Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for improving the sample aerosol yield in plasma-emission, sequential spectroscopic analysis. A reservoir is employed and an aerosol is produced therein from a limited amount of sample liquid with the assistance of an electro-mechanical oscillator system. Only that amount of aerosol which is supplied to an interconnected plasma by a carrier gas stream is used for a single analysis. Unused aerosol in the reservoir recondenses and mixed with residual sample liquid. Nearly 100% of a sample liquid may be used in this way.

Abstract: Long-term monitoring of pollutants or moisture in a fluid stream, such as an air stream, is achieved by electrically measuring (and optionally recording) pressure changes caused by a reaction between a pollutant or moisture in the stream and a chemical capable of reacting with such pollutant or moisture. The invention is useful for monitoring apparatus used in environment protection as well as measuring apparatus in determining moisture concentrations in, for example, protective or carrier gas streams utilized in semiconductor technology.

Abstract: A homeotropic orientation layer for a liquid crystal cell is produced by forming an organic liquid solution containing a suitable amount of Si and Me to provide a necessary ratio of such elements to correspond to a chemical composition defined by the formula:(Me.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.1-x (SiO.sub.y).sub.xwherein Me is an element selected from the group consisting of Al and Cr, x is a numeral at least equal to 0 and smaller than 1, and y is a numeral at least equal to 1.9 and not more than 2; applying a layer of such organic solution onto at least one face of a liquid crystal cell substrate, which may have a conductive layer thereon, and transferring such layer of organic solution into a solid homeotropically orientating layer by thermal decomposition of the organic solution, as by heating the solution-coated substrate at a temperature in the range of about 100.degree. to 550.degree. C. for a period of time ranging from about 10 to 30 minutes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell having a pair of spaced carrier plates with inner surfaces forming a cavity for receiving a layer of liquid crystal material, each of said inner surfaces being provided with a conductive coating and at least one of the carrier plates having its conductive coating covered with an insulated layer of silicon oxide base characterized by the insulating layer containing an additive selected from a group consisting of boron oxide, tin oxide, titanium oxide and mixtures thereof so that the insulating layer causes homeotropic orientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A method of producing a light conducting fiber by providing a rotating, heatable crucible having a cylindrical interior wall, successively depositing optical material forming layers from a liquid phase with the first layer being deposited on the interior wall of the rotating crucible and subsequent layers being deposited on a previous deposited layers, transforming each layer into a film of optical material to form a workpiece having a plurality of concentric cylindrical films of optical materials, and subsequently pulling the fiber from the workpiece while it is still in the crucible.

Abstract: A method of producing a light conducting fiber comprises the steps of providing a base member of an optical material such as glass or a synthetic glass-like material, depositing at least one optical material forming layer such as a glass forming layer or a synthetic glass-like material forming layer from a liquid phase on a surface of the base member and subsequently transforming each of the layers into a film of optical material such as a glass film or a synthetic glass-like film. The base member may be a glass tube and the optical material forming layers may be deposited on an interior surface and after the layers have been transformed into a film, the tube is collapsed into a rod and then subsequently drawn into a cladded light conducting fiber. In one embodiment of the invention, the base member is a rod and the layers are deposited on a surface of the rod which is subsequently drawn into a cladded light conducting fiber.