Abstract: An optical fiber coupler for coupling a high power laser beam delivered by an incoming fiber into multiple outgoing fibers is disclosed. The beam emitted from the incoming fiber is collimated and split into multiple split beam portions for injection into the respective multiple outgoing fibers. Each split beam portion is shaped for injection into its respective outgoing fiber in accordance with specific beam injection criteria.

Abstract: A laser materials processing apparatus including means for optically and acoustically monitoring the processing and generating a processing signal representative of the processing, means for interpreting the processing signal and generating an interpreted output, and means for controlling the materials processing based upon the interpreted output and by generating a control signal applied to a laser materials processing component.

Abstract: The temperature of a surface undergoing a radiation assisted thermally driven process is sensed by observation of the thermal emission from that surface and used to control the process. In a preferred embodiment, the blue edge of the thermal emission spectral distribution is detected to determine the surface temperature of a workpiece during a process such as laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition, and used to control this temperature. The temperature measuring system has means for focusing workpiece thermal emission and defining the field of view, a spectrometer to separate shorter wavelength light from other spectral components of the thermal emission, and a photon-counting system to detect the shorter wavelength light and generate a surface temperature signal. Systems to determine surface temperature at a spot and along a line have an optical prism to disperse the thermal emission into component wavelengths, and a multichannel photon-counting detector comprised of an intensified photodetector array.

Abstract: The radiation pattern of shaded single element piezoelectric transducers and transducer arrays has reduced side lobe levels. Shading to reduce the intensity of emitted ultrasound at the edges of the transducer relative to the center is realized by varying the electric/acoustic conversion efficiency or polarization of the piezoelectric material, by having different mechanical element lengths, by selectively poling the piezoelectric material to produce poled and unpoled regions, and by control of electrode geometry. The shading of a phased array ultrasonic transducer is described in both lateral dimensions.

Abstract: A rechargeable aqueous zinc-halogen cell is described which includes a casing, an ion exchange membrane in the casing defining a positive and a negative electrode compartment, an electrode substrate in each compartment, at least the electrode substrate in the positive compartment consisting of vitreous carbon, an aqueous electrolytic solution containing a zinc salt selected from the class consisting of zinc bromide, zinc iodide, and mixtures thereof in both compartments, and halogen in the positive compartment.

Abstract: A solid state electrochemical cell is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as an amalgam, or alloys of lithium with indium or thallium, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode comprising a non-stoichiometric lithium compound in which the composition can be expressed by the formula Li.sub.x M.sub.y O.sub.z wherein the subscript x is in the range 0<x<1, M is a cation which can change its oxidation state in accordance with the value of x, the subscript y is in the range 0<y.ltoreq.3, and z has a value such that electrical neutrality of the compound is established, and a solid lithium-sodium aluminate electrolyte positioned within the casing between the anode and cathode and in contact with both the anode and cathode, the solid lithium-sodium aluminate electrolyte having an approximate composition of LiNaO.9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85.0% of the total alkali ion content is lithium.