Abstract: Thin composite panels with interconnection schemes that are unitized with the panels, i.e., formed integrally and substantially simultaneously with the panels, and/or that are embodied by structural elements bridging a face sheet and a liner sheet of a panel. Further contemplated is the application of an injection molding technique, such as reaction injection molding, in establishing a foam or polymeric core between laminates in thin composite panels. Additionally contemplated is the use of interchangeable laminate components in affording the capability of altering the coloring or other visual features of a reveal in a panel or panels.

Abstract: The generation of ultrabright, multikilovolt coherent tunable x-radiation resulting from amplification on hollow atom transition arrays is described. Amplification has been demonstrated by physical evidence including (a) the observation of selected spectral components of several Xeq+ hollow atom transition arrays (q=30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37) radiated axially from confined plasma channels, (b) the measurement of line narrowing that is spectrally correlated with the amplified transitions, (c) evidence for spectral hole-burning in the spontaneous emission, a manifestation of saturated amplification, that corresponds spectrally with the amplified lines, and (d) the detection of an intense narrow (??x˜0.2 mr) directed beam of radiation in the far field of the source.

Abstract: Thin composite panels with interconnection schemes that are unitized with the panels, i.e., formed integrally and substantially simultaneously with the panels. Further contemplated is the application of an injection molding technique, such as reaction injection molding, in establishing a foam or polymeric core between laminates in thin composite panels. Additionally contemplated is the use of interchangeable laminate components in affording the capability of altering the coloring or other visual features of a reveal in a panel or panels.

Abstract: A tape drive for use with magnetic tapes includes a housing for receiving a magnetic tape having multiple parallel tracks, and a tape head for reading and writing the parallel tracks of the magnetic tape. A plurality of partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) equalization/detection channels are provided for processing the data signals to determine the data stream for each data signal. The plurality of PRML equalization/detection channels includes at least one PRML equalization/detection channel pre-assigned to each track. The plurality of PRML equalization/detection channels further includes at least one floating PRML equalization/detection channel dynamically assignable on an as-needed basis. The invention also contemplates an ASIC, a generic drive, and a PRML method.

Abstract: A horizontal joint between upper and lower building panels, as well as a building wall including such a horizontal joint, in which a liquid diverting arrangement includes a gutter with first and second ends and at least one aperture disposed between these ends. Also contemplated are a method and apparatus for forming at least two building panels, in which the panels have different reveal dimensions, and a method and apparatus for forming a building panel in which a first reveal portion is registered while a second reveal portion has been formed at a preselected distance therefrom. Further contemplated are a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which panels having different thickness dimensions can be interchangeably connected with one another, as well as a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which on or more decorative profile panels and one or more structural building wall panels can be interchangeably connected with one another.

Abstract: Thin composite panels with interconnection schemes that are unitized with the panels, i.e., formed integrally and substantially simultaneously with the panels. Further contemplated is the application of an injection molding technique, such as reaction injection molding, in establishing a foam or polymeric core between laminates in thin composite panels. Additionally contemplated is the use of interchangeable laminate components in affording the capability of altering the coloring or other visual features of a reveal in a panel or panels.

Abstract: The generation of ultrabright, multikilovolt coherent tunable x-radiation resulting from amplification on hollow atom transition arrays is described. Amplification has been demonstrated by physical evidence including (a) the observation of selected spectral components of several Xeq+ hollow atom transition arrays (q=30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37) radiated axially from confined plasma channels, (b) the measurement of line narrowing that is spectrally correlated with the amplified transitions, (c) evidence for spectral hole-burning in the spontaneous emission, a manifestation of saturated amplification, that corresponds spectrally with the amplified lines, and (d) the detection of an intense narrow (&dgr;&thgr;x˜0.2 mr) directed beam of radiation in the far field of the source.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the generation of ultrabright multikilovolt x-rays from saturated amplification on noble gas transition arrays from hollow atom states is described. Conditions for x-ray amplification in this spectral region combine the production of cold, high-Z matter, with the direct, selective multiphoton excitation of hollow atoms from clusters using ultraviolet radiation and a nonlinear mode of confined, self-channeled propagation in plasmas. Data obtained is consistent with the presence of saturated amplification on several transition arrays of the hollow atom Xe(L) spectrum (&lgr;˜2.9 Å). An estimate of the peak brightness achieved is ˜1029 &ggr;·s−1·mm−2·mr−2 (0.1% Bandwidth)−1, that is ˜105-fold higher than presently available synchotron technology.

Abstract: A horizontal joint between upper and lower building panels, as well as a building wall including such a horizontal joint, in which a liquid diverting arrangement includes a gutter with first and second ends and at least one aperture disposed between these ends. Also contemplated are a method and apparatus for forming at least two building panels, in which the panels have different reveal dimensions, and a method and apparatus for forming a building panel in which a first reveal portion is registered while a second reveal portion has been formed at a preselected distance therefrom. Further contemplated are a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which panels having different thickness dimensions can be interchangeably connected with one another, as well as a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which on or more decorative profile panels and one or more structural building wall panels can be interchangeably connected with one another.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the generation of ultrabright multikilovolt x-rays from saturated amplification on noble gas transition arrays from hollow atom states is described. Conditions for x-ray amplification in this spectral region combine the production of cold, high-Z matter, with the direct, selective multiphoton excitation of hollow atoms from clusters using ultraviolet radiation and a nonlinear mode of confined, self-channeled propagation in plasmas. Data obtained is consistent with the presence of saturated amplification on several transition arrays of the hollow atom Xe(L) spectrum (&lgr;˜2.9 Å). An estimate of the peak brightness achieved is ˜1029 &ggr;·s−1·mm−2·mr−2 (0.1% Bandwidth)−1, that is ˜105-fold higher than presently available synchotron technology.

Abstract: A horizontal joint between upper and lower building panels, as well as a building wall including such a horizontal joint, in which a liquid diverting arrangement includes a gutter with first and second ends and at least one aperture disposed between these ends. Also contemplated are a method and apparatus for forming at least two building panels, in which the panels have different reveal dimensions, and a method and apparatus for forming a building panel in which a first reveal portion is registered while a second reveal portion has been formed at a preselected distance therefrom. Further contemplated are a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which panels having different thickness dimensions can be interchangeably connected with one another, as well as a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which on or more decorative profile panels and one or more structural building wall panels can be interchangeably connected with one another.

Abstract: A horizontal joint between upper and lower building panels, as well as a building wall including such a horizontal joint, in which a liquid diverting arrangement includes a gutter with first and second ends and at least one aperture disposed between these ends. Also contemplated are a method and apparatus for forming at least two building panels, in which the panels have different reveal dimensions, and a method and apparatus for forming a building panel in which a first reveal portion is registered while a second reveal portion has been formed at a preselected distance therefrom. Further contemplated are a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which panels having different thickness dimensions can be interchangeably connected with one another, as well as a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which on or more decorative profile panels and one or more structural building wall panels can be interchangeably connected with one another.

Abstract: A horizontal joint between upper and lower building panels, as well as a building wall including such a horizontal joint, in which a liquid diverting arrangement includes a gutter with first and second ends and at least one aperture disposed between these ends. Also contemplated are a method and apparatus for forming at least two building panels, in which the panels have different reveal dimensions, and a method and apparatus for forming a building panel in which a first reveal portion is registered while a second reveal portion has been formed at a preselected distance therefrom. Further contemplated are a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which panels having different thickness dimensions can be interchangeably connected with one another, as well as a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which on or more decorative profile panels and one or more structural building wall panels can be interchangeably connected with one another.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for generating prompt X-radiation from gas clusters. The present invention includes the excitation of inner-shell electrons in the atoms comprising gas clusters using intense ultraviolet laser radiation, thereby producing intense, prompt X-ray emission from the ensemble. Clusters enable atomic excitation rates to achieve the high values characteristic of condensed matter while simultaneously eliminating, through local rapid expansion to low particle density, undesirable collisional interactions that would establish equilibrium conditions in the excited material, and effectively destroy the inner-shell specificity of the excitation. By choosing the atomic species in the cluster, the laser intensity and wavelength, and the cluster size, one can determine the wavelength of X-radiation emitted from the clusters. Moreover, by selecting the energy levels involved in the excitation process, one can produce a population inversion having significant gain and suitable for lasing.

Abstract: Apparatus for x-ray microholography of living biological materials. A Fourier transform holographic configuration is described as being most suitable for the 3-dimensional recording of the physical characteristics of biological specimens. The use of a spherical scatterer as a reference and a charge-coupled device two-dimensional detector array placed in the forward direction relative to the incident x-radiation for viewing electromagnetic radiation simultaneously scattered from both the specimen and the reference scatterer permits the ready reconstruction of the details of the specimen from the fringe pattern detected by the charge-coupled device. Both laser and synchrotron radiation sources are feasible for generating microholographs. Operation in the water window (2.4 to 4.

Abstract: Methods for food product preservation by inactivation of microorganisms and/or enzymes by applying pulses of very intense, very short duration pulses of light in the visible and near visible frequencies to the surface of food products to be preserved. Also disclosed are packaging methods and apparatus utilizing such intense, short pulses of polychromatic, incoherent light.

Abstract: A plasma pinch system includes a fluid-jet pinch device for establishing a plasma source composed of a tenuous vapor preconditioning cloud surrounding a central narrow flowing fine stream of fluid under pressure. A discharge device is connected electrically to the fluid-jet pinch device for supplying an electrical flow through a portion of the fluid stream for establishing an incoherent light emitting plasma therealong. A method of using the plasma pinch system for manufacturing semiconductors, includes exposing a semiconductor wafer to the incoherent light emitted by the plasma for either annealing or etching purposes.

Abstract: Apparatus for x-ray microholography of living biological materials. A Fourier transform holographic configuration is described as being most suitable for the 3-dimensional recording of the physical characteristics of biological specimens. The use of a spherical scatterer as a reference and a charge-coupled device two-dimensional detector array placed in the forward direction relative to the incident x-radiation for viewing electromagnetic radiation simultaneously scattered from both the specimen and the reference scatterer permits the ready reconstruction of the details of the specimen from the fringe pattern detected by the charge-coupled device. For example, by using a nickel reference scatter at 4.5 nm, sufficient reference illumination is provided over a wide enough angle to allow similar resolution in both transverse and longitudinal directions. Both laser and synchrotron radiation sources are feasible for generating microholographs. Operation in the water window (2.4 to 4.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for food product preservation by inactivation of microorganisms and/or enzymes by applying pulses of very intense, very short duration pulses of light in the visible and near visible frequencies to the surface of food products to be preserved. Also disclosed are packaging methods and apparatus utilizing such intense, short pulses of polychromatic, incoherent light.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for food product preservation by inactivation of microorganisms and/or enzymes by applying pulses of very intense, very short duration pulses of light in the visible and near visible frequencies to the surface of food products to be preserved. Also disclosed are packaging methods and apparatus utilizing such intense, short pulses of polychromatic, incoherent light.