Abstract: Processes for removing the top ply from a stack of plies, such as layers of fabric, in which an element engages the stack and moves relative to the ply to be removed along the face of said ply while pressure is inserted by the element on the stack in such a way that this is locally dented. The element used to engage the ply is provided with a smooth surface. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method having a single hollow element which is provided with suction openings or blow openings and can be moved perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method for making electrical contacts to diamond, in which a surface layer of the diamond is transformed by means of a laser beam into graphite having a sheet resistivity in the range of 5 to 100 Ohms. The diamond to be treated and the laser beam are moved with respect to each other according to a raster pattern. The laser is operated with such a pulse width and pulse frequency, the laser beam is focussed in such a way and is moved with respect to the diamond at such a speed, that pit-like surface areas of graphite are formed which join or overlap. After the graphitization a wire or other electrical conductor is fixed to the graphite layer, through which a diamond having electrical contacts is obtained.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the detection of ionizing radiation, in which a diamond is used as the radiosensitive element of the detecting apparatus, which diamond has low (2.times.10.sup.-3 at .% or less) nitrogen concentration and low (10.sup.-4 or less) birefringence, and in which diamond the lifetime of the free carriers generated by the ionizing radiation is 10.sup.-6 s or longer. The current-voltage characteristic of the diamond under irradiation is linear at low bias voltage and the dose rate can be determined from the resistivity of the diamond. A synthetic diamond crystal can be used to advantage as the radiosensitive element.