Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for separating a carbon isotope and a method for concentrating a carbon isotope using the same, the method for separating a carbon isotope including: cooling a formaldehyde gas to a temperature of from 190K to 250K; and obtaining a mixed gas and residual formaldehyde by photodissociating the cooled formaldehyde gas, the mixed gas including carbon dioxide containing a carbon isotope and hydrogen.

Abstract: First and second laser beams having respective first and second wavelengths respectively excite palladium isotopes at a ground level to a first excited level then to a second excited level. At first and second excitation steps, palladium isotopes having an odd mass number are selectively excited to the second excited level, with the identity of the ion core state of each of the palladium isotopes retained between the first excited level and the second excited level. The first wavelength and the second wavelength are selected to allow the second excited level to be an autoionization level or, in a case where the second excited level is not the autoionization level, the first wavelength, the second wavelength, and a third wavelength are selected to excite the palladium isotopes at the second excited level to the autoionization level with a third laser beam having the third wavelength at a third excitation step.

Abstract: Methods and devices to rapidly detect trace levels of water soluble fluorescent mineral species such as uranium in aqueous fluids (e.g. water) are provided. The methods and devices involve sequestration of cationic forms of the water soluble fluorescent mineral species (e.g. the uranium oxycation uranyl, UO22+) via pressurized fluid flow through a porous silica gel medium, to enhance natural fluorescence and increase the speed of detection.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a foldable display apparatus may include the steps of: disposing a protective film on one surface of a foldable display panel having a folding portion; removing at least a part of the protective film in the folding portion of the foldable display panel; and decreasing a height of at least one bump protruding from the protective film formed adjacent to the removed part of the protective film.

Abstract: A helium liquefaction system with a thermally reactive nosecone is described. The system further includes a tip having a slanted intake aperture, a shaft, a thermally reactive bore and a nosecone functioning as a hypersonic vortex generator. Further the system may be configured as a standalone helium liquefaction plant, whereby the compressed helium is regeneratively chilled into the cryogenic zone.

Abstract: A radiation detector can include a logic element configured to determine an adjusted value for light emission of a luminescent material. A method of using the radiation detector can include determining an adjusted value of a luminescent material. The adjustment can be based on an inverse correlation between decay times corresponding to signal pulses and values of light emissions corresponding to the signal pulses. In an embodiment, the logic element may be further configured to obtain a measured value of a decay time and a measured value for the light emission, and determining an adjusted value for the light emission can be based on the measured value of the decay time and measured value for the light emission.

Abstract: A multipass cell, includes a body; a cavity formed within the body; a first spherical or toroidal mirror at a first end of the cavity; and a second spherical, toroidal or cylindrical mirror at the opposite end of the cavity. The first mirror and the second mirror are configured to reflect a beam entering the cavity next to an outer edge of the first or the second mirror a predetermined number of times so that the beam propagates substantially in a single plane between the first and the second mirror. Also an optical detection system includes the multipass cell; an optical source configured to direct a beam into the cavity; and a detector element configured to receive the beam exiting the cavity or configured to receive the acoustic signal generated by light absorption in the cavity.

Abstract: A material processing system for a base material is provided. The system includes a feeder having a distal end proximate to a surface location of the base material. The feeder supplies a deposit material to the surface location. The deposit material has a width having a first side and a second side. A first laser is directed to the deposit material at the surface location. The first laser is directed across the width from the first side to the second side. A second laser is directed to a desired location within the width. A control system drives the process of cladding the deposit material. The control system includes a shape controller to control the movement of the secondary laser along the deposit material based on feedback from a sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of electrochemical production of disinfectants, where a solution of alkaline metals is used as the electrolyte in the anode chamber. The invention offers a new design for electrolyzers, reducing power consumption in the production of disinfectants by known methods. As a result of this invention, power consumed in the production of 1 gram of active chlorine by known methods will be reduced by 20%, and the possibilities for producing disinfectants with active chlorine content 7500 ppm in an electrolyzer without channelling the water into external cooling devices will also expand.

Abstract: An optical delay device comprises a multi-pass optical cell including first and second facing curved mirrors defining an optical cavity. One curved mirror includes a spatially extended aperture, such as a wedge-shaped notch aperture formed into the perimeter of the curved mirror. One curved mirror is split into two component mirrors one of which is tilted to define a swirling reflection pattern on the curved mirror that includes the spatially extended aperture. The optical time delay introduced to a light ray by the multi-pass optical cell depends on the input location of the light ray into the spatially extended aperture. The optical delay device may include two such multi-pass optical cells and a mirror that optically couples the two said multi-pass optical cells.

Abstract: Provided is a method of separating carbon and oxygen isotopes by using a laser. In one preferred embodiment, the method includes performing a photolysis process on formaldehyde including a carbon or oxygen isotope by irradiation with ultraviolet light having a wavelength ranging from 340 nm to 360 nm to generate carbon monoxide having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein and hydrogen, performing a catalytic reaction on the carbon monoxide having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein and the hydrogen to synthesize carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein, and cooling the H2O to recover CO2 having a carbon isotope enriched therein or H2O having an oxygen isotope enriched therein.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing device includes a first etching chamber, a second etching chamber, and an etching module. The etching module is adapted to interchangeably contain the first etching chamber or the second etching chamber for wafer etching. A semiconductor process using the semiconductor processing device is also provided.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a pulsed iodine laser apparatus. The laser apparatus has a flashlamp-pumped iodine laser oscillator which produces a laser pulse with a full pulse width of longer than 1 microsecond, and a COIL amplifier. The laser apparatus may has a controller which controls the timing of injecting chlorine gas contained in a high-pressure chlorine tank into the singlet oxygen generator by outputting an open/close signal of the valve V2, and the timing of injecting iodine molecules contained in a iodine molecule tank into an amplifier chamber of the COIL amplifier.

Abstract: A novel method for fabricating diamond shells is introduced. The fabrication of such shells is a multi-step process, which involves diamond chemical vapor deposition on predetermined mandrels followed by polishing, microfabrication of holes, and removal of the mandrel by an etch process. The resultant shells of the present invention can be configured with a surface roughness at the nanometer level (e.g., on the order of down to about 10 nm RMS) on a mm length scale, and exhibit excellent hardness/strength, and good transparency in the both the infra-red and visible. Specifically, a novel process is disclosed herein, which allows coating of spherical substrates with optical-quality diamond films or nanocrystalline diamond films.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a mass spectrometer capable of performing OzID is disclosed that can provide ozone in situ within an evacuated chamber of the spectrometer, e.g., within a collision cell or within the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer. In some embodiments, a corona discharge generated within the evacuated chamber can be employed to convert an ozone precursor delivered to the chamber into ozone.

Abstract: A filtration apparatus including an annular filter surrounding a waste treatment chamber, a first turbine drawing liquid up within the chamber and a second turbine driving liquid outwardly through the filter. In the method of treating organic waste, the chamber includes an ultraviolet lamp and a cylindrical baffle surrounding the chamber having a mirrored surface. The disclosed apparatus further includes anodic and cathodic plates surrounding the filter.

Abstract: The present invention includes: a light-transmissive reaction cell (21) into which a process gas is supplied and the process gas is photochemically reacted by laser light; a metal mirror (19) which is set up outside of the light-transmissive reaction cell (21) so as to encompass the light-transmissive reaction cell (21), and which reflects laser light; and a cryostat (11) which is configured to accommodate the light-transmissive reaction cell (21), the metal mirror (19), and a cryogenic liquid (12), and which maintains a temperature of the metal mirror (19) at a cryogenic temperature by the cryogenic liquid (12).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing oxygen from aluminum nitride by carbon. At first, an oven is provided. An aluminum nitride substrate is located in the oven. Nitrogen is introduced into the oven to form an atmosphere of nitrogen. The temperature is increased to the transformation point of the aluminum nitride substrate in the oven. Then, the heating is stopped and quenching is conducted in the oven. Carbon is introduced into the oven in the quenching. Thus, oxygen included in the aluminum nitride substrate reacts with the carbon to produce carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. The carbon monoxide or carbon is released from the oven as well as the nitrogen. Thus, the aluminum nitride substrate is purified.

Abstract: The present invention provides producing method and producing apparatus in which polarized xenon gas of high concentration is obtained without being frozen, and polarized xenon gas can be produced continuously. A glass cell having solid rubidium and solid xenon filled in vacuum is heated to be gas xenon and gas-liquid mixed rubidium, to which a magnetic field is applied to irradiate a laser beam thereby obtaining polarized xenon gas of high concentration.

Abstract: The method of carbo-nitriding alumina surfaces is a process for applying a carbo-nitride coating to an alumina or alumina-based composite surface. The method involves the step of applying a phenolic resin to the alumina surface in a thin, uniform film. The resin-coated alumina surface is maintained in a controlled chamber at about 8 bar pressure at a temperature of about 175° C. for about 2 hours. The surface is then heated at about 400° C. for several hours in an argon atmosphere. This converts the phenolic resin to carbon. The carbon coated alumina surface is then scanned by a laser beam while applying nitrogen under pressure. The end result is the conversion of the alumina at the surface to aluminum carbo-nitride, the oxygen being released in the form of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method of concentrating the stable oxygen isotopes of 17O and 18O by irradiating ozone with light, selectively dissociating an isotopologue of ozone containing an oxygen isotope in its molecule into oxygen, followed by dissociating the ozone and separating the formed oxygen from the non-dissociated ozone. In the ozone photodissociation step, light is radiated onto a rare gas-ozone mixed gas containing ozone and at least one rare gas selected from krypton, xenon and radon is used to selectively dissociate ozone containing a specific oxygen isotope in its molecule into oxygen then the oxygen isotope is separated from non-dissociated ozone and rare gas to concentrate the oxygen isotope present in the separated oxygen.

Abstract: A method of enriching a heavy oxygen isotope by distillation of the present invention includes: a first distillation step of feeding oxygen and ozone generated by an ozonizer 12 into a distillation column 13 filled with a diluent gas, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas; a photodecomposition step of introducing a mixed gas of the ozone and the diluent gas from a bottom of the distillation column into a photoreaction cell 14, and irradiating the mixed gas with a laser light to selectively decompose the ozone containing the heavy oxygen isotope; and a second distillation step of returning non-decomposed ozone and oxygen containing the heavy oxygen isotope to the distillation column, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas.

Abstract: A method of obtaining ions of an analyte is disclosed. The method includes aerosolizing a sample using a thermal liquid jetting device or a piezoelectric liquid jetting device to obtain an aerosol without ionizing the sample. The sample includes the analyte in a solvent. The method further includes drying the aerosol to obtain gas phase solvent and gas phase analyte, and ionizing the gas phase analyte to obtain ions thereof. An ion source using the method for obtaining ions of an analyte is also disclosed.

Abstract: A production method of nano-sized silicon crystal particles comprising the step of allowing monosilane to be oxidized in a bulk liquid phase to form the nano-sized silicon crystal particles within the bulk liquid phase, wherein a liquid of the bulk liquid phase is an unsaturated hydrocarbon free from an oxidizing gas; and isolating the nano-sized silicon crystal particles from the bulk liquid phase.

Abstract: A method of enriching a heavy oxygen isotope by distillation of the present invention includes: a first distillation step of feeding oxygen and ozone generated by an ozonizer 12 into a distillation column 13 filled with a diluent gas, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas; a photodecomposition step of introducing a mixed gas of the ozone and the diluent gas from a bottom of the distillation column into a photoreaction cell 14, and irradiating the mixed gas with a laser light to selectively decompose the ozone containing the heavy oxygen isotope; and a second distillation step of returning non-decomposed ozone and oxygen containing the heavy oxygen isotope to the distillation column, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of isotope separation of one or more isotopes of a metal having a valence of two or more, comprised of selecting a ligand, such as BH4, BD4, CH3BH3 or CD3BD3, for attachment to one or more isotopes of the metal, ionically attaching the ligand to the one or more isotopes of the metal, and separating the one or more isotopes of the metal by an isotope separation technique. Suitable isotope separation techniques that can be used in the methods of the present invention include centrifuge, gaseous diffusion, gaseous distillation or molecular laser isotope separation techniques.

Abstract: A system for removing photoresist from semiconductor wafers is disclosed. The system utilizes a solid-state laser having wavelengths in the near-visible and visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum to remove photoresist without requiring hazardous gases or wet solutions. In addition, the system does not damage the substrate being cleaned, nor leave a carbon residue requiring further processing to remove. The system uses photon energy, oxygen, water vapor and ozone to interact with contaminants on a surface, forming a gas reaction zone (GRZ). The GRZ reacts and completely removes the photoresist or other unwanted contamination.

Abstract: A method for isotope separation of ytterbium comprises isotope-selective photoionizing of a target isotope by use of a laser, and photoionizing of the target isotope from a metastable state to a continuum state or an auto-ionization state through excited states. The photoionized isotope ions of ytterbium can be separated within an electric field. With the method, it is possible to separate a great amount of ytterbium isotope by use of a simple apparatus while ensuring a highly economic efficiency in comparison with a conventional EM method.

Abstract: A method for multiphoton-ionizing an organic molecule supported by a solid carrier according to the present invention is a method characterized in that the carrier supporting an organic molecule is irradiated with a laser light having a pulse width of less than 1 nanosecond. As a laser having a pulse width of less than 1 nanosecond, such femtosecond lasers as titanium-sapphire lasers, fiber lasers and ytterbium-tungsten lasers are desirable.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to monitor carbon nanotubes (CNTs). A carbon nanotube (CNT) is manipulated in a fluid by a laser beam. An illuminating light from a light source is aligned along axis of the CNT to produce an optical response from the CNT. The CNT is monitored using an optical sensor according to the optical response.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the separation of molecules having different excitation spectra, which form components of a gas. The molecules are excited by laser pulses in a way that the molecules to be separated are transferred into a state of excitation due to multi-absorption of energy quanta from laser pulses, and in which they are extracted from the gas so that they exist in a composition determined by the form of the laser pulses. According to the invention, the laser pulses are formed by an iterative process in which each laser pulse varies in its form depending on the extracted molecules' composition after their absorption of energy quanta.

Abstract: A gas scrubber comprises a gas inlet pipe that provides the scrubber with gases to be processed; means for initiating reactions of decomposition that is directed to initialize the decomposition of gases; an oxygen and natural gas inlet pipes to provide the necessary gases for combustion; a chamber of decomposition into which the gases to be processed are decomposed under thermal process carried out by combustion; and means for scrubbing byproducts produced in the chamber of decomposition. The means for initiating the reactions of decomposition is directed to initialize the decomposition of gas through producing radicals thereof. Thereby, the decomposition of gases under combustion in the chamber of decomposition can be accelerated, and less thermal energy is required from the combustion.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating element isotopes in a microgravity or low-gravity environment using electromagnetic radiation, e.g., sunlight, to heat and ionize a stream of raw materials, followed by electromagnetic separation, and collection of the desired isotopes in or on one or more collection surfaces or receptacles, such as a rotating surface. A cylindrical mirror can serve to collect and concentrate the electromagnetic radiation, permitting the stream of material to be heated and ionized while the path of the stream of material is oriented other than parallel to the direction of the radiation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing carbon structures by laser irradiation, the method comprising: (i) providing a substrate, at least a portion of whose surface being covered with a sample comprising one or more thermally degradable organic compounds, said sample being in the form of homogeneous solution, suspension or emulsion; (ii) irradiating said covered surface portion locally by applying a focused laser beam, thus resulting in local deposition of carbon, and (iii) repeating step (ii) by moving either the laser beam or the sample, thus creating a desired pattern of carbon structures. The present invention further provides carbon structures produced by the method of the invention.

Abstract: When manufacturing a recording medium, a material layer 12 formed on a substrate 11 that composes the recording medium is exposed to a laser beam in accordance with a recording pattern. The material layer 12 has a predetermined reflectivity for the laser beam 13 so as to produce return light for the laser beam 13. By detecting this return light, the focusing of the laser beam on the material layer is adjusted. By doing so, a laser beam can be easily and accurately focused on a material layer during a process in which a laser beam is shone, in accordance with a recording pattern, onto a material layer formed on a recording medium or a production plate used when manufacturing a recording medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a frequency selective plate having a radio wave transparent property. This frequency selective plate includes (a) a transparent substrate; (b) a mixture layer formed on the transparent substrate, the mixture layer containing a mixture of a metal nitride and Ag; and (c) Ag particles formed on the mixture layer, the Ag particles being two-dimensionally distributed on the mixture layer and being separated from each other.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating element isotopes in space by heating a stream of raw materials using concentrated sunlight and ionizing radiation, followed by electromagnetic separation, and collection of the desired isotopes in appropriate receptacles. The unique design of this invention allows flexibility of implementation, very high separation efficiency, and minimal waste. The intent of collecting a multiplicity of isotopes simultaneously is a key feature of this invention. The goal for this work is to greatly reduce the cost of producing purified finished materials in space. This capability makes economical the fabrication of complex and large structures for space-based industry and habitation. This invention builds upon the sciences of plasma physics, ion separation, and microgravity processing, and incorporates new concepts of the integral design and efficient process operation, taking advantage of the peculiar properties of a microgravity environment.

Abstract: The invention provides new methods for separating isotopes of an element and causing enrichment of a desired isotope of an element utilizing laser ablation plasmas to modify or fabricate a material containing such isotopes. This invention may be used for a wide variety of materials which contain elements having different isotopes.

Abstract: A process of separating low natural concentration protons in an electromagnetic separator having an ion source utilizes X-ray spectral analysis to distinguish areas of separated, increased-content of isotope enriched substance so as to treat them separately from areas of separated, low-content of isotope enriched substance. The overall process includes placing a working substance of a separated element in a crucible of the ion source, heating the working substance up to vapor forming, ionizing the vapors in a gas-discharge chamber of the source under action of hot cathode electron emission, shaping an ionic beam by electrodes of ion-optical system, separating and shaping the ionic beams of isotopes in a magnetic field, catching the ions in boxes of a receiver, identifying areas in the receiver boxes of increased content of isotope enriched substance using X-ray spectral analysis, withdrawing enriched substance initially from these identified areas, and further processing.

Abstract: Tin oxide nanoparticles were produced with tin in a variety of oxidation states. In particular, nanoparticles of single phase, crystalline SnO2 were produced. Preferred tin oxide nanoparticles have an average diameter from about 5 nm to about 100 nm with an extremely narrow distribution of particle diameters. The tin oxide nanoparticles can be produced in significant quantities using a laser pyrolysis apparatus. Nanoparticles produced by laser pyrolysis can be subjected to further processing to change the properties of the particles without destroying the nanoscale size of the particles. The nanoscale tin oxide particles are useful for the production of transparent electrodes for use in flat panel displays.