Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a (shaped) ceramic or glass-ceramic article, involving the steps of: (a) providing a powder or a powder mixture comprising ceramic or glass-ceramic material, (b) depositing a layer of said powder or powder mixture on a surface, (d) heating at least one region of said layer by means of an energy beam or a plurality of energy beams to a maximum temperature such that at least a part of said ceramic or glass-ceramic material in said at least one region is melted and (e) cooling said at least one region of said layer so that at least part of the material melted in step (d) is solidified, such that the layer is joined with said surface in said at least one region. The invention also relates to ceramic or glass-ceramic articles and their use.

Abstract: A glass for a light guide fiber GA1 is used in a core of a fiber 10 of a light guide, and has a refractive index nd between 1.56 and 1.74. The glass for a light guide fiber GA1 has the following composition: (A) SiO2: 20 to 55 wt %, (B11) B2O3: 0 to 2.0 wt %, (B2) does not contain P2O5 and GeO2, (C1) (BaO+SrO+La2O3+Lu2O3+Ta2O5+Gd2O3+WO3): 39 to 46 wt %, (D1) ZnO: 4 to 16 wt %, (E) does not contain Al2O3, (F) does not contain ZrO2, (G) does not contain PbO and As2O3, (H1) (Na2O+K2O): 4 to 10 wt %, (I) Sb2O3: 0 to 0.050 wt %, and (J1) (Na2SO4+K2SO4): 0.32 to 0.78 wt %.

Abstract: A glass for a light guide fiber GA1 is used in a core of a fiber 10 of a light guide, and has a refractive index nd between 1.56 and 1.74. The glass for a light guide fiber GA1 has the following composition: (A) SiO2: 20 to 55 wt %, (B11) B2O3: 0 to 2.0 wt %, (B2) does not contain P2O5 and GeO2, (C1) (BaO+SrO+La2O3+Lu2O3+Ta2O3+Gd2O3+WO3): 39 to 46 wt %, (D1) ZnO: 4 to 16 wt %, (E) does not contain Al2O3, (F) does not contain ZrO2, (G) does not contain PbO and As2O3, (H1) (Na2O+K2O): 4 to 10 wt %, (I1) Sb2O3: 0.001 to 0.010 wt %, and (J1) (Na2SO4+K2SO4): 0.32 to 0.78 wt %.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a (shaped) ceramic or glass-ceramic article, involving the steps of: (a) providing a powder or a powder mixture comprising ceramic or glass-ceramic material, (b) depositing a layer of said powder or powder mixture on a surface, (d) heating at least one region of said layer by means of an energy beam or a plurality of energy beams to a maximum temperature such that at least a part of said ceramic or glass-ceramic material in said at least one region is melted and (e) cooling said at least one region of said layer so that at least part of the material melted in step (d) is solidified, such that the layer is joined with said surface in said at least one region. The invention also relates to ceramic or glass-ceramic articles and their use.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer system is provided for monitoring or treating a liquid medium (5) within a processing vessel, (8) such as a melting tank or a vessel with an chemically aggressive liquid medium. The purpose of monitoring can be characterization of flow velocities, melt surface levels and inhomogeneities in the liquid medium. The ultrasonic transducer system comprises at least one electro-acoustical transducer element (1) and an acoustic waveguide (3,4). A first extremity of the acoustic waveguide is connected to the transducer element outside the processing vessel, while a second extremity of the acoustic waveguide extends inside the processing vessel. The acoustic waveguide comprises one or more cavities (4) which extend throughout the whole acoustic waveguide's length. The cavities may be closed (6) at the acoustic waveguide's second extremity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a planar optical waveguide device, especially an optical amplifier, comprising: a substrate (11); an active guiding layer (13) arranged on the substrate (11); a bottom layer (12) arranged between the active guiding layer (13) and the substrate (11); a top cladding layer (14) arranged over the active guiding layer (13).According to the invention, the active guiding layer (13) has the following composition:______________________________________ Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 8-20 mol % Na.sub.2 O 5-18 mol % La.sub.2 O.sub.3 6-35 mol %, preferably 10-30 mol % R.sub.2 O.sub.3 >0-6 mol %, preferably 0.5-1.5 mol % P.sub.2 O.sub.5 balance ______________________________________wherein, R represents Erbium (Er), Neodymium (Nd), or Ytterbium (Yb), or a combination of Er+Yb.