Abstract: An anti-polish ring for an internal combustion engine is provided. The anti-polish ring includes an axially extending ring portion that is configured to scrape a top portion of a piston in a cylinder liner. The anti-polish ring is configured to accommodate passage of an intake or exhaust valve thereby. The anti-polish ring may include an alignment feature so that the anti-polish ring is inserted in a predetermined orientation in the cylinder. The anti-polish ring may include a heat shield and/or a seating member.

Abstract: An optical element includes a transmissive layer comprising a multitude of discrete volumes of first and second optical media arranged along the transmissive layer. The discrete volumes are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function. Effecting at least partial reflow of one or both of the optical media can smooth the morphology of the transmissive layer so as to reduce unwanted diffraction or scattering.

Abstract: A reflective optical element includes a reflective surface comprising a multitude of discrete recessed and non-recessed areas arranged along the reflective surface. The discrete areas are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function. Effecting at least partial reflow of one or more optical media or reflective materials can smooth the morphology of the reflective surface so as to reduce unwanted diffraction or scattering.

Abstract: An optical element includes a transmissive layer comprising a multitude of discrete volumes of first and second optical media arranged along the transmissive layer. The discrete volumes are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function. Effecting at least partial reflow of one or both of the optical media can smooth the morphology of the transmissive layer so as to reduce unwanted diffraction or scattering.

Abstract: A reflective optical element includes a reflective surface comprising a multitude of discrete recessed and non-recessed areas arranged along the reflective surface. The discrete areas are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function. Effecting at least partial reflow of one or more optical media or reflective materials can smooth the morphology of the reflective surface so as to reduce unwanted diffraction or scattering.

Abstract: A method and system for cementing and perforating a wellbore in a single step by coupling a perforating gun with a wiper plug. The method includes injecting cement in a wellbore having casing therein and an annulus between the casing and wellbore. A wiper plug is dropped on the cement having a perforating gun attached to the wiper plug. The plug is forced downward pulling the perforating gun along. The downward motion of the plug in turn pushes the cement out the bottom end of the casing and into the annulus. The cement in the annulus is allowed to set and the perforating gun is activated.

Abstract: A method of completing a wellbore that includes providing wellbore casing having shaped charges and permanent pressure gauges on an outer surface of the casing. In an example of use, the casing is inserted into the wellbore and cement is injected into an annulus formed between the casing and wellbore. The shaped charges are strategically deployed on the casing so they aim towards a wall of the wellbore and are spaced apart along the casing. Thus detonating the shaped charges creates perforations into a formation around the wellbore and places the pressure gauges into pressure communication with the formation. Pressure readings are delivered to the surface from the pressure gauges in the form of signals.

Abstract: A method and system for cementing and perforating a wellbore in a single step by coupling a perforating gun with a wiper plug. The method includes injecting cement in a wellbore having casing therein and an annulus between the casing and wellbore. A wiper plug is dropped on the cement having a perforating gun attached to the wiper plug. The plug is forced downward pulling the perforating gun along. The downward motion of the plug in turn pushes the cement out the bottom end of the casing and into the annulus. The cement in the annulus is allowed to set and the perforating gun is activated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device used to verify the identity of a selected fluid before permitting the selected fluid to be introduced into a storage vessel containing a liquid of known specific gravity. The device includes a container constructed from connecting walls to form a chamber having an opening through which a selected fluid may be introduced; a first float switch positioned in the container for generating a first signal when contacted by a fluid having a specific gravity greater than a first predetermined amount; a second float switch positioned in the container for generating a second signal in the presence of a fluid having a specific gravity greater than a second predetermined amount, where the first predetermined amount is less than the second predetermined amount, and the second float switch is responsive to the first signal from the first float switch.

Abstract: A laser apparatus and method is disclosed comprising a first lasant material which is located in an optical cavity and which produces laser radiation of a first wavelength, and a second lasant material which is pumped by radiation from the first lasant material, which absorbs laser radiation at the first wavelength in an amount generally comparable to the Optimum Output Coupling, which functions as the output coupler for the optical cavity and which lases at a second wavelength. The first lasant material and the second lasant material are preferably selected to have minimal losses such that there is a net gain in the cavity.

Abstract: A heat dissipating device and method for dissipating waste heat produced by a solid state device, which includes (a) a solid state device and (b) a heat sink for dissipating waste heat produced by the solid state device which includes a base member being in thermal contact with the solid state device and a plurality of elongated heat conducting elements extending outwardly from the base member.

Abstract: The optical output power from a GaInP based laser diode can be at least doubled by slight cooling of the device with thermoelectric cooling means when the diode is operated in a substantially room temperature environment.

Abstract: Optical radiation from a laser diode is frequency modified through interaction with a nonlinear optical material in an external optical cavity. High efficiency frequency modification is achieved through the use of optical feedback from the external cavity to narrow the linewidth of the laser diode output and frequency lock the laser diode to the external cavity.

Abstract: An efficient, compact source of coherent radiation in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet portion of the spectrum which is capable of modulation rates over the range from 0 Hz to in excess of 1 GHz. The radiation is produced by optical mixing within the optical cavity of a laser by introducing input radiation into the optical cavity where: (a) the cavity is that of a diode-pumped solid state laser, and/or (b) input radiation is provided by a solid state device selected from the group consisting of laser diodes, laser diode arrays and diode-pumped solid state lasers.

Abstract: An efficient, compact source of coherent radiation in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet portion of the spectrum which is capable of modulation rates over the range from O Hz to in excess of 1 GHz. The radiation is produced by optical mixing within an external optical cavity wherein at least one of the interacting beams of light is provided by a solid state device selected from the group consisting of laser diodes, laser diode arrays and diode-pumped solid state lasers.

Abstract: An optically pumped solid state laser which is constructed of components held in association by a support structure which is configured to receive the components and automatically arrange them with respect to one another along an optical path.

Abstract: An optically pumped solid state laser which is constructed of components having attached fittings which are structured in such a manner that the components are automatically arranged with respect to one another along an optical path upon joining the fittings together.

Abstract: A method of initiating a rapid pH change in a solution by irradiating the solution with an intense flux of electromagnetic radiation of a frequency which produces a substantial pK change to a compound in solution. To optimize the resulting pH change, the compound being irradiated in solution should have an excited state lifetime substantially longer than the time required to establish an excited state acid-base equilibrium in the solution. Desired pH changes can be accomplished in nanoseconds or less by means of picosecond pulses of laser radiation.

Abstract: Isotopically enriched material can be produced by photopredissociation of gaseous formaldehyde containing mixtures of isotopes of C, H, or O, by laser beams at 32980 cm.sup.-1 or at 32890 cm.sup.-1, or by an argon-ion laser beam at 351.1 nm, or by the tripled frequency of a 1.06 .mu.m neodymium-glass laser beam at approximately 0.35 .mu.m. At wavelengths shorter than 330 nm a paramagnetic gas, especially NO and also O.sub.2 may enhance the enrichment and yield.

Abstract: Impurities such as PH.sub.3, AsH.sub.3, and B.sub.2 H.sub.6 may be removed from SiH.sub.4 by means of selective photolysis with ultraviolet radiation of the appropriate wavelength. An ArF laser operating at 193 nm provides an efficient and effective radiation source for the photolysis.