Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor strained layer and to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device (10) in which a semiconductor body (11) of silicon is provided, at a surface thereof, with a first semiconductor layer (1) having a lattice of a mixed crystal of silicon and germanium and a thickness such that the lattice is substantially relaxed, and on top of the first semiconductor layer (1) a second semiconductor layer (2) is provided comprising strained silicon, in which layer (2) a part of the semiconductor device (10) is formed, and wherein measures are taken to avoid reduction of the effective thickness of the strained silicon layer (2) during subsequent processing needed to form the semiconductor device (10), said measures comprising the use of a third layer (3) having a lattice of a mixed crystal of silicon and germanium.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises a reflective liquid crystal (LC) panel, and an optical device. The LC panel includes a twisted-nematic (TN) LC material, wherein one mode of the LC material includes a 90 degree twist (90TN0). A color sequential light valve may incorporate the LC material with the 90 degree twist (90TN0). The LC panel beneficially exhibits a contrast of at least approximately 1000:1. Moreover the LC panel exhibits minimal divergence between transfer characteristics for different colors of the optical system. Furthermore, the LC panel provides a higher contrast and superior uniformity in both dark and bright states, compared to known LC devices. Finally, the use of retarders in LC-based systems may be minimized or eliminated using the LC panel.

Abstract: An optical data storage medium (10) for recording by means of a focused radiation beam (9) having a wavelength ? is described. The beam enters through an entrance face (8) of the medium during recording. The medium at least comprises a substrate (1), including a guide groove with a depth g. The guide groove is present at the side of the substrate opposite to the entrance face. A recording stack (2, 3) of layers is present adjacent the substrate (1) at the side of the guide groove. The stack includes a write once recording layer (2) of a material having a complex refractive index ñR=nR?i*kR at the wavelength ? and having a thickness dRG in the groove portion and a thickness dRL in the portion between grooves. A non-metallic layer (3) of a substantially transparent material, is present adjacent the write-once recording layer (2). The groove depth g is in the range (?/655)*20 nm<g<(?/655)*140 nm with ? expressed in nm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a deflection yoke (10) for a cathode ray tube (14) in which the energy for deflection is reduced. This is done by providing a magnetic material (56) in voids (52,54) that occur between the ferrite core (10) and a set of frame coils (18). The magnetic material (56) is comprised in a preformed insert (90), which may further comprise a rubber or plastic material. This results in a clean method of adding the magnetic material.