Abstract: An apparatus and method for coating a substrate with a thin film of material. The coating material is converted to a mist by means of an ultrasonic nebulizer and transported by a carrier gas to a chamber which contains the substrate where the mist is allowed to settle onto the substrate under the force of gravity. Sonic means are also provided to increase the settling rate of the mist droplets to lessen the settling time. Means are also provided to maintain the volume and concentration of the coating material in the nebulizer chamber over successive coatings.

Abstract: An electrodeless RF excited gas arc lamp for pumping a laser has a lamp envelope in the form of a loop having a continuous bore containing krypton, xenon or argon. Sufficient RF power to maintain a plasma in the gas in the loop is provided by a coil around its circumference so that it is linked by the flux generated by RF voltage through the coil. The laser rod to be pumped is mounted adjacent the loop. A diffuse reflector surrounds the lamp and laser rod to reflect back toward the rod light which does not impinge directly on the rod as well as any impinging light not initially absorbed by the rod.