Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing a metal oxide, which comprises the steps of: dissolving a metal organic compound (e.g. a metal organic acid salt, a metal acetylacetonato complex, and a metal alkoxide having an organic group with 6 or more carbon atoms) in a solvent to provide a state of solution, applying the solution onto a substrate, drying the solution, and subjecting the resultant substrate to irradiation with a laser light of a 400 nm or less wavelength, to form a metal oxide on the substrate. According to that method, a metal oxide can be produced without applying a heat treatment at a high temperature of the degree adopted in the conventionally known application thermal decomposition method.

Abstract: A method of etching a surface of a transparent solid material with a laser beam, wherein the surface is irradiated with the laser beam having a fluence of 0.01-100 J/cm2/pulse while maintaining a fluid capable of absorbing the laser beam in contact with an opposite surface of the solid material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing polymer articles having highly functionalized surfaces excellent in biocompatibility, by irradiating the surfaces of a polymer article with an ultraviolet laser beam in a solution containing a biopolymer. According to this method, a polymer article that has surfaces with biocompatibility, can be produced.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for surface-modifying a fluorocarbonpolymer-molded article and a method for chemical plating the surface. The method for surface-modifying comprises irradiating the fluorocarbonpolymer-molded article with an ultraviolet laser beam having a wavelength of 250 nm or less, in the presence of hydrazine compound, to make a surface of the said fluorocarbonpolymer-molded article hydrophilic. The surface made being hydrophilic is made lipophilic by chemical treating with an organic acid anhydride. The method for chemical plating comprises chemical plating the surface made being hydrophilic by the above method for surface-modifying, to deposit a metal film on a surface of the fluorocarbonpolymer-molded article.

Abstract: A method of processing a photosensitive glass includes exposing. Photosensitive glass by radiation from a laser whose oscillation wavelength lies within the range of wavelengths of exposing light to which the glass responds. Then, the exposed portions 1c are thermally developed and etched. Since a laser beam propagates with a high rectilinearity, the front and rear surfaces of thick photosensitive glass can be exposed without producing dimensional errors. Therefore, the etching accuracy is improved. Especially, where the front and rear surfaces of photosensitive glass are etched, both surfaces can be processed so as to form the same shape in them accurately. In addition, because almost all the energy of the laser radiation is used for exposure of the photosensitive glass, the energy is not wasted and so the efficiency is high.

Abstract: A thin electroconductive film is formed by irradiating a shaped article of chlorinated vinyl polymer with a pulsive light having a pulse duration of not greater than 100 nsec., a fluence of above about 15 mJ/cm.sup.2 /pulse and below that at which the polymer is subject to ablation, a laser wavelength of from about 190 to about 300 nm, and repetition frequency of above about 1 Hz and below that at which the polymer is subject to deformation and/or decomposition by a regenerative function of irradiation, under vacuum or in an oxygen-free atmosphere, thereby irradiating the article with total photon numbers of at least 1.times.10.sup.18 /cm.sup.2 without causing photocrosslinking, oxidation or cleavage of the backbone chain. The invention does not use materials other than the starting polymer such as solvents or strong bases that can contaminate the thin film during a dehydrochlorination, so there is no need to remove solvents after reaction and no residual salts will be formed in the dehydrochlorination.

Abstract: A variable reluctance sensor is disclosed as adapted for sensing the rate of revolution of a toothed wheel of magnetic material. The sensor has at least two magnets disposed side by side. One of the magnet has a first pole (e.g. S pole) disposed opposite the toothed wheel, and the other magnet has a second pole (e.g. N pole) disposed opposite the toothed wheel. The second pole of the first mentioned magnet and the first pole of the second magnet are both held against a magnetic core around which a coil is wound. As the teeth of the magnetic wheel successively travel past the magnets, they create magnetic fluxes oriented in opposite directions, which counteract each other in the core. Consequently, the total magnetic flux in the magnetic member varies more greatly than heretofore depending upon whether each magnet is opposed to any one tooth, or to the space between any two neighboring teeth, of the magnetic wheel.

Abstract: The present invention lies in a process for modifying the surface of a molded article, which process comprises irradiating the surface of a molded article composed of an aromatic polymer or a polymer composition containing said aromatic polymer, with an ultraviolet laser beam having a wavelength of about 150 nm-380 nm at a fluence at least lower than the threshold to modify the surface as compared with the condition before the irradiation. The process makes it possible to modify the condition of the laser beam-irradiated surface portions of the molded article to, for example, a white color or black color, whereby the molded article can be endowed with functions and properties required in its use in various applications.