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FIELD-PORTABLE FIBER-OPTIC GRAVIMETER

Award Information
Agency: National Science Foundation
Branch: N/A
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 10662
Amount: $49,508.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1989
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
360 Herndon Pkwy #1200
Herndon, VA 22070
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Charles M Davis
 Principal Investigator
 (703) 478-0844
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

OPTICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC., (OPTECH) PROPOSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGHLY SENSITIVE, INEXPENSIVE FIELD-PORTABLE FIBER-OPTIC GRAVIMETER CAPABLE OF EXCEEDING THE SENSITIVITY OF CURRENT REFERENCE/OBSERVATORY DEVICES. OPTECH HAS CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF A NUMBER OF FIBER-OPTIC SENSORS FOR USE IN GEOPHYSICAL (E.G. BOREHOLE DEPLOYMENT OR UNDERWATER STREAMERS), MILITARY, AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS. THE PROPOSED GRAVIMETER OFFERS THE FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES: HIGH SENSITIVITY (-0.2 MICROGAL); LOW COST; MINIATURE SENSING ELEMENT (<65 CC PHASE II)(CYLINDER 5.7 CM, DIAMETER X 2.5CM HIGH (EXCLUSIVE OF ELECTRONICS)); LIGHT WEIGHT; EMI/EMP (SURGE) IMMUNITY; AND TOTAL FIELD CAPABILITY (NOT IN PHASES I OR II). THIS DEVICE IS CAPABLE OF BEING OPERATED IN BOREHOLE, AEROSPACE, LAND, AND UNDERSEA ENVIRONMENTS, AND WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER PRESENT GRAVIMETERS. THE LATTERGENERALLY HAVE VERY COMPLEX, DELICATE AND EXPENSIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO DEVELOP SUFFICIENT DISPLACEMENT TO ACHIEVE THE REQUIRED SENSITIVITY. THIS IMPOSES SEVERE LIMITATIONS ON OPERATIONAL ORIENTATION. FURTHERMORE, MODERN GRAVIMETERS SUFFER FROM TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE SENSITIVITY AND LONG SETTLING TIME DUE TO THIS SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE INHERENT MECHANICAL SIMPLICITY AND BALANCED MECHANICAL DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED FIBER-OPTIC GRAVIMETER IS EXPECTED TO OVERCOME THESE PROBLEMS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME BEING CAPABLE OF SUB-MICROGAL SENSITIVITY.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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