Abstract: A sputtering target contains high purity Nb of which Ta content is 3000 ppm or less and oxygen content is 200 ppm or less. Dispersion of the Ta content in all the sputtering target is within ±30% as a whole target. Dispersion of the oxygen content is within ±80% as a whole target. According to such sputtering target, an interconnection film of low resistivity can be realized. In addition, each grain of Nb in the sputtering target has a grain diameter in the range of 0.1 to 10 times an average grain diameter and ratios of grain sizes of adjacent grains are in the range of 0.1 to 10. According to such sputtering target, giant dust can be largely suppressed from occurring. The sputtering target is suitable for forming a Nb film as liner material of an Al interconnection.

Abstract: A sputtering target consists of high purity Nb of which Ta content is 3000 ppm or less and oxygen content is 200 ppm or less. Dispersion of the Ta content in all the sputtering target is within ±30% as a whole target. Dispersion of the oxygen content is within ±80% as a whole target. According to such sputtering target, an interconnection film of low resistivity can be realized. In addition, each grain of Nb in the sputtering target has a grain diameter in the range of 0.1 to 10 times an average grain diameter and ratios of grain sizes of adjacent grains are in the range of 0.1 to 10. According to such sputtering target, giant dust can be largely suppressed from occurring. The sputtering target is suitable for forming a Nb film as liner material of an Al interconnection.

Abstract: A light wavelength converter including excitation medium doped with rare earth metals to convert wavelength of laser light incident upon excitation medium, including rectangular parallelepiped member comprising layered member in which excitation medium is stacked in films on first optical member having refractive index lower than that of excitation medium and having flat plate shape and in which second optical member having refractive index lower than that of excitation medium is stacked on stacked surface of first optical member, third and fourth optical members being bonded onto surfaces extending in parallel with a longitudinal direction of rectangular parallelepiped member and crossing stacked surface at right angles and having refractive index lower than that of excitation medium, and first and second reflective members being formed on the opposite end surfaces of rectangular parallelepiped member in the longitudinal direction to form laser resonator structure.

Abstract: A sputter target is made of a Ti—Al alloy containing Al in the range of 1 to 30 atm %. In the Ti—Al alloy constituting the sputter target, Al exists in at least one of a solid solution state in Ti and a state in which Al forms an intermetallic compound with Ti, and variation in Al content in the entire target is limited within 10%. Furthermore, an average crystal grain diameter of the Ti—Al alloy is 500 &mgr;m or less, and variation in crystal grain diameter in the entire target is limited within 30%. A Ti—Al—N film as a barrier film is formed by using the sputter target made of the Ti—Al alloy as described above. An electronic component includes a barrier film formed on a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A sputter target is made of a Ti—Al alloy containing Al in the range of 1 to 30 atm %. In the Ti—Al alloy constituting the sputter target, Al exists in at least one of a solid solution state in Ti and a state in which Al forms an intermetallic compound with Ti, and variation in Al content in the entire target is limited within 10%. Furthermore, an average crystal grain diameter of the Ti—Al alloy is 500 &mgr;m or less, and variation in crystal grain diameter in the entire target is limited within 30%. A Ti—Al—N film as a barrier film is formed by using the sputter target made of the Ti—Al alloy as described above. An electronic component includes a barrier film formed on a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A sputtering target consisting essentially of Mn and at least one kind of R element selected from a group of Ni, Pd, Pt, Co, Rh, Ir, V, Nb, Ta, Cu, Ag, Au, Ru, Os, Cr, Mo, W, and Re. The sputtering target, at least as a part of target texture, comprises one member selected from a group of an alloy phase and a compound phase formed between the R element and Mn. In addition, oxygen content in the target is 1 weight % or less (including 0). With such a sputtering target, an anti-ferromagnetic material film consisting of RMn alloy excellent in corrosion resistivity and thermal performance can be stabilized in its film composition and film quality. By employing the anti-ferromagnetic material film, when an exchange coupling film is formed by stacking the anti-ferromagnetic material film and the ferromagnetic material film, sufficient exchange coupling force is obtained stably. Such an exchange coupling film can be used in a magneto-resistance effect element and the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing stigma-like tissues of saffron in a large scale by cutting the tissues of stigma (c), style (d, e, f), ovary (h, i, k), ovule (j), and petal (r) of saffron flower, and subculturing them on a liquid or solid LS medium or B5 medium containing a cytokinin and an auxin as main hormones.