Abstract: A method of forming a layer (3) on a substrate (2) made of a fluoridic material includes: depositing a coating material (9) on the substrate to form the layer and generating a plasma (12) to assist the deposition of the coating material. The plasma is formed from a gas mixture (14) containing a first gas (G) and a second gas (H), wherein the second gas has an ionization energy less than an ionization energy of the first gas, the first gas is a noble gas and the second gas is a further noble gas. An associated optical element includes: a substrate (2) composed of a fluoridic material, in particular a metal fluoride, wherein the substrate has a coating (18) having a layer (3) formed by the above method. An associated optical system, in particular for the DUV wavelength range, includes at least one such optical element.

Abstract: An optical system, in particular for microlithography, comprises a laser light source for generating a multiplicity of light pulses, and a control unit configured to control the laser light source in such a way that, for a light pulse sequence generated by the laser light source, the time period between respectively successive light pulses varies across the light pulse sequence. A method comprises operating the optical system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing thin, porous membranes from crosslinkable silicone compositions (S), in which: in a first step, a mixture of the silicone compositions (S) with a pore forming agent (P) and, where appropriate, solvent (L) is formed; in a second step, the mixture is placed in a mould and the silicone composition (S) is vulcanised and any solvent (L) present is removed, producing a crosslinked membrane with pores, in a third step, the pore forming agent (P) in removed from the crosslinked membrane; and in a fourth step, the pores of the membrane are opened by stretching. The invention also relates to the membranes produced in this manner and to the use thereof for separating mixtures, in wound plasters, as packaging materials and as textile membranes.

Abstract: Subject-matter of the invention are processes for preparing fatty acid vinyl ester copolymers by radically initiated polymerization of a) one or more vinyl esters of carboxylic acids having 16 to 22 carbon atoms and b) one or more vinyl esters of carboxylic acids having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, with one or more vinyl esters a) and one or more vinyl esters b) being metered in during the polymerization, characterized in that during the polymerization either the metering rate of vinyl ester a) or the metering rate of vinyl ester b) is reduced and the metering rate of the other of the two vinyl esters, a) or b), is increased.

Abstract: Subject-matter of the invention are processes for preparing fatty acid vinyl ester copolymers by radically initiated polymerization of a) one or more vinyl esters of carboxylic acids having 16 to 22 carbon atoms and b) one or more vinyl esters of carboxylic acids having 2 to 15 carbon atoms, with one or more vinyl esters a) and one or more vinyl esters b) being metered in during the polymerization, characterized in that during the polymerization either the metering rate of vinyl ester a) or the metering rate of vinyl ester b) is reduced and the metering rate of the other of the two vinyl esters, a) or b), is increased.