Abstract: A delivery arrangement for CO.sub.2 (carbon dioxide) laser radiation is described which is particularly designed for laser medical systems. The delivery arrangement has three components--an articulated arm connectable to a CO.sub.2 laser head, a waveguide probe for directing CO.sub.2 laser radiation to an operating site, and a coupler for conditioning CO.sub.2 laser radiation emanating from the arm for coupling into the waveguide probe.

Abstract: A probe is described for delivering CO.sub.2 radiation to a desired site. Such probe includes an n<1 optical guide made of sapphire tubing. In one embodiment, the probe includes a disposable tip.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for conversion of congruently melting polycrystalline fibers to single crystal fibers. The method is particularly useful for production of fibers ranging from about 30 .mu.m to about 1,000 .mu.m in diameter, which are capable of infrared (IR) transmission and of functioning in nonlinear optical applications. The polycrystalline fiber is converted to a single crystal fiber by creating a melt zone near one end of said polycrystalline fiber and then causing said melt zone to travel a length of said polycrystalline fiber at least once, so that the fiber continuously melts and recrystallizes into a single crystal along the length so that such length becomes one continuous crystal.In another embodiment of the invention, the method described above is utilized to improve the surface characteristics of a single crystal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and the chemical solutions (a blend of H.sub.2 SO..4 and CH.sub.3 COOH) employed for producing high quality crystal surfaces on CaF.sub.2 and BaF.sub.2 by a chemical polishing cycle that follows a multistage mechanical polishing cycle. The high quality crystal surfaces on CaF.sub.2 and BaF.sub.2, which otherwise are of the quality for field of use, makes these crystals ideally suited for applications as windows for HF/DF laser since the chemically polished crystal surface has fewer irregularities which reduce the amount of surface scattering of the HF/DF radiation, thus allowing a more predictable output. The high quality surfaces achieved from chemical polishing are of particular value in the study of optical absorption of very low loss materials, where the scattered radiation produces heat.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated liquid transfer valve assembly capable of segmenting and transferring plural different volumes of liquid from like numbered liquid flow paths established through the valve and depositing said segmented volumes into like numbered adjacent liquid flow paths under the influence of pressurized fluid. At least two pairs of liquid flow paths are established and a linearly movable valve element carrying at least two pairs of segmenting bores is arranged selectively to intercept said pairs of liquid flow paths. One of each segmenting bore pairs intercepting one of each pair of liquid flow paths at one condition of the valve and the valve element being translated linearly to place said one of each segmenting bore pair in communication with the other of each liquid flow path pair with the other of each segmenting bore pair intercepting said one of each liquid flow path pair; the members of each segmenting bore pair being identical in volume but each bore pair being different in volume.