, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio of 0 db was established. Detection performance was then analyzed using signal-to-noise ratio calculations for backscatter by ambient atmospheric aerosols, jet engine exhaust soot particles, and condensation trail ice particles. …


Analysis Of Space Radiation Effects In Gallium Arsenide And Cadmium Selenide Semiconductor Samples Using Luminescence Spectroscopic Techniques, Brad Lee Shaffer Dec 1990

Analysis Of Space Radiation Effects In Gallium Arsenide And Cadmium Selenide Semiconductor Samples Using Luminescence Spectroscopic Techniques, Brad Lee Shaffer

Theses and Dissertations

Analysis of space radiation effects in gallium arsenide and cadmium selenide semiconductor samples using luminescence spectroscopic techniques. The M0006 semiconductor samples were placed into a 28.5 degree inclination, 480 km altitude, near-circular orbit aboard the Long Duration Exposure Facility satellite and exposed to direct space environment for a period of 11 months, and were shielded by 0.313 inches of aluminum for another 58 months. The samples were examined for changes using cathodoluminescence and photoluminescence in various wavelength regions from 0.5 to 1.8 microns. Samples were cooled to approximately 10 degrees Kelvin in a vacuum of 10-8.


Continuous Wave And Pulsed Solid State Laser Model, Matthew D. Rotondaro Nov 1990

Continuous Wave And Pulsed Solid State Laser Model, Matthew D. Rotondaro

Theses and Dissertations

A solid state laser is modeled for use on a personal computer. The model can accurately represent Nd:YAG and Nd:Glass lasers during both continuous wave and repetitively pulsed operation. The large number of input variables allow the user to make changes to the cavity, optical pump source, and the cooling system. The model calculates the energy, power, and divergence angle of the beam along with other variables. Because of its user-friendly interface, it is possible for someone with limited laser experience to obtain useful information.


Synthetic Aperture Multi-Telescope Tracker Apparatus, Richard A. Carreras, Salvatore J. Cusumano, Morton B. Jenks, Robert I. Suizu May 1987

Synthetic Aperture Multi-Telescope Tracker Apparatus, Richard A. Carreras, Salvatore J. Cusumano, Morton B. Jenks, Robert I. Suizu

AFIT Patents

A plurality of telescopes provide output return signals which are applied both directly and in sampled form to a photo-detector cell. The detected signals from the photo-detector will represent the constant and transient errors of the telescope system. A low pass filter insures that the tracker provides only the constant or D.C. component of the error, while a high pass filter insures that the existing measuring devices for each telescope beam provide only the transient or A.C. component of the error. The A.C. and D.C. error signals are summed together with the appropriate applied gains on each channel such that …


Optically Phased Laser Transmitter, Janet S. Fender, Salvatore J. Cusumano, Robert R. Butts, Christopher R. Dehainaut Jan 1987

Optically Phased Laser Transmitter, Janet S. Fender, Salvatore J. Cusumano, Robert R. Butts, Christopher R. Dehainaut

AFIT Patents

An apparatus and technique are described for phasing the outputs of a multiplier telescope array used as a laser transmitter. The technique uses samples of the transmitted beams to control optical path lengths through the separate telescopes so that the beams add coherently at the receiver. The phasing concept is applicable both to systems which provide inputs to the multiple telescopes by dividing a single laser beam and to systems in which the inputs to the telescopes and multiple, phase-locked laser beams. The approach is also compatible with single line and multi-line lasers, and it does not entail stringent alignment …


Lasing Conditions Of Elemental Sulfur In A Gas Discharge, David E. Egbert Sep 1972

Lasing Conditions Of Elemental Sulfur In A Gas Discharge, David E. Egbert

Theses and Dissertations

The partial pressures from heated sulfur crystals and helium, and sulfur and nitrogen required for ionic sulfur laser action in a gas discharge were determined. Previous work with sulfur lasers is reviewed and population inversion mechanisms are presented for the ionic sulfur laser lines. Possible excitation mechanisms are presented for both electron and ion or atomic collision excitation. Transition diagrams for all the known ionic sulfur laser transitions and an approximate potential energy curve for the diatomic sulfur molecule are presented. Laser action was achieved only when a spark gap pulser was used with a laser tube especially designed to …


Investigation Of The Platinum-Rich Portion Of The Platinum-Tantalum Phase Diagram, Bob Dean Browning Aug 1961

Investigation Of The Platinum-Rich Portion Of The Platinum-Tantalum Phase Diagram, Bob Dean Browning

Theses and Dissertations

The Pt-Ta binary system was investigated at two isotherms;1000°C and 1500°C, and at eleven alloy compositions in the range of 50 to 100 atomic percent platinum. The alloys were examined by x-ray diffraction and metallography. Three intermetallic compounds, Pt2Ta, Pt3Ta, and Pt4Ta were found to exist in this composition range. The Pt4Ta intermetallic appeared only at the 1500°C isotherm. Platinum dissolved tantalum substitutionally to 90 atomic percent at 1500 °C and to approximately 80 atomic percent at 1000 °C.