Abstract: A vacuum pump system includes a secondary pumping mechanism incorporated into a stationary portion of a scroll pump. The stationary portion includes the stationary plate scroll of the scroll pump and defines a gas passageway in which the secondary pumping mechanism is disposed. The gas passageway is connected to a gas flow path through the scroll pump at a location upstream of an exhaust check valve of the scroll pump. The secondary pumping mechanism is displaceable within the gas passageway to draw residual gas in the compression stage upstream of the check valve into the gas passageway, and may pump the residual gas back out through the exhaust check valve, to evacuate residual gas from the compression stage.

Abstract: Optically resonant systems for redirecting optical signals are provided. A representative optically resonant system includes a first structure in a plane. The first structure reflects optical radiation in a first direction substantially orthogonal to the plane. The optically resonant system further includes a second structure overlapping the first structure. The second structure optically communicates with the first structure, and reflects optical radiation substantially parallel to the plane. The first and second structures operate to capture at least a portion of a first optical signal propagating substantially parallel to said plane by exciting a resonant signal in the resonant cavity through the resonant characteristics of the first and second structures. The first and second structures further operate to emit said resonant signal in a second direction substantially orthogonal to said plane. Methods and other optically resonant systems also are provided.