Abstract: A beam transmitter, a receiver, and a LIDAR, along with methods to operate each are provided. The beam transmitter comprises a first and a second transmission channel (201a, 201b), each transmission channel including a first online laser, a first offline laser, and a first laser transmission selection switch operable to toggle between including the first online laser signal and the first offline laser signal in a first transmission beam. The beam transmitter further includes at least one light redirection device operable to coalign the first transmission beam with the second transmission beam. The receiver comprises a first splitter (402a, 402b), a first filter (404a, 404b), a first detector channel (406a, 406b), a second splitter (408a, 408b), a second filter (410a, 410b), and a second detector channel (412a, 412b). The LIDAR includes the beam transmitter, the receiver, and a shared telescope.

Abstract: A radiation window device to transmit radiation as part of an x-ray source or detector includes a support to be subject to a substantial vacuum, and an opening configured to transmit radiation. A film is mounted directly on the support across the opening, and has a material and a thickness selected to transmit soft x-rays. An adhesive directly adheres the film to the support. A coating covers exposed portions of at least one of the evacuated or ambient sides of the film, and covers a portion of the support surrounding the film. The support, film and adhesive form a vacuum tight assembly capable of maintaining the substantial vacuum when one side is subject to the substantial vacuum. In addition, the vacuum tight assembly can withstand a temperature of greater than approximately 250 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: A method of constructing a heat exchange system for a medium to be frozen, including the steps of: extruding a composition to form a reconfigurable tube; cooling the tube with the tube in a substantially straight configuration so that the tube is substantially set in the straight configuration; after cooling, reconfiguring the tube from the straight configuration; transporting the tube reconfigured from the straight configuration to a site at which the tube is to be used; and at the site placing the tube in the straight configuration and connecting the tube in a medium to be frozen so that a fluid within the tube is in heat exchange relationship with the medium to be frozen.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tube includes the steps of preparing a composition using ethylene vinyl acetate, extruding the composition to form a tube, and cooling the tube with the tube in a substantially straight configuration so that the tube is substantially set in a substantially straight configuration. Moreover, a system for creating a frozen surface on a medium includes a mechanism for exchanging thermal energy between a medium and a coolant, a mechanism for removing thermal energy from a coolant, and a mechanism for transporting a coolant between the mechanism for exchanging thermal energy between a medium and a coolant and the mechanism for removing thermal energy from a coolant.