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Radiation-resistant instrumentation and control cable
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CURRENT TOPICS
High-Speed Serial Binary Adder. -Successful operation of a basic computer element, a full serial binary adder, at a speed of 125 million cps. has been accomplished by engineers at International Business Machines Corporation’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center. The 125-megacycle rate, one of the highest yet recorded, is made possible by new tunnel diode circuits developed at the IBM Research Center. These new circuits use matched pairs of tunnel diodes connected in series, and both perform majority logic (produce an output whose polarity is determined by the polarity of the majority of input signals). One circuit is unique in its use of .delay lines, which give a flat-topped output pulse and eliminate undesirable interaction between circuits. The other circuit generates output pulses of considerably greater current than is possible with other matched pair circuits. Both circuits have relatively large tolerances for power supply variations. A 250-megacycle operating rate has been achieved with the individual circuits. Radiation-Resistant Instrumentation and Control Cable.-A new radiation-, humidity-, and water-resistant instrumentation and control cable has been introduced by the Instrumentation Division of \Gulton Industries, Inc., Metuchen, N. J. Unaffected by three million roentgens per year of gamma radiation, this cable (Type RC101) is suited for use in radiation environments of rocket research and space probes as well as in nuclear power plant environments, both ground-based and shipborne. Featuring adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions, the radiation-resistant cable offers troublefree operation in temperatures from 0” F. to +300” F., relative humidity of 100 per cent at 70” continuous, and in
[J.F.I.
applications involving continuous water immersion. The copper wire conductors, available up to ninety in number, are encased in a silicone rubber jacket with laminations of inorganic fibers and polyester film, silicone resin bonded. Resulting insulation resistance is greater than 200,000 megohms per thousand feet. for Laser ApplicaCapacitors tions.-A new line of large d.c. capacitors for Laser work and photoflash applications has been announced by the General Electric Company’s Capacitor Department in Hudson Falls, N. Y. The units range from 2000 volts and 40 watt-seconds to 6000 volts and 1250 watt-seconds. Case sizes are standard, ranging from 2% x 33A x 43A to 5% x 13% x 12%. Thenew standard line now is stocked in quantity at the factory. Various combinations of voltages and wattsecond ratings for special applications are available up to the limits of flash tube capabilities. Capacitors for large banks of any rating can be offered, some from stock. Lasers (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) commonly use a substance such as artificial ruby, which gives off its electromagnetic radiation in the form of visible light. The usual method of initially stimulating the material is by means of white light from a photoflash tube. The tube requires energy storage capacitors to operate, just as is the case in any photoflash circuit. Other systems use an exploding wire as the intense iight source. Either way, storage capacitors are required. Capacitors of this type were used to power the Laser device whose light beam successfully burned holes in diamonds. A Laser beam was recently bounced off the moon, demonstrating capability as a radar or communication device.
CURRENT TOPICS
High-Speed Serial Binary Adder. -Successful operation of a basic computer element, a full serial binary adder, at a speed of 125 million cps. has been accomplished by engineers at International Business Machines Corporation’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center. The 125-megacycle rate, one of the highest yet recorded, is made possible by new tunnel diode circuits developed at the IBM Research Center. These new circuits use matched pairs of tunnel diodes connected in series, and both perform majority logic (produce an output whose polarity is determined by the polarity of the majority of input signals). One circuit is unique in its use of .delay lines, which give a flat-topped output pulse and eliminate undesirable interaction between circuits. The other circuit generates output pulses of considerably greater current than is possible with other matched pair circuits. Both circuits have relatively large tolerances for power supply variations. A 250-megacycle operating rate has been achieved with the individual circuits. Radiation-Resistant Instrumentation and Control Cable.-A new radiation-, humidity-, and water-resistant instrumentation and control cable has been introduced by the Instrumentation Division of \Gulton Industries, Inc., Metuchen, N. J. Unaffected by three million roentgens per year of gamma radiation, this cable (Type RC101) is suited for use in radiation environments of rocket research and space probes as well as in nuclear power plant environments, both ground-based and shipborne. Featuring adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions, the radiation-resistant cable offers troublefree operation in temperatures from 0” F. to +300” F., relative humidity of 100 per cent at 70” continuous, and in
[J.F.I.
applications involving continuous water immersion. The copper wire conductors, available up to ninety in number, are encased in a silicone rubber jacket with laminations of inorganic fibers and polyester film, silicone resin bonded. Resulting insulation resistance is greater than 200,000 megohms per thousand feet. for Laser ApplicaCapacitors tions.-A new line of large d.c. capacitors for Laser work and photoflash applications has been announced by the General Electric Company’s Capacitor Department in Hudson Falls, N. Y. The units range from 2000 volts and 40 watt-seconds to 6000 volts and 1250 watt-seconds. Case sizes are standard, ranging from 2% x 33A x 43A to 5% x 13% x 12%. Thenew standard line now is stocked in quantity at the factory. Various combinations of voltages and wattsecond ratings for special applications are available up to the limits of flash tube capabilities. Capacitors for large banks of any rating can be offered, some from stock. Lasers (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) commonly use a substance such as artificial ruby, which gives off its electromagnetic radiation in the form of visible light. The usual method of initially stimulating the material is by means of white light from a photoflash tube. The tube requires energy storage capacitors to operate, just as is the case in any photoflash circuit. Other systems use an exploding wire as the intense iight source. Either way, storage capacitors are required. Capacitors of this type were used to power the Laser device whose light beam successfully burned holes in diamonds. A Laser beam was recently bounced off the moon, demonstrating capability as a radar or communication device.