APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R00020011022-9
responsibility for providing direction to the Warsaw Pact countries in thin-film technology. A very significant development was achieved by Dr. Manfred von Ardenne of the Von Ardenne Research Institute, when he brought the development of electron-beam micro machining of thin-film components to the production stage. He has been acclaimed by technologists of both East and West for the accomplishment. The institute also has done research in molecular electronics, emphasizing evaporation techniques and the development of equipment. The Soviet Union and East Germany have collaborated in research and development of microelectronics. Electronic furnaces and other modern methods have been developed for purification of elements used in semiconductor and crystal experiments. Work in thin-film techniques has contributed to the development of integrated circuits, improved diodes, and fast-switching transistors.
The East German semiconductor industry generally lags that of the West. Experimental investigations have been carried out on large band-gap crystals of zinc-sulfide and other materials, including germanium, selenium, and silicon carbide. Theoretical and applied research are conducted on Schottky and Gunn effect devices, as well as on radiation and photosensitive materials. Efforts on microwave tubes have included work on magnetrons, klystrons, amphlrons, and both backward and forward traveling wave tubes. Work at wave lengths only down to 8 millimeters has been reported and only mediocre results have been evidenced. Reliability and miniaturization research follow conventional germanium low-frequency types. A silicon transistor with pulse transit time of about 4 nanoseconds has been produced.
Much research is conducted in optoelectronics, and good-quality infrared image converter tubes and vidicons are being produced, although they are basically copies of Western tubes. The Institute for Data Transmission has produced infrared data transmission equipment, consisting of pairs of optical receiver and transmitter devices, with a range of 4 to 5 kilometers.
In signal and communication work, the East Germans have appeared to rely less on Soviet research efforts than in most other fields. The East Germans have developed radio-link and high-capacity carrier equipment, automatic, transistorized telephone exchange equipment using printed circuits, and a large number of teleprinter and facsimile units that are in wide use throughout the Communist countries. These are excellent, high-quality products. Theoretical investigations are being performed on pulse code modulation and millimeter waveguide systems. Measurement work is underway in the 10-15 gigahertz range with open resonator (quas-optical Fabry Perrot resonators with two parabolic mirrors). Microwave sources are klystron oscillators and varactor multiplier chains.
The Central Wire Telecommunications Laboratory in East Berlin has done extensive research on communications equipment for marine use in arctic and tropical conditions.
The Institute for Communications Technology in East Berlin has designed and developed a transistorized navigational radar system which operates in the Q-band (8.6 millimeters) for employment in riverboats. The institute has developed and produced directional microwave radio frequency generators, switching devices, and microwave antennas. It also has directed and financed research in digital communications techniques at the Higher School of Technology in Ilmenau. Three naval radar systems, designated TSR-222, -333, and -444, are under development by the Electrical Instruments Plant in Leipzig; the designs are based on U.K. developments.
East German interest in laser development stems from the potential application of lasers to communications, space navigation, guidance devices, industrial and medical usage, and possibly anti-missile systems. The research program initiated in 1961 has resulted in substantial contributions to the state-of-the-art in military applications. The effort has been limited to more conventional lasers of modest power, such as ruby, neodymium glass, gas, and semiconductor lasers. Much of the research has concerned gallium-arsenide lasers and their applications.
The most important laser research and development program is centered at the VEB Carl Zeiss. Experimental work has been devoted mainly to the applications of lasers in welding, precision machining, communications, and ranging. Several laser devices for microwelding and micromachining have been developed. Work also has been done on the use of lasers for eye surgery and cancer cell destruction. Because of their work on laser modulation techniques, the East Germans may also have developed laser communications systems. The Institute of Communications Technology in East Berlin has used gallium-arsenide devices in telephone and television research. Ruby lasers have been used in sighting devices for military applications.
Computer development has been slow despite an effort dating from as early as 1954. None of the early efforts was successful in providing East Germany with
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R00020011022-9
