Abstract: A set of safety goggles (20) for adjustably attenuating the intensity of optical radiation at any selected wavelength produced by a variable-wavelength laser (e.g., a dye laser) comprises a pair of oculars, both of which can be tuned to any particular wavelength producible by the laser. Each ocular comprises a birefringent filter, which includes stationary components including a polarizer (11), a wide-field element made up of a half-wave plate (13) sandwiched between multiwave plates (12 and 14), and a quarter-wave plate (16), and rotatable components including a polarizer (18). The wide-field element causes an optical path difference between orthogonal components of a single polarization state. The quarter-wave plate (15) and the rotatable polarizer (18) in combination enable selection of any particular wavelength whose intensity is to be attenuated.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for selectively removing a plastic layer laminated to a metal substrate. A high intensity laser beam is precisely directed to open areas of a thin metallic mask overlying the plastic layer. During removal of the plastic layer from the metal substrate, the system also removes the adhesive resin which attaches the layers. A movable table transfers the sample to be skived across the laser beam and the beam is caused to sweep the sample in a rotating pattern by means of a rotating wobble-plate mirror system. The plastic layer and the adhesive resin which attaches it to the metal substrate are removed by a sequential combination of vaporization and explosion processes.