National Security and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Seventy Years of Scince for the Navy and the Nation (1923-1993)
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Naval Research Laboratory AD-A277 703 Washington, DC 20375-5320 liilli llllIl1lll1ll1lll1 NRL/FR/1003--94-959 National Security and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Seventy Years of Science for the Navy and the Nation (1923-1993) AELECTEDTIC D. J. DEYOUNG APR 011994 Office of Strategic Planning Executive Directorate March 29, 1994 94-09981 [9Approved for public release; distributionunlimited. 9 4 1 29 The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) was officially established on July 2, 1923, as the Naval Experimental and Research Laboratory. In the following seven decades, research efforts have expanded from the two original areas of scientific endeavor, radio and underwater sound, to 19 broad areas that encompass many diverse fields. NRL is the Navy's Corporate Laboratory and is under the command of the Chief of Naval Research. The Laboratory occupies its original site on the banks of the Potomac River in the southwest corner of Washington, D.C. Since NRL's establishment, the number of buildings has expanded from the original five to more than 170, and the main Laboratory site has expanded from 27.5 to 129 acres. The original group of about 20 employees has grown to more than 3900, including those at the main site and at 14 field sites. On January 14, 1992, the Naval Oceanographic and Atmospheric Research Laboratory (with sites in both Mississippi and California) was merged with NRL as part of the U.S. Navy's post-Cold War research, development, technology, and engineering RDT&E) consolidation efforts. This merger brought facilities and personnel at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and Monterey, California, under NRL management. NRL has been designated a major shore command and is led by a Navy captain who serves as commanding officer. The director of research, a senior civilian, shares responsibility with the commanding officer for directing Laboratory operations. The Laboratory's overall R&D management structure is built around an Executive Directorate, three principal research directorates and one technology center. This center, the Naval Center for Space Technology, is the only in-house facility capable of designing, developing, and fabricating space systems for the Department of Defense (DoD). Public reporting burden f or this collectioni of information is estimated to averase I hour pier reeporee. incluiting the time fori reviewing instructions. searchirngexisting date sources. "oetheir ig end maintainhng the date needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Sandlcomiments regarding tfxa burden estimate or any other eapect of thua collection of information, including suggestione for reducing this burden, to Waehington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations an Replorts,1216 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204. Arlington, VA 22202-4302. "n to the Office of Management and Budget. Paperwork Reduction PvoiWc t0704-0196), Washinton. DC 20603. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leae SoWnkJ 12. REPORT DATE 1~REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED I March 29, 1994 1923-1993 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS National Security and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Seventy Years of Scince for the Navy and the Nation (1923-1993) 6. AUTHOR(S) D. J. DeYoung 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESSIES) B. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER Naval Research Laboratory Washington, DC 20375-5320 NRL/FRI1003-94-9592 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESSiES) 10. SPONSORINGIMONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 12*. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 121b. DISTRIBUTION CODE Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. 13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words) This report highlights the significance of NRL's unclassified contributions to national security over the past seven decades. It cxplains how the Laboratory's accomplishments in defense science and technology have had a powerful impact on the nation's military strength and how they have also had a major impact on the other components of national security--economic competitiveness, environmental health, energy security, and public health and welfare. 14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF PAGES 57 16. PRICE CODE 17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT OF REPORT OF THIS PAGE OF ABSTRACT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED UL NSN 7540-01-280-5500 Standard Form 208 (Rev. 2-SO) Preecribed by ANSI Std 239-18 298-102 Accesion For NTIS CRA&M DTIC TAB Unannounced Justil icaton By .............. ......... .. ... ... Distribution I Availability Codes Avail and I or CONTENTS Dist Special PEFACE ............................................................ vii INTRODUCTION ..................................................... 1 1. ELECTROMAGNETIC AND ACOUSTIC WAVE PROPAGATION ................. 1 R adar . I Discovery of the Radar Principleand the Invention of the First U.S. Radar ......... 1 Development of Naval Radar Systems ................................... 2 R adio . 4 "Skip-Distance" Effect............................................. 4 Radio-ElectronicsAchievements .. .................................... 4 1922-1929 ............................................... 4 1930-1960 ............................................... 5 Satellite Communications .. ........................................ 5 Identification Friend or Foe Systems ................................... 5 Sonar . 6 Sonar Systems ............................................... 6 Environmental Acoustics ........................................... 7 2. SPACE SCIENCE ............................................... 7 Solar Studies ..................................................... 7 Radio Astronomy ................................................... 8 Ultraviolet Astronomy ................................................ 8 X-ray Astronomy ................................................... 9 Radiation Hazards .................................................. 9 3. SPACE TECHNOLOGY .............................................. 10 The Navy's Lead Laboratory for Space Technology ........................... 10 Rocket Programs ................................................ 10 Viking Project .. ............................................... 10 Vanguard Project ............................................. 11 Space Surveillance .................................................. 12 N avigation .................................................... 12 Strategic Defense Research and Development . .............................. 14 i11.i 4. MATERIALS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY .............................. 14 Nondestructive Testing .. ............................................ 14 Fracture Mechanics .. .............................................. 15 Scientific Principles............................................... 15 Engineering Principles............................................ 16 Combined Scientific and EngineeringMechanics ............................ 16 Other Selected Applications ......................................... 17 Solid State Dosimetry ................................................ 18 Materials Safety and Durability ......................................... 18 Radiation Damage of Metals ......................................... 18 Sonar Dome Rubber Windows ....................................... 19 Corrosion Research .. .............................................. 19 Superconductivity Research .. ......................................... 19 Ion Implantation Techniques ........................................... 20 Permanent Magnet Materials ........................................... 21 5. ENERGY-RELATED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ........................ 21 Nuclear Science and Technology ........................................ 21 The ManhattanProject ............................................ 21 Nuclear Submarine Propulsion ....................................... 22 Detection of the First Soviet Atomic Test ................................ 22 High-Altitude Nuclear Explosion Effects ................................. 22 Fluid Dynamics .................................................... 23 Pulsed Power Physics ................................................ 23 High Voltage Technology ............................................ 23 6. CHEMISTRY ..................................................... 24 Submarine Atmospheric Habitability ...................................... 24 Fire Suppression ................................................ 24 Purple-K Powder .. ............................................. 24 Aqueous Film-FormingFoam ........................................ 25 Nonskid Coatings .. ............................................... 25 Molecular Structure Analysis .. ........................................ 26 7. ELECTRONICS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ........................... 27 Electronic Warfare ................................................ 27 Decoys and False Targets .......................................... 27 Threat Simulators ................................................ 28 Electronic Materials and Device Fabrication ................................. 29 Single-Crystal Gallium Arsenide ...................................... 29 Microlithography .. ............................................. 30 iv 8. ENVIRONMENTAL/BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY .............. 30 Atmospheric Science ............................................... 30 Ozone Measurement ............................................. 30 East Coast Acoustic Phenomena ...................................... 30