Abstract: To provide a radical sterilization apparatus which can generate hydroxy (OH) radical and oxygen (O) radical at a high density to thereby surely and economically sterilize a subject to be treated. While maintaining a storage unit in which a medical instrument is stored at a low pressure by using a low pressure-maintaining unit, vapor is supplied form a vapor-supplying unit into the storage unit. Then, oxygen in this vapor is converted into radicals by a radical-forming unit to give hydroxy (OH) radical and oxygen (O) radical. Thus, the hydroxy radical and the oxygen (O) radical can be maintained each as a single radical over a long period of time and can be generated at a high density, which makes it possible to surely and economically sterilize the medical instrument.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide a radical sterilization apparatus which can generate hydroxy (OH) radical and oxygen (O) radical at a high density to thereby surely and economically sterilize a subject to be treated. [Means for Solving Problems] While maintaining a storage unit (1) in which a medical instrument (6) is stored at a low pressure by using a low pressure-maintaining unit (2), vapor is supplied from a vapor-supplying unit (3) into the storage unit (1). Then, oxygen in this vapor is converted into radicals by a radical-forming unit (4) to give hydroxy (OH) radical and oxygen (O) radical. Thus, the hydroxy (OH) radical and the oxygen (O) radical can be maintained each as a single radical over a long period of time and can be generated at a high density, which makes it possible to surely and economically sterilize the medical instrument (6).

Abstract: A laser-beam annealing apparatus that provides reliable, continuous control of the intensity of the laser beam used to perform the annealing process.

Abstract: A glow discharge generating apparatus comprises, in a glow discharge chamber, an anode, a cathode for generating a glow discharge between the cathode and the anode upon application of a negative pulse, and a triggering electrode for starting the glow discharge. To stabilize the glow discharge, the electron density distribution in the vicinity of the surface of the cathode is made uniform only during at least part of a continuous period of the glow discharge.