Abstract: A manufactured cementitious binder including a hydraulic binder in an amount in the range of from about 40 to 75% by weight of the cementitious binder; metakaolin in an amount greater than about 5% by weight of the cementitious binder; silica fume in an amount up to about 15% by weight of the cementitious binder; and cement kiln dust in an amount greater than about 10% by weight of the cementitious binder, the cement kiln dust including chlorine in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight of the cement kiln dust, the cementitious binder providing a cementitious settable composition, when added with water and without a lightweight additive, that has a density lower than about 13 pounds per gallon and greater than about 11 pounds per gallon and a 24 hour compressive strength at 100 F, as hardened, of at least 500 psi.

Abstract: A manufactured cementitious binder including a hydraulic binder in an amount in the range of from about 40 to 75% by weight of the cementitious binder; metakaolin in an amount greater than about 5% by weight of the cementitious binder; silica fume in an amount up to about 15% by weight of the cementitious binder; and cement kiln dust in an amount greater than about 10% by weight of the cementitious binder, the cement kiln dust including chlorine in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight of the cement kiln dust, the cementitious binder providing a cementitious settable composition, when added with water and without a lightweight additive, that has a density lower than about 13 pounds per gallon and greater than about 11 pounds per gallon and a 24 hour compressive strength at 100 F, as hardened, of at least 500 psi.

Abstract: An intense electrical discharge along the axis of a capillary having condensed phase (liquid or solid) walls produces a controlled transient plasma temperature of 10 million degrees Kelvin or more. In order to reach such a temperature, the capillary is formed with a suitably small diameter and a sufficiently large aspect ratio and the electrical discharge must have a suitably short risetime and a sufficient high intensity. In the preferred embodiment, the capillary walls comprise thermonuclear fusible material, the plasma temperature reaches at least 60 million degrees Kelvin, and the density-time product is sufficient to produce a useful thermonuclear fusion reaction. The ultra-high temperature capillary discharge can be used as a pulsed source of nuclear and/or x-ray radiation or as a pulsed nuclear fusion reactor.

Abstract: Apparatus (11), which includes two adjacent wafer treating facilities (21 and 22), features an overhead positioning mechanism (20), the operation of which is controlled by a control module (48) to handle articles, such as semiconductor wafers (16), in a plurality of sequential plating operations. The vertical movement of a manipulator extension (46) is controlled with a relatively greater degree of precision to protect the wafers from becoming damaged. In the horizontal direction, a traveling frame (106) steadies a lead screw (59) spanning an extended distance between the two facilities (21 and 22) to support a precise movement of the manipulator extension (46) with respect to both of the facilities.

Abstract: A high intensity spot focus soft X-ray source is described. The source produces a spectrum in the range from about 5 A to 300 A, with maximum power in the neighborhood of tens of angstroms. The flash intensity of the flash source is in the neighborhood of 10.sup.17 X-ray photons per flash. The source has an anode, and a cathode which is spaced apart from the anode and has a protrusion thereon. An insulating body having a passage therethrough is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The passage and the protrusion are axially aligned. At least one viewing port for the passage is provided. A means for maintaining the potential between the anode and the cathode allows the establishment of a potential between the same.

Abstract: The present invention describes an ion gun which is capable of producing relatively high density ion currents. The ion gun employs at least one capillary duct the surface of which is semiconducting and has secondary electron emission coefficient greater than one to generate ions from a source of an ionizable material and to accelerate the ions so generated.

Abstract: A method and device for the generation of x-rays is described. X-rays can be generated by establishing a high density plasma in a capillary passage and then passing an electron beam therethrough. The device has a cylindrical passage, the ends of which are maintained at a potential difference. An electrode is maintained at the potential and is slightly displaced from the higher potential end. When ions are supplied to the passage, the higher potential end is discharged and a high density plasma is created in the cylindrical passage. The discharge of the higher potential end of the cylindrical passage causes a discharge of the electrode into the passage forming an electron beam which interacts with the plasma, generating x-rays.

Abstract: Subassemblies, comprising an integrated circuit bonded to a conductor pattern on a small ceramic substrate, are automatically bonded to lead frames. In carrying out this operation, each subassembly is placed on a support and precisely positioned thereon. Rollers are symmetrically disposed about the centerline of a resiliently mounted roller support or yoke. The minimum distance between opposite rollers is less than the distance across the subassembly and the centerline is coincident with the position desired on the support. The yoke and rollers are advanced toward the subassembly to contact it and shift it on the support until opposite rollers contact opposite sides of the subassembly. At that time the assembly is positioned and the advancement of the rollers stops. Vacuum is applied to maintain the position of the subassembly on the support for bonding.

Abstract: X-ray generation by stimulated emission of radiation is achieved from an ensemble of energized atoms with inner-shell vacancies, which ensemble of atoms is obtained in one example by the interaction of a beam swept at approximately the speed of light along the length of an extended interactant material providing an active region moving in synchronization with a resonant X-ray pulse traveling along the material.