Abstract: A space at least partly enclosed by an appliance housing can be illuminated by utilizing at least one lamp outside that space and coupling a light pipe system to that lamp so that light can be conducted into the space by a light-transmission system. Within the space light is emitted from one or more light extractors optically coupled to the light-transmission system. The light extractors are in the form of wave guides provided along a surface with formations or the like from which light is emitted.

Abstract: A compound parabolic concentrator which can be used as an optical connector or in a like management system or simply as a concentrator or even as a spotlight, has a hollow body formed with an input aperture and an output aperture and a wall connecting the input aperture with the output aperture and diverting from the smaller of the cross sectional areas to the larger cross sectional areas of the apertures. The wall is composed of contiguous elongated prisms of a transparent dielectric material so that the single reflection from the inlet aperture to the outlet aperture takes place within the prisms and thus the losses of purely reflective reflectors can be avoided.

Abstract: A reflector has a body of a ceramic oxide superconductive material whose surface is treated to be diffusively reflective and is coated with diamond-like carbon or magnesium fluoride.

Abstract: A method of making a composite high-temperature superconducting wire in which a layer of a superconductive oxide is coated onto a refractory core by melting a zone of the layer uniformly all around the core as the core is drawn through the focus of a reflector having the shape of a paraboloid of revolution while directing onto the reflector a collimated beam of an energy sufficient to melt the layer. The melted layer is cooled with a substantially radially symmetrical thermal gradient to form the superconducting oxide ceramic layer on the core with radially-directed growth of columnar grains of the superconducting oxide ceramic.

Abstract: A high efficiency integrating sphere that can be used in a large variety of scientific instruments. The sphere having an efficiency gain obtained by using a superconducting material, acting as a perfect reflector, on the inside hollow surface of the sphere. The sphere is operated with a delay between the incident and sensed light, heretofore not possible, and yielding substantial improvement in the signal-to noise ratio of the integrating sphere.

Abstract: A reactor capable of continuously producing activated species of oxygen molecules, specifically those known in the prior art as "Delta Singlet Oxygen". Uses of "Delta Singlet Oxygen" include the maintenance of high oxidation potential during the deposition of layers of high temperature superconductors. Such species are particularly effective in obtaining ultra smooth surfaces when used as the etching gas in plasma milling of a diamond-like carbon film. The use of a film of this type has been found to be the ideal insulating barrier for construction of high temperature superconducting Josephson junctions. The reactor uses toroidal pipes to generate mutual impingement between a reaction machine and chlorine gas.

Abstract: A Josephson junction consisting of high temperature ceramic superconductors layers, separated by an ultra-thin insulating barrier made of an non oxide substance like diamond-like carbon, is described. An integral part of this disclosure is the technique involving the use of an activated oxygen species for providing an oxygen chemical potential which is higher than that obtainable at barometric pressure. Also clarified are the structure and method of manufacturing the said junction, using high temperature superconductors.

Abstract: A Josephson junction consisting of high temperature ceramic superconductors layers, separated by an ultra-thin insulating barrier made of an non-oxide substance like diamond-like carbon. An integral part of this disclosure is the technique involving the use of an activated oxygen species for providing an oxygen chemical potential which is higher than that obtainable at barometric pressure.

Abstract: Diamagnetic colloids of superconductive particles form stationary, rotary and translational seals by the use of appropriate magnetic fields. Specific embodiments include a generalized stationary seal and a family of rotary seals with opposing surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous manufacture of high temperature superconducting wires is disclosed. A core on which the superconductive ceramic substance is caused to directionally solidify from the melt is drawn through the melt in such a manner as to obtain an oriented microstructure conductive to high critical current carrying capacity. This also produces a macrostructure with appropriate mechanical strength and flexibility independently of the superconducting substance chosen.