A technique and apparatus for optically detonating insensitive high explosives, is disclosed. An explosive device is formed by containing high explosive material in a housing having a transparent window. A thin metallic film is provided on the interior surface of the window and maintained in contact with the high explosive. A laser pulse provided by a Q-switched laser is focussed on the window to vaporize the metallic film and thereby create a shock wave which detonates the high explosive. A plu...

A computer memory system is disclosed which includes a randomly and electrically accessible semiconductor "page" memory. The semiconductor page memory is an array of memory units each of which includes an electrically accessible flip-flop for storing a binary information bit. In addition, each flip-flop is provided with a photodiode by which the flip-flop can be set in response to received light, and is provided with a liquid crystal light valve controlled by the electrical state of the flip-flo...

In a multi-phase power supply, a separate light-actuated semi-conductor switch is located in every line but one. An overload sensor is coupled to the remaining line, and upon the occurrence of an overload, emits a light signal that opens the light-sensitive switches in the other lines.

An optically pumped organic laser using materials having allowed electric dipole fluorescent transitions. These materials include photosensitizing dyes. The active fluorescent materials are pumped with either a laser pulse or a flashlamp pulse, the pumping pulse having a risetime not exceeding a few times the decay time between the first excited singlet state and a triplet state of the fluorescent material.

An electrically and optically settable flip-flop is disclosed which includes, in integrated circuit form, an MOS flip-flop memory cell including first and second cross-coupled transistors coupled through respective third and fourth load transistors to a source of potential. A photodiode is connected from the cross connection between the output of said first transistor and the input of said second transistor to the substrate, whereby the photodiode is charged substantially to the source potential...

A computer memory system is disclosed which includes a randomly and electrically accessible semiconductor "page" memory. The semiconductor page memory is conventional to the extent that it includes a planar array of electrically-accessible flip-flops for storing a corresponding number of binary information bits. In addition, each flip-flop is provided with a photosensor by which the flip-flop can be set in response to received light, and is provided with a light valve controlled by the state of ...

A thyristor circuit employing optical triggering of the thyristor and wherein the new circuit configuration thereof provides complete isolated gate triggering of the thyristor without implementation of direct or electromagnetic gate coupled triggering means.

A computer memory system is disclosed which includes a randomly and electrically accessible semiconductor "page"memory. The semiconductor page memory is conventional to the extent that it includes a planar array of electrically-accessible flip-flops for storing a corresponding number of binary information bits. In addition, each flip-flop is provided with a photosensor by which the flip-flop can be set in response to received light, and is provided with a light valve controlled by the state of t...

Organosilicon grease-like compounds having good shear stability and being suitable for optical coupling are prepared by mixing a phenylmethylpolysiloxane fluid or a trimethylsiloxy endblocked fluid consisting of decylmethylsiloxane, tetradecylmethylsiloxane and alpha-methylstyrenemethylsiloxane units, a finely divided silica, and a polyalkylene oxide. A typical compound would be a mixture of 150 parts of a phenylmethylpolysiloxane, 15.5 parts of a fume silica having surface area of 380 square me...

A stable optically clear serum is prepared for use in the preparation of standards and quality control reference material for the assay of human serum components. Prebeta lipoproteins, beta lipoproteins and chylomicrons are removed from human serum by specific precipitation. The serum resulting from the process disclosed retains its optical clarity upon freezing, lyophilization and reconstitution with aqueous media. Bovine lipoproteins are added to restore desired levels of cholesterol and trigl...