Abstract: A method and system for depositing a thin film on a substrate. In the system a target material is deposited and reacted on a substrate surface to form a substantially non-absorbing thin film. The volume of non-absorbing thin film formed per unit of time may be increased by increasing the area of the surface by a factor of “x” and increasing the rate of deposition of the target material by a factor greater than the inverse of the factor “x” to thereby increase the rate of formation of the volume of non-absorbing thin film per unit of time.

Abstract: A halogen incandescent burner comprising a quartz body comprising a light emitting chamber, a filament positioned within the light emitting chamber, and a multilayer optical coating on at least a portion of the chamber. The coating may include a plurality of layers of a low refractive index material and a high refractive index material having a total thickness of at least nine microns, wherein the gain of the burner is at least 1.7. The high refractive index material may comprise tantala and the low refractive index material may comprise silica.

Abstract: A multilayer reflective coating and devices employing such coatings, the coating comprising layers of aluminum and silver and a barrier layer disposed between the aluminum and silver layers. The barrier layer may be substantially optically transparent and formed from material that substantially inhibits interdiffusion between the aluminum and silver layers. The coating may also include capping layer disposed over the silver layer. The barrier layer may be formed from nitrides, oxides and oxynitrides.

Abstract: A method and system for depositing a thin film on a substrate. In the system a target material is deposited and reacted on a substrate surface to form a substantially non-absorbing thin film. The volume of non-absorbing thin film formed per unit of time may be increased by increasing the area of the surface by a factor of “x” and increasing the rate of deposition of the target material by a factor greater than the inverse of the factor “x” to thereby increase the rate of formation of the volume of non-absorbing thin film per unit of time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for achieving desired spectral emission characteristics in plasma lamps is disclosed. The apparatus and method use multi-layer thin film optical interference coatings to selectively reflect a portion of the light such that it can be absorbed in the plasma. The multi-layer thin film coating is applied to any surface of the lamp, which substantially surrounds the plasma. The number and thickness of the layers in the coating are selected to ensure that significant portion of the selected light emitted from the plasma is reflected by the coating and absorbed by the plasma. The properties of the coating, reflectance, transmittance and absorption are determined as a function of plasma and lamp characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for achieving desired spectral emission characteristics in plasma lamps is disclosed. The apparatus and method use multi-layer thin film optical interference coatings to selectively reflect a portion of the light such that it can be absorbed in the plasma. The multi-layer thin film coating is applied to any surface of the lamp, which substantially surrounds the plasma. The number and thickness of the layers in the coating are selected to ensure that a significant portion of the selected light emitted from the plasma is reflected by the coating and absorbed by the plasma. The properties of the coating, reflectance, transmittance and absorption are determined as a function of plasma and lamp characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for achieving desired spectral emission characteristics in plasma lamps is disclosed. The apparatus and method use multi-layer thin film optical interference coatings to selectively reflect a portion of the light such that it can be absorbed in the plasma. The multi-layer thin film coating is applied to any surface of the lamp, which substantially surrounds the plasma. The number and thickness of the layers in the coating are selected to ensure that a significant portion of the selected light emitted from the plasma is reflected by the coating and absorbed by the plasma. The properties of the coating, reflectance, transmittance and absorption are determined as a function of plasma and lamp characteristics.

Abstract: A method for establishing and maintaining a reliable ground for reactive sputtering systems. A spatially extended high density plasma is generated in a large region surrounding the sputtering target. The plasma electrically connects the target to a part of the coating machine that is not subject to deposition of sputtered material from the target. The plasma is generated by an applicator which is independent of the target.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a plasma within a volume containing a mixture of gaseous species. To generate the plasma, at least one large area applicator, which is a part of this invention, is employed. At least one microwave generator introduces microwave power into the applicator by means of suitable waveguides and couplers.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the intensity and frequency of arcing in a reactive DC sputtering process when the process uses an arc-suppression system which interrupts or reverses the voltage applied to the sputtering target. A plasma having required properties is introduced into the vicinity of the sputtering target by means of a separate plasma applicator which operates independently of the target.

Abstract: Methods for rendering a recording medium for use with a recording laser beam providing light of a given energy and frequency, where the medium is characterized by a light-reflecting structure with a light-absorbing record layer thereon and a sealing overcoat on the record layer, the light-absorbing record layer being prone to exhibit micro-excursions and/or micro-deformation during laser recording thereon, and a transparent "soft-pad" isolation layer is interposed, between the light-absorbing layer and the overcoat, this soft pad having a thickness and other characteristics such that the absorber layer is constrained little, or not at all, in the course of being written-upon with the laser, the soft, pad thus functioning to isolate the absorber layer thermally and mechanically, as well as to help defocus dust, etc.

Abstract: Recording media for recording information "bits" in response to activation of a laser beam, the media including a recording layer adjacent a "soft pad" layer above and/or below (e.g., a vacuum-evaporated reconstituted fluoropolymer), especially as a "soft pad overcoat". A "hard cap" is overlaid on such a "soft pad" overcoat (e.g., a radiation-cured acrylic) as an outer protective sealing coat. The soft pad may be rendered under the recording layer as a spacer layer.

Abstract: For an optical data storage system employing a data-modulated writing laser beam, optical media are described which include a highly reflective aluminum layer, a relatively transparent polymer spacer layer overlying the reflective layer and an optical absorber (recording) layer overlying the spacer layer,--plus an overcoat structure including a "soft pad" layer (e.g., fluoropolymer) on and/or under the absorber plus a "hard" overcoat layer (e.g., radiation-cured acrylic) laid over the "soft pad" as an outer protective overcoat.

Abstract: For an optical data storage system employing a data-modulated writing laser beam, optical media are described which include a highly reflective aluminum layer, a relatively transparent polymer spacer layer overlying the reflective layer and an optical absorber (recording) layer overlying the spacer layer, -- plus an overcoat structure including a "soft pad" layer (e.g., fluoropolymer) on and/or under the absorber plus a "hard" overcoat layer (e.g., radiation-cured acrylic)laid over the "soft pad" as an outer protective overcoat.

Abstract: An optical data storage system is contemplated, employing improved optical disk media, these characterized by multiple layers, including various under layers, an optical absorber layer, and overcoating layers, such as a "soft pad" layer (e.g., a fluoropolymer) overlaid with a "Hard" layer (e.g., a radiation-cured acrylic) as an outer protective overcoat. Taught are "Spiral" coating techniques (FIG. 3) specified for applying the "Hard" layer and preferably involving: applying the coating mix as arcuate "bead segments" about the disk center, these being formulated and applied to properly "set-up" and quickly "level" (e.g., close enough to one another and "self-leveling").

Abstract: An optical data storage system is contemplated, one employing a data-modulated writing laser beam and a non-erasing reading laser beam of predetermined wavelength.Improved optical media for such systems are described, these characterized by multiple layers whose optical characteristics and thickness are chosen to accommodate a prescribed writing and reading energy and wavelength and so provide an "anti-reflection" condition for unrecorded portions of the medium and a relatively higher reflectivity for recorded portions. A preferred optical medium includes a highly reflective aluminum layer, a relatively transparent polymer spacer layer overlying the reflective layer, and an optical absorber (recording) layer overlying the spacer layer.Overcoating structure is specified in some detail; e.g., as a "soft pad" layer (e.g., fluoropolymer) on the absorber, with a "Hard" layer (e.g., radiation-cured acrylic) laid over the "soft pad" as an outer protective overcoat.

Abstract: An optical data storage system is contemplated, one employing a data-modulated writing laser beam and a nonerasing reading laser beam of predetermined wavelength.Improved optical media for such systems are described, these characterized by multiple layers whose optical characteristics and thickness are chosen to accommodate a prescribed writing and reading energy and wavelength and so provide an "anti-friction" condition for unrecorded portions of the medium and a relatively higher reflectivity for recorded portions. A preferred optical medium includes a highly reflective aluminum layer, a relatively transparent polymer spacer layer overlying the reflective layer, and an optical absorber (recording) layer overlying the spacer layer.Overcoating structure is specified in some detail; e.g., as a "soft pad" layer (e.g., fluoropolymer) on the absorber, with a "Hard" layer (e.g., radiation-cured acrylic) laid over the "soft pad" as an outer protective overcoat.

Abstract: An optical data storage system is contemplated, one employing a data-modulated writing laser beam (FIG. 2: .circle.L ) with improved associated optical media (FIG. 2), these characterized by multiple layers (FIG. 2:c,d,e,f,g)--more particularly, a highly reflective aluminum layer (c), a relatively transparent polymer spacer layer (d) overlying the reflective layer, and an optical absorber (recording) layer (e) overlying the spacer layer, plus an overcoating structure, e.g., as a "soft pad" layer (f; e.g., a fluoropolymer) on the absorber, with a "Hard" layer (g; e.g., a radiation-cured acrylic) laid over the "soft pad" as an outer protective overcoat. "Spiral" coating techniques (FIG. 3) are specified for applying the "Hard" layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of making a glass article containing a thin surface film antireflective coating made by providing a dispersion containing at least one metalloorganic compound in solution, depositing a thin coating of such dispersion on the glass substrate, heating the film to drive off the solvent and to decompose the organic components, thus forming a glass film from the remaining inorganic oxide components, further heating the glass film layer to cause phase separation thereof, and thereafter etching and leaching such film to dissolve out preferentially one of the phases of the phase-separated glass, leaving a skeletonized surface film having a graded refractive index; and products resulting from such process.

Abstract: Disclosed is concentrating sunlight optically and impinging the concentrated light on at least one luminescent solar collector coupled to a first photocell, passing residual concentrated sunlight to at least one other luminescent solar collector in one embodiment, coupled to a different photocell and finally passing the remaining concentrated sunlight directly to a still different photocell.