Abstract: In an ultraviolet exposure apparatus, substances contained in an atmosphere contacting a lens surface are reduced, the substances generating accumulations on the lens surface. Openings are formed in the wall of a lens barrel to allow the atmosphere to be replaced by a proper gas. The proper atmospheric gas may be a gas not containing oxygen such as a nitrogen gas, or clean air obtained by intentionally generating accumulations by applying ultraviolet light to source air. A ultraviolet light source is preferably cooled by a cooling system different from the cooling system of a lens optical system.

Abstract: An oxide superconducting material is coated with silver or an alloy thereof and shaped into a linear body, and the linear body is subjected to diameter reduction by means of groove roll rolling, a swaging machine and the like, and then differential speed rolling and heat treatment are repeatedly performed, whereby the linear body is shaped into a tape-shaped wire material. The microstructure control in the longitudinal direction is performed uniformly and efficiently, and a superconducting wire having a high c-axis orientation ratio and a large critical current density Jc at a service temperature is obtained.

Abstract: A process for fabricating worked superconducting ceramic material of a mean grain size not more than 10 um is disclosed, which comprises the steps of: (a) preparing a metal casing containing a starting powder material having a composition for forming an oxide superconductor; (b) calcining the starting powder material contained in the casing at a temperature range of 850.degree. to 950.degree. C.; (c) subjecting said casing to a HIP treatment; (d) subjecting said casing containing hot deformed material to cold deformation processing; and (e) subjecting said casing to stress relief treatment by annealing in the presence of oxygen.

Abstract: A superconducting structural body comprising an oxide based superconducting ceramics powder having a perovskite structure and a metal sheath surrounding the oxide based superconducting ceramics powder, the metal sheath including an Ag portion and a non-Ag metal portion, the Ag portion existing from the inner to outer surfaces of the metal sheath, a superconducting ceramics powder portion existing in the structural body, the non-Ag metal protion used as a structural material of the metal sheath of an outermost layer of the structural body, the superconducting ceramics powder portion and the non-Ag metal portion being disposed so as to be indirectly contact each other through the Ag material, and the superconducting structural body having a compressed oriented layer in which the C-axis of the crystal in the superconducting ceramics powder is oriented in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the superconducting structural body, and in which a thickness thereof is not smaller than 5 .mu.

Abstract: A superconducting structural body comprisinga superconducting ceramics anda metal sheath surrounding the superconducting ceramics,the metal sheath includingan Ag portion anda non-Ag metal portion, the Ag portion existing from inner to outer faces of the metal sheath, and the superconducting ceramics portion existing in the structural body and the non-Ag metal portion used as a structural material for the metal sheath as the outermost indirectly contacting each other through the Ag material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconductive coil by means of explosive compaction. A wire formed of silver having a superconductive oxide powder charged therein is formed into a coil. The coil is placed within a cylindrical vessel, into which a pressure medium is charged. Explosive compaction is carried out to cause the compaction of the coil through the cylindrical vessel and the pressure medium and hence densify the coil. The compacted coil is heat-treated in an air or oxygen atmosphere. The resulting superconductive coil possesses high critical electric current density. Advantageously, the coil is mounted on a mandrel axially extending therethrough, and placed together with the mandrel into the cylindrical vessel, before explosive compaction.