LETTER TO (SANITIZED) FROM (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03153A001900030010-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 29, 2014
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: May 21, 1954
• Content Type: LETTER

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"Ahshington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
May 21, 1954
This letter contains a proposal to undertake research and
development in the field of Ionic Oscillators as described in attachment
number one.
The program was designed in two parts. Part one would cover
approximately seven months time and cost $60,584.53. Schedule of costs
is attachment number two.
Part two would bo predicated on the results of Part One and
would take approximately five months time and cost about $35,652.50.
Schedule of costs for this phase is attachment number three. ,
Due to the. need for the development of subminiature transmitters
and the inherent possibilities of the ionic oscillator in this regard,
plus the accomplishments of this laboratory in that field, it is hoped
? that this proposal will meet with your approval and a contract will be
negotiated.
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Doruwc:NT1-?:0.
MO CHANr...::E II CLASS. LI
1 DECLASS:FiED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS S 02o 07
N',1),:TREVEW DATE:
MYTH: HR 70-2
DATE:21P4IL REVIEWER: 03719
40?1/47 (I
al; ECRET
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PROPOSAL ON IONIC OSCILLATORS
INTRODUCTION:
The present-day electronic oscillator is basically composed of a vacuum
tube and associated components such as resistors, condensers, coils, etc. In
addition, a source of electric power is needed to energize the circuit. The power
supply consists of batteries in its simplest form or an arrangement of a trans-
former, tubes, condensers and resistors, etc. in its most practical form. The
power source must have a minimum of 100 Volts DC available. The current drain,
both of the power supply and oscillator, is about 3 ratts for the smallest
"miniature class" oscillator. Furthermore, the mere grouping together of these
components results in a bulky unit.
An ionic oscillator is a gas tube which, under certain Conditions, can
be made to oscillate by itself and be completely independent of any external
components. This is possible by making use of the positive ions in a gas tube
in a manner similar to the way in which electrons operate in a vacuum tube. Because
of this inherent characteristic of a gas tube, the ionic oscillator is unique in
that it needs no e:xternal resistors, condensers, coils, etc. in order to operate.
To date there have been over two hundred papers written on ionic oscil-
lations, most of which have been devoted to a fundamental study of the phenomena.
The practical aspects of ionic oscillators have been neglected except for Cobine
of General Electric, who constructed a noise generator using an ionic oscillator
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in a magnetic field; Fairbairn, (Toledo, Ohio) who obtained a patent on a gas tube
.used as an ionic oscillator; Chetverikova, (Moscow) who reported resultssimilar
to Fairbairn but of a much broader scope and in great detail.
This laboratory repeated the work of Itirbairn with results well within
the limits of experimental error. In addition we succeeded in making an NE-2
type neon bulb oscillate, whereas Fairbairn reported negative results with neon.
The ionic oscillator does need a power source, but these requirements
are quite simple. i small hearing and battery (221 Volts) is sufficient in many
cases to operate the ionic unit. There is little or no problem with current drain
in some cases. The relative output of an ionic oscillator can be sizable with low
power requirements because there are not the same electrical losses to contend with
as are found in an electronic power supply and oscillator. Each component of the
latter con.Sumes power which subtracts from the over-all efficiency of the system.
There are many commercially available gas tubes which are miniature and
subminiature in size, and since the power supply need only be a small battery or
its equivalent, the entire assemblage could be miniaturized or even subminiaturized.
Further, such size reduction allows for shock resistent packaging, when necessary,
with slight increase in over-all size.
The ionic odcillator is limited in frequency range because its upper
limit of response is near 10 megacycles. However, below that frequency the ionic
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oscillator holds possibilities of being substituted in many applications which
today are attainable only with the electronic oscillator and its associated com-
ponents.
The existence of some significant possibilities have already been recog-
nizod by this laboratory. They are:
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These are only a few of the possible variations in design and application
inherent in the ionic oscillator and, no doubt, many more -All present themselves
as the art progresses. A consideration of the possibilities inherent in the ionic
oscillator for applications as described above, coupled with the knowledge of the
progress already made by the Russians in this field, definitely points up the
essential factor time plays in accomplishing the objectives of this task. The first
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party to convert the possibilities to actuality will have gained a decided advantage
in this contest.
It is with this awareness, supported by experiments conducted at this
laboratory, that it was thought desirable to propose the following program. The
personnel quota is necessitated by the demands of the short time allotted for so
much work. The time estimate is contingent upon clearances of manpower.
PHASE I.
STUDY OF COMNERCIALLY AVAILABLE TUBES
The first phase of this program of research and development is designed
to strike directly at the practical side of the problem as outlined above. There
are many commercially available gas tubes, such as:
SMALL:
MINIATURE: SUBMINIATURE:
3023 21)21 0K1034
3045 5696 0K1035
31)22 DA2 0K1036
502-A 0B2 0K1037
629 CK1038
884 CK1039
885 CK1042
2050 CX5783
5557 0K57831A
5560 0K5787
6012 0K5787WA
0A3 0K6213
0A4G RK61
003
1021
2A4G
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in addition to foreign-made tubes of similar construction. Each of these
tubes have different qualities, and it is proposed to investigate all of these
from the point of their response characteristics under ionic oscillation. This
can be done by analyzing each of a given tube's parameters under controlled con-
ditions. Curves will then be plotted from the data accumulated and an evaluation
made of each specific tube type. When such data is available, a determination can
be made as to just which tubes would lend themselves to immediate use and those
which could be eliminated from further consideration. Once the selection is
narrowed down to those tubes which possess the most promising characteristics for
our purpose, then Phase I would be completed.
OBJECTIVES
(1) To study all presently available gas tubes and evaluate their
characteristics as ionic oscillators.
(2) To classify select tube types for particular service.
(3) To ?select those tubes holding the greatest promise as ionic
oscillators and prepare them for Phase II.
REPORTS
???????.M.N.MMIII.141!Mii
Reports will be submitted quarterly describing scope of work covered,
results obtained, and plan of work for next quarter.
TELE
Phase I is estimated to take seven months contingent upon clearances of
manpower.
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COST
It is estimated that the seven months operation will cost $60,884.53.
Schedule is attached.
PHASE II
Phase II is predicated on the results of Phase I. In this effort those
tubes which held the greatest promise due to construction details and geometry
would be flushed out and regassed with various gases and mixtures of gases and
again the parameters would be studied under controlled conditions.
In this way each tube type now available commercially could be classified
and altered from its present condition to respond at maximum efficiency to pre-
determined conditions -while operating as an ionic oscillator.
OBJECTIVES
(1) To attempt to improve the ionic oscillator characteristics of
the most promising tubes selected in Phase I by altering certain of
their parameters.
(2) Classify selected tube types and parameters thereof for best
applications.
(3) To determine which subminiature tubes are best suited for
specific applications as described above as possibilities.
REPORTS
- Reports will be written quarterly describing scope of work covered,
results obtained, and plan of work for next quarter.
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TIME
It is estimated that Phase II uill take five months for completion.
COST
It is estimated that this phase of the task will cost :136,682.80.
Schedule is attached.
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SLMJECT:
PHASE I.
PERSONaEL:
TILE
IONIC OSCILLATOR
.11CH
Object: Study commercially available gas tubes and determine those best
suited for ionic oscillator application.
Time: Estimated 7 months.
Cost: Estimated $60,884.53.
(Note: Salaries based on prevailing scale in area)
OVERHEAD:
LATERIAL AND SUPPLIES:
Tubes, gas, glass, pump supplies, etc.
$ 3,500.00
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EQUIPMENT:
Electronic meters-, pressure gauges and associated
electronic gear.
SPECIAL Er.IDIPMENT:
$1,500.00
Vacuum pump, buggy and associated control equip-
ment.
$3,500.00
TRAVEL:
To Washington
500.00
Per 'dem $12.00 - 10 EO.ys
120.00
MISCELLANEOUS:
500.00
FEE:
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TOTAL PHASE 1:
t60, 864 53
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SUBJECT:
PHASE II.
PERSONNEL:
SCHEDULE OF COSTS
IONIC OSCILLATOR RESEARCH
Object: To improve ionic characteristics of selected tubes from Phase I
by altering certain parameters and then classifying than for
best application.
Time: Estimated 5 months.
Cost: Estimated $36,682.80.
OVERHEAD:
MATERIAL AND SUPPLIES:
Tubes, gas, glass, pump supplies, etc.
$ 1,000.00
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STAT
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fl
0
None.
SPECIAL Dletri-Piv.i.ENT:
TRAVEL:
None.
To Washington
500.00
Per Diem 0 4)12.00 - 10 Days
120.00
MISCELLANEOUS:
500.00
S TAT
TOTAL PHASE
36,682.80
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STAT