Abstract: A phase-change optical information recording medium capable of recording information therein, reproducing recorded information therefrom, rewriting recorded information, and erasing recorded information therefrom, which phase-change optical information recording medium is provided with a recording layer containing therein a phase-change recording material including Ge, Ga, Sb, Te, and one element selected from the group consisting of Mg and Ca, which recording material is capable of performing a reversible phase transition from a noncrystalline phase to a crystalline phase and vice verse with the application of an electromagnetic wave thereto.

Abstract: A photoreceptor including a support and a photosensitive layer formed thereon, optionally an undercoat layer between the support and the photosensitive layer, wherein when a group of data consisting of N samples of the height x(t)(&mgr;m) of a profile at the interface of the support on the side of the photosensitive layer, the interface of the photosensitive layer on the side of the support, and/or the interface of the undercoat layer on the side of the photosensitive layer, measured perpendicular to a horizontal direction of the support, taken at &Dgr;t (&mgr;m) intervals in the horizontal direction, is subjected to Fourier transformation in accordance with a formula as specified in the specification, in a power spectrum obtained by the Fourier transformation, I(S) represented by a formula specified in the specification has a particular value, a method of evaluating the above photoreceptor, a method of producing the photoreceptor, and an image formation apparatus in which the photoreceptor is incorporated ar

Abstract: An optical recording medium including a recording layer which includes a reversible phase-change recording material, the recording layer being capable of writing information therein, reading written information therefrom, and rewriting written information by utilizing the reversible phase change of the phase-change recording material, wherein when a recording mark formed in the recording layer is repeatedly read 5000 times, using a continuous wave laser beam having such an intensity Pr that satisfies the condition of 1.1 ≦R≦2.0, in which R is &dgr;repeat/&dgr;1 as defined in the specification, the optical recording medium satisfies a relationship of d1>dow as defined in the specification. The phase-change recording material, a method producing the optical recording medium, and a method of writing information in the optical recording medium, reading written information therefrom and rewriting written information thereare are proposed.

Abstract: A thin film of silicon is formed on an electrically insulating substrate, such as transparent quarts, by deposition, such as glow discharge or CVD method. The thin film of silicon thus formed normally does not have a monocrystalline structure, but, in this manner, the thin film of silicon can be formed on a relatively large surface area. The substrate having formed thereon the thin film is then placed on a support plate, preferably, of a silicon wafer, and, then, a blanket light irradiation is carried out by a plurality of tungsten halogen lamps. The light irradiated from the lamps is preferentially absorbed by the support plate of silicon wafer which is thus heated and then transfers heat to the thin film by conduction. Thus, the thin film is heated uniformly by heat conduction so that the thin film is heat treated, thereby obtaining a desired property. For example, the thin film is monocrystallized uniformly.

Abstract: An x-ray monochromator is composed of a semiconductor perfect single crystal serving as a monochromator and a solid state detector for measuring and/or counting the incident x-ray photons of an x-ray beam which enters the semiconductor single crystal, the solid state detector being disposed integrally with the semiconductor perfect single crystal on a side opposite to an x-ray beam incident side thereof.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing table salt effectively containing an efficient amount of the minerals from the sea water by using not fuel or electric energy but natural energy only. The method comprising the steps of infiltrating and flowing down the sea water from a hollow tower made of liquid permeable materials and producing primary salt water adding raw salt thereto to cause low solubility components to be separated and precipitated leaving residual salt water, and evaporating the moisture from said residual salt water at ambient temperature and humidity to produce table salt.