Abstract: An apparatus for removing heavy metals from a thin film stack. A glass or plastic substrate has a front surface and a back surface and a heavy metal thin film is deposited on the back surface. A laser is provided for generating high density radiation. A scanning means directs the high density radiation through the substrate so that the high density radiation impinges upon the heavy metal thin film. The substrate is disposed in contacting relation to a flowing liquid and a liquid bath is provided for containing the flowing liquid and collecting heavy metal that is ablated by the high density radiation. The heavy metals are filtered from the liquid bath. The same parts can also remove heavy metals from both sides of a substrate or may be used to remove only peripheral edges of a thin film stack.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for creating laser-induced images inside transparent materials and on their surfaces are disclosed. The method is founded on the production of etch points by creating breakdowns at the predetermined points inside transparent material and by creating breakdowns at the predetermined points of the air or another environment. Mark areas on the transparent material surfaces are the frost areas and a surface image is an arrangement of the frost areas of different density. Such frost areas on the surface of a transparent material are produced by the plasma generated during breakdowns. A method and a system for controlling characteristics of plasma generated during breakdowns for controlling the parameters of the frost areas arisen under interaction of the plasma with the surface of the transparent material are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and an apparatus for creating laser-induced images inside transparent materials and its surface are disclosed. One or more embodiments of the invention comprise a method for producing etch points by creating breakdowns at the predetermined points inside transparent material and by creating breakdowns at the predetermined points of the air or another environment. One or more embodiments of the invention comprise a method for producing mark areas on a surface of transparent material as the frost areas and production images by creating the frost areas of different density. One or more embodiments of the invention comprise a method for producing the frost areas on the surface of a transparent material by using plasma generated during breakdowns.