Abstract: An apparatus for generating a pressure wave for activating a fusion reaction in fusionable material in a liquid medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of pressure wave generators having respective moveable pistons, the pistons having respective control rods connected thereto. The apparatus also includes a plurality of transducers coupled to the liquid medium and means for causing the pistons of respective ones of the plurality of the pressure wave generators to be accelerated toward respective ones of the plurality of transducers. The apparatus further includes means for causing restraining forces to be applied to respective control rods to cause respective pistons to impact respective transducers at respective desired times and with respective desired amounts of kinetic energy such that the respective desired amounts of kinetic energy are converted into a pressure wave that converges toward the fusionable material in the liquid medium.

Abstract: A fusion reactor apparatus for initiating a fusion reaction in a fusionable material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vessel operable to contain a liquid medium and a vortex generator operable to generate a vortex in the liquid medium. The apparatus also includes a plasma generator operable to generate a magnetized plasma of the fusionable material and to introduce the magnetized plasma into the vortex and a pressure wave generator operably configured to cause a pressure wavefront in the liquid medium to envelope the magnetized plasma and to converge on the magnetized plasma to impart sufficient energy to the fusionable material to initiate fusion in the fusionable material.

Abstract: A fusionable material target apparatus for use in a fusion reactor having fusion reactions initiated by a pressure wave in a heated liquid medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a container for enclosing fusionable material, the container being operable to be cooled until at least some of the fusionable material is in a solidified state. The container operable to be received in the heated liquid medium. The apparatus also includes a heat insulator for insulating the container while the container is in the heated liquid medium for a time sufficient to maintain at least some of the fusionable material in the solidified state until fusion is initiated by the pressure wave.

Abstract: An optical cross-connect switch is disclosed for switching optical communication signals between any of a plurality of input optical channels and any of a plurality of output optical channels. The switch comprises a first pattern projector configured to project one or more first control signal radiation patterns and a plurality of output encoders. Each output encoder is associated with one of the plurality of output optical channels. Each output encoder is positioned, relative to its associated output optical channel and the first pattern projector, to receive the first control signal radiation patterns and to detect at least a portion of one or more corresponding output Moiré interference patterns produced by the control signal radiation patterns. Each output encoder is configured to generate a corresponding output control signal indicative of an intensity of detected output Moiré interference patterns.

Abstract: A method for inducing nuclear fusion and a reactor for inducing nuclear fusion involve positioning a bubble containing fusionable nuclei at the center of a liquid filled spherical vessel and generating a spherically symmetric positive acoustic pulse in the liquid. The acoustic pulse surrounds and converges toward the center of the vessel to compress the bubble, thereby providing energy to and inducing nuclear fusion of the atomic nuclei.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining the optimal adjustment of imaging systems used to prepare lithographic printing surfaces for a printing press are described. A series of test patterns are imaged while varying a particular imaging parameter. This is followed, if necessary, by processing the plate in processing line. The plate is then returned to the digital imaging system where the reflectivity of the imaged test patterns is measured using a radiation source and detector, to determine the optimal setting for the parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for an optical fiber cross-connect switch incorporating an absolute position encoder and a magnetic actuation system into its alignment system. The switch comprises two optically opposed arrays of fiber-optic switching units, each of which contains a single fiber active to send or receive an optical communication signal. The magnetic actuation system comprising four magnetically polarizable actuator branches positioned surrounding the fiber and a magnetizable disk circumferentially attached to the fiber end. Selective magnetic polarization of the actuator branches bends the fiber end. A two-dimensional Moiré type position encoder determines the absolute position of the fiber end. The encoder comprises at east one plurality of radiation sources, which emits pulses of radiation (control signals) directed toward the switching units.

Abstract: An optical cross-connect switch is disclosed for switching optical communication signals between any of a plurality of input optical channels and any of a plurality of output optical channels. The switch comprises a first pattern projector configured to project one or more first control signal radiation patterns and a plurality of output encoders. Each output encoder is associated with one of the plurality of output optical channels. Each output encoder is positioned, relative to its associated output optical channel and the first pattern projector, to receive the first control signal radiation patterns and to detect at least a portion of one or more corresponding output Moiré interference patterns produced by the control signal radiation patterns. Each output encoder is configured to generate a corresponding output control signal indicative of an intensity of detected output Moiré interference patterns.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a two-dimensional Moiré type absolute position encoder and an associated control system. A reticle having a pattern variation in two orthogonal directions is illuminated with radiation from a source which is structured so as to create a two dimensional Moiré interference at the reticle. Radiation pulses from the radiation source are multiplexed in time and the resulting interference fringes are converted into electronic signals using a detector. A controller uses the electrical signals to determine the absolute position of the reticle in two dimensions to within the area of a particular cell. After determining the particular cell location, the controller also employs the signals from the groups of radiation stripes to calculate an accurate position of the reticle within the cell.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a two-dimensional Moiré type absolute position encoder and an associated control system. A reticle having a pattern variation in two orthogonal directions is illuminated with radiation from a source which is structured so as to create a two dimensional Moire interference at the reticle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for an optical fiber cross-connect switch incorporating an absolute position encoder and a magnetic actuation system into its alignment system. The switch comprises two optically opposed arrays of fiber-optic switching units, each of which contains a single fiber active to send or receive an optical communication signal. The magnetic actuation system comprising four magnetically polarizable actuator branches positioned surrounding the fiber and a magnetizable disk circumferentially attached to the fiber end. Selective magnetic polarization of the actuator branches bends the fiber end. A two-dimensional Moir{acute over (e )} type position encoder determines the absolute position of the fiber end. The encoder comprises at east one plurality of radiation sources, which emits pulses of radiation (control signals) directed toward the switching units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a fault tolerant recording system using a laser diode array is disclosed. The laser diode array comprises individually addressable diodes which are used to record data on parallel tracks of a recording surface. Narrowing the separation between the parallel recording tracks without modifying the diode spacing within the array may be accomplished by precise movement of the diode array with respect to the recording surface, so as to generate an interleaved recording pattern. Fault tolerance is added by creating a redundancy (integrated into the interleaving mechanism) wherein each track on the recording surface is assigned a primary diode and a secondary diode, only one of which is active at a particular time. If a failure occurs in the primary diode assigned to a particular track, then the secondary diode is activated, and the recording of data on the particular track remains unaffected.

Abstract: When exposing thermally imageable materials using a multi-channel exposure head, an overlap of at least one channel is used to avoid a visible border at the point where one group of channels, written at the same time, meets a second group of channels. The overlapped area is written twice with identical data.