Abstract: This invention relates to enhancing a gas-phase reaction in a plasma comprising: creating plasma by at least one plasma source, and wherein that the method further comprises: generating ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves having a predetermined amount of acoustic energy by at least one ultrasonic high intensity and high power gas-jet acoustic wave generator, where said ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves are directed to propagate towards said plasma so that at least a part of said predetermined amount of acoustic energy is absorbed into said plasma, and where a sound pressure level of said generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves is at least substantially 140 dB and where an acoustic power of said generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves is at least substantially 100 W.

Abstract: A method and a system for decontamination the surface of food items such as meat pieces is described. A method includes obtaining at least one food item and/or at least one meat piece to be surface decontaminated, microwave treating the food item and/or the meat piece with microwaves in the range of 0.5-18 GHz such as 4-18 GHz, wherein the microwave treating is performed on at least one food item and/or meat piece which is packed in a packaging material, and/or the food item and/or meat piece pivot during microwave treating at least along two circular paths.

Abstract: This invention relates to a plasma surface modification process (and a corresponding a system) of a solid object (100) comprising creating plasma (104) by a plasma source (106), application of the plasma (104) to at least a part of a surface (314) of the solid object (100), generating ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves (102) by at least one ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic wave generator (101), wherein the ultrasonic acoustic waves are directed to propagate towards said surface (314) of the object (100) so that a laminar boundary layer (313) of a gas or a mixture of gases (500) flow in contact with said solid object (100) is thinned or destructed for at least a part of said surface (314). In this way, the plasma can more efficiently access and influence the surface of the solid object to be treated by the plasma, which speeds the process time up significantly.

Abstract: This invention relates to enhancing a gas-phase reaction in a plasma comprising: creating plasma (104) by at least one plasma source (106), and wherein that the method further comprises: generating ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves (102) having a predetermined amount of acoustic energy by at least one ultrasonic high intensity and high power gas-jet acoustic wave generator (101), where said ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves are directed to propagate towards said plasma (104) so that at least a part of said predetermined amount of acoustic energy is absorbed into said plasma (104), and where a sound pressure level of said generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves (102) is at least substantially 140 dB and where an acoustic power of said generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves (102) is at least substantially 100 W.

Abstract: This invention relates to a plasma surface modification process (and a corresponding a system) of a solid object (100) comprising creating plasma (104) by a plasma source (106), application of the plasma (104) to at least a part of a surface (314) of the solid object (100), generating ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves (102) by at least one ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic wave generator (101), wherein the ultrasonic acoustic waves are directed to propagate towards said surface (314) of the object (100) so that a laminar boundary layer (313) of a gas or a mixture of gases (500) flow in contact with said solid object (100) is thinned or destructed for at least a part of said surface (314). In this way, the plasma can more efficiently access and influence the surface of the solid object to be treated by the plasma, which speeds the process time up significantly.

Abstract: A method of detecting defects in a railway track rail, the rail (101) having a longitudinal centre plane and a surface, the surface including a running surface (102), the method comprising directing an excitation laser beam (106) to an excitation position (103) on the surface of the rail (101) to induce an ultrasonic wave in the rail (101); and directing a detection laser beam (108) to a detection position (104) on the surface of the rail (101) to detect at least one predetermined property of the induced ultrasonic wave; wherein the excitation position (103) and the detection position (104) are located on the running surface (102) and displaced from the longitudinal centre plane of the rail (101).

Abstract: A method of detecting defects in a railway track rail, the rail (101) having a longitudinal centre plane and a surface, the surface including a running surface (102), the method comprising directing an excitation laser beam (106) to an excitation position (103) on the surface of the rail (101) to induce an ultrasonic wave in the rail (101); and directing a detection laser beam (108) to a detection position (104) on the surface of the rail (101) to detect at least one predetermined property of the induced ultrasonic wave; wherein the excitation position (103) and the detection position (104) are located on the running surface (102) and displaced from the longitudinal centre plane of the rail (101).