Abstract: A system and a method for sterilizing objects, in particular medical instruments and accessories, using gas plasma, also called ionized gas. The gases used to form the plasma do not require to exhibit an intrinsic sterilizing activity. The sterilizing properties result from the passage through an electric field generating the plasma, an electric field which is provided by microwaves, a gas stream including oxygen in molecular form (O2) or as a gas element, and atomic or molecular species capable of emitting UV radiation once they have been energized. The system and method provide the advantage of making it possible to treat heat-sensitive and thermolabile objects at temperatures less than 50° C. using gases presenting no risks for the operator.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus having a series of individual plasma excitation devices each constituted by a wire applicator of microwave energy, having one end connected to a source for producing microwave energy and having an opposite end fitted with at least one magnetic dipole for creating at least one surface having a magnetic field that is constant and of intensity corresponding to electron cyclotron resonance, the dipole being mounted at the end of the microwave applicator in such a manner as to ensure that electrons accelerated to electron cyclotron resonance oscillate between the poles so as to create a plasma diffusion zone situated on the side of the dipole that is remote from the end of the applicator, the individual excitation devices being distributed relative to one another and in proximity with the work surface so as to create together a plasma that is uniform for the work surface.

Abstract: A method of producing a plasma by capacitive discharges between an active electrode and a passive electrode within a sealed chamber at controlled pressure, the passive electrode being placed at a given electric potential while the active electrode is fed with a discharge-maintaining voltage. The active electrode and passive electrode define a separation plane therebetween parallel to the electrodes. According to the method, a multipole magnetic barrier is placed between the electrodes within the sealed chamber, the multipole magnetic barrier producing magnetic field lines extending across the separation plane. Fast electrons accelerated by the active electrode are caused to oscillate between magnetic poles in order to create plasma production and diffusion zones that are situated on either side of a magnetic barrier facing each of the electrodes.

Abstract: A fluid-circulation heat exchanger including a porous body, made of thermally conductive material, in contact with at least one portion of a part to be cooled. The fluid flows through this porous body. The porous body has pores which generate directional changes of the fluid. These pores are large enough for the head loss of the fluid to be as small as possible on passage through the porous body. Application, in particular, to electron tubes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distribution device for distributing microwave power to excite a plasma inside an enclosure. According to the invention, the distribution device includes at least one second applicator of microwave energy to co-operate with a first applicator and an exciter to form at least one excitation triplet in which firstly the first applicator and the second applicator are mounted substantially parallel to each other and are spaced apart by a given amount to define between them a propagation zone for microwave energy, and secondly the exciter is disposed inside the enclosure by being placed relative to the first and second applicators in such a manner that the trajectories of the electrons do not cross the propagation zone, thereby dissociating the propagation zone and the absorption zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plasma excitation device comprising at least one electrically conductive wire applicator fed form an energy source in the microwave range and means for creating a magnetic field and adapted to create at least one surface having a constant magnetic field of a flux density that corresponds to electron cyclotron resonance. According to the invention, the wire applicator includes the means for creating the magnetic field, with the main component thereof being situated in a cross-section of the applicator and extending over at least a fraction of the length of the applicator, said applicator thus constituting an applicator both of a microwave electric field and of a static magnetic field.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and device for the identification of the leakiness of a neutron-capturing pencil, or control rod, of a nuclear reactor. The pencil is placed in an impervious chamber filled with an aggressive chemical solution. The solution is put under pressure in order to make it penetrate the defective pencil, then this pressure is relaxed in order to enable the solution to go out of the presumably defective pencil in the impervious chamber. The solution is analyzed in order to show up metallic salts of the constituent elements of the core of the pencil. Application is to routine checks on neutron-capturing pencils of a pressurized-water nuclear reactor.

Abstract: Method and device for exciting a plasma using microwaves at the electronic cyclotronic resonance.The device for exciting a gaseous medium by microwaves comprises at least a co-axial structure for introducing the microwave power inside a multipolar confinement structure and at least one antenna coupled to said co-axial structure for the localized introduction of the microwave energy inside said multipolar magnetic confinement structure which comprises a set of permanent magnets creating a network of surfaces having a constant magnetic field and presenting locally an intensity which corresponds to the electronic cyclotronic resonance, and said antenna being positioned on said network of surfaces of constant magnetic field in an area of intensity corresponding to the electronic cyclotronic resonance.The invention finds an application in the creation of a homogenous, isotropic plasma of large volume and high density, which is free of fields in the area of use.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of plasma. The process according to the invention comprises the steps of: maintaining a gaseous medium in an enclosure at a pressure in the range of 10.sup.-5 to 10.sup.-1 Torr; exciting this gaseous medium in the enclosure by means of UHF waves in the range of one to ten gigahertz, producing a plasma; and maintaining this plasma in the enclosure by means of a magnetic confinement shell comprising many elongated magnetic elements arranged parallel to each other inside the enclosure near the respective interior surfaces, the faces of the magnetic elements which face the interior of the enclosure having alternating polarities. It is more particularly applicable to the microelectronics industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing weft webs consisting of parallel spaced threads, in which at least one weft thread is fed around positioning, holding and advancing elements which consist of continuous endless belts which support a plurality of juxtaposed blocks which have a length corresponding substantially to the desired spacing between two consecutive weft threads. The blocks are in contact with one another in the rectilinear portions of the endless belt and spaced in the curved portion as they pass around drive rollers. At least one reciprocating thread guide has a free end which passes between the blocks in the curved portion of each endless belt, to feed thread between the blocks.

Abstract: A process for deep micro-engraving of a material includes the steps of superpositioning a plurality of elementary layers of respectively alternating indices on the material. Each of the layers is individually transparent to a predetermined wavelength in vacuum, and has an optical thickness equal to one quarter of the predetermined wavelength. The process further includes forming a plurality of openings in the elementary layers; the openings correspond to regions to be engraved on the material, and uncover selected portions of the material. The material is then illuminated by a laser beam of sufficient power to engrave, by sublimation, the uncovered material portions. The laser has the predetermined wavelength, and the plurality of layers form a mirror for the laser beam, which have a relatively high threshold of damage from the laser, and absorb substantially no power from the laser beam.

Abstract: A fabric, a method for its fabrication and an apparatus for its manufacture where a group of parallel yarns are fused with another group of parallel yarns perpendicular to the first group of yarns at predominantly lateral or peripheral portions of the resulting junctions by a high frequency current.