Abstract: A method of processing a substrate that includes: exposing the substrate in a plasma processing chamber to a plasma powered by applying a first power to a first electrode of a plasma processing chamber; turning OFF the first power to the first electrode after the first time duration; while the first power is OFF, applying a second power to a second electrode of the plasma processing chamber for a second time duration, the second time duration being shorter than the first time duration, an energy of the second power over the second time duration is less than an energy of the first power over the first time duration by a factor of at least 2; and detecting an optical emission spectrum (OES) from species in the plasma processing chamber.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate that includes: exposing the substrate in a plasma processing chamber to a plasma powered by applying a first power to a first electrode of the plasma processing chamber for a first time duration; and after the first time duration, determining a process endpoint by: while exposing the substrate to the plasma by applying the first power to the first electrode, applying a second power to a second electrode of the plasma processing chamber for a second time duration that is shorter than the first time duration; and obtaining an optical emission spectrum (OES) from the plasma while applying the second power to the second electrode, where an energy of the second power over the second time duration is less than an energy of the first power over a sum of the first and the second time durations by a factor of at least 2.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a plasma in a plasma processing system that includes: generating a pulsed plasma in a plasma processing chamber of the plasma processing system, the pulsed plasma being powered with a pulsed power signal, each pulse of the pulsed plasma including three periods: a overshoot period, a stable-ON period, and a decay period; performing cyclic optical emission spectroscopy (OES) measurements for the pulsed plasma, the cyclic OES measurements including: obtaining first OES data during one of the three periods from more than one pulses of the pulsed plasma; and obtaining a characteristic of the pulsed plasma for the one of the three periods based only on the first OES data.

Abstract: A nozzle for controlling the flow of a water and/or gas component of a fluid produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir, the fluid comprising oil and water and/or gas, the nozzle comprising a fluid passage extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the fluid passage comprises an uneven surface for imparting turbulence to the water and/or gas component of the fluid.

Abstract: A flow control system includes a nozzle for controlling the flow of fluids into production tubing from a hydrocarbon containing reservoir. The nozzle comprises a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the passage comprises converging and diverging sections separated by a corner. The nozzle serves to effectively choke the flow of steam and thereby allows preferential production of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A nozzle for controlling the flow of fluids into and/or out of a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir comprises a fluid passage extending between first and second openings. The passage comprises a flow adjusting region for increasing the velocity of fluids injected into the reservoir and for choking steam produced from the reservoir.

Abstract: A nozzle for mitigating against solvent flashing in a solvent-assisted hydrocarbon extraction process comprises a fluid passage extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the fluid passage comprises a converging region, a throat, and a diverging region, and wherein at least the converging region is provided with a gradually reducing internal diameter. Preferably, the angle of convergence of the converging region is equal to or less than about 5 degrees.

Abstract: A steam injection nozzle for controlling the flowrate of steam injected into a hydrocarbon containing reservoir comprises a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the passage comprises a first, pressure dissipating section and a second, pressure recovery section.

Abstract: A nozzle for controlling the flow of a water and/or gas component of a fluid produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir, the fluid comprising oil and water and/or gas, the nozzle comprising a fluid passage extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the fluid passage comprises an uneven surface for imparting turbulence to the water and/or gas component of the fluid.

Abstract: A flow control nozzle for regulating flow of fluid into a pipe comprises a body having a portion that is adapted to be received within an opening in the pipe, wherein the body includes a channel extending from an inlet to an outlet opening into the pipe. The channel includes a first section extending from the inlet and a second section extending to the outlet, wherein the first and second sections are connected at an elbow and wherein the first section has a constant cross-sectional area and the second section has a diverging cross-sectional area. An apparatus comprising the flow control nozzle and a base pipe and a screen.

Abstract: A nozzle for controlling the flow of a gas component of a fluid produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir, the fluid comprising oil and gas, comprises a fluid passage extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the fluid passage comprises a constriction for choking the flow of the gas component of the fluid.

Abstract: A flow control system includes a nozzle for controlling the flow of fluids into production tubing from a hydrocarbon containing reservoir. The nozzle comprises a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the passage comprises converging and diverging sections separated by a corner. The nozzle serves to effectively choke the flow of steam and thereby allows preferential production of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A nozzle for controlling the flow of fluids into and/or out of a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir comprises a fluid passage extending between first and second openings, wherein the passage comprises flow adjusting region for increasing the velocity of fluids injected into the reservoir and for choking steam produced from the reservoir.

Abstract: A nozzle for mitigating against solvent flashing in a solvent-assisted hydrocarbon extraction process comprises a fluid passage extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the fluid passage comprises a converging region, a throat, and a diverging region, and wherein at least the converging region is provided with a gradually reducing internal diameter. Preferably, the angle of convergence of the converging region is equal to or less than about 5 degrees.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the flow of reservoir fluids into production tubing comprises abase pipe, a screen, a nozzle being adapted to receive filtered reservoir fluids passing through the screen, and a diverter adapted to receive the fluids from the nozzle and to divert such fluids into a port extending into the base pipe. The nozzle includes at least one converging-diverging section, whereby pressure of the fluids passing there-through is reduced.

Abstract: A steam injection nozzle for controlling the flowrate of steam injected into a hydrocarbon containing reservoir comprises a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the passage comprises a first, pressure dissipating section and a second, pressure recovery section.

Abstract: A flow control nozzle for regulating flow of fluid into a pipe comprises a body having a portion that is adapted to be received within an opening in the pipe, wherein the body includes a channel extending from an inlet to an outlet opening into the pipe. The channel includes a first section extending from the inlet and a second section extending to the outlet, wherein the first and second sections are connected at an elbow and wherein the first section has a constant cross-sectional area and the second section has a diverging cross-sectional area. An apparatus comprising the nozzle and a base pipe and a screen is also described.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating human cranial hair loss using extracorporeal acoustic shock waves are disclosed. The shock wave device optionally includes a proximal surface, a plurality of shock wave generators disposed on the surface, and a coupling assembly configured to transmit shock waves to a user's scalp.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating human cranial hair loss using extracorporeal acoustic shock waves are disclosed. The shock wave device optionally includes a proximal surface, a plurality of shock wave generators disposed on the surface, and a coupling assembly configured to transmit shock waves to a user's scalp.

Abstract: Devices and methods for generating acoustic shock wave within a cavity is disclosed. The shock wave device optionally includes a housing having a cylindrical portion and a cone frustum portion. The housing optionally forms a cavity configured to receive a body appendage. The shock wave device optionally includes a plurality of shock wave generators and a coupling assembly having a deformable sac configured to hold shock wave transmitting liquid. The volume of the transmitting liquid is optionally increased or decreased as needed so that the coupling assembly can conform to the shape of the body appendage. The shock waves generated optionally has an intensity gradient within the cavity of the shock wave device, where the intensity gradient is optionally controllable using a control and power supply unit.