Methods and apparatus for measuring the melt depth of a substrate during pulsed laser melting are provided. The apparatus can include a heat source, a substrate support with an opening formed therein, and an interferometer positioned to direct coherent radiation toward the toward the substrate support. The method can include positioning the substrate with a first surface in a thermal processing chamber, heating a portion of the first surface with a heat source, directing infrared spectrum radiation at a partially reflective mirror creating control radiation and interference radiation, directing the interference radiation to a melted surface and directing the control radiation to a control surface, and measuring the interference between the reflected radiation. The interference fringe pattern can be used to determine the precise melt depth during the melt process.

Methods and apparatus for measuring the melt depth of a substrate during pulsed laser melting are provided. The apparatus can include a heat source, a substrate support with an opening formed therein, and an interferometer positioned to direct coherent radiation toward the toward the substrate support. The method can include positioning the substrate with a first surface in a thermal processing chamber, heating a portion of the first surface with a heat source, directing infrared spectrum radiation at a partially reflective mirror creating control radiation and interference radiation, directing the interference radiation to a melted surface and directing the control radiation to a control surface, and measuring the interference between the reflected radiation. The interference fringe pattern can be used to determine the precise melt depth during the melt process.

A system (10) and method for transferring energy utilises an evacuated recirculation duct (11), with a pump (20) to circulate gas and a control nozzle (22) to form a jet of gas. Hydrogen gas is provided into the duct to be circulated, and an electrical device (30, 32) provides energy into the jet of gas so as to form hydrogen atoms. A heat exchanger (44) is arranged downstream of the electrical device (30, 32), onto which the flowing jet of gas impacts. Means (40) are also provided to generate an electric or magnetic field in the region of the jet of gas between the electrical device (30, 32) and the heat exchanger (44), and is connected to a source (42) of electricity. For example an electromagnet coil (40) and may generate a magnetic field (B) transverse to the direction of travel of the jet of gas, or an electromagnet coil (40A, 40B) may generate a magnetic field parallel to the jet of gas.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for selectively sintering particulate material, the method comprising: providing a layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a radiation absorbent material over a selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a material that comprises a plurality of electrically conductive elements (20) over at least part of the selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; and providing radiation (8) across the selected surface portion of the layer of particulate material so as to sinter a portion of the material of the layer (6) including causing the plurality of electrically conductive elements (20) to become embedded in the sintered portion of material.

Using a memory that manages a user log including at least a cooking time and a food to be cooked with a cooking device used by each user in a plurality of users, a recommended cooking time corresponding to a first user's food to be cooked included in recommended cooking times for respective foods calculated based on cooking times with the cooking devices is acquired from a server, a user interface that prompts the first user to select one of candidates of cooking times including at least the recommended cooking times is displayed on a display, and in response to detecting that a cooking time is selected by performing an input operation on the user interface, a setting command to set the selected cooking time is output to the first cooking device.

An object has at least a first source of light secured thereto. At least a first light-bearing conduit operably couples to this source of light and also to at least a first heat-dispersion component that is also secured to the object. So configured, the heat-dispersion component responds to reception of light from at least the first source of light via at least the first light-bearing conduit by dispersing heat derived from the light.

An object has at least a first source of light secured thereto. At least a first light-bearing conduit operably couples to this source of light and also to at least a first heat-dispersion component that is also secured to the object. So configured, the heat-dispersion component responds to reception of light from at least the first source of light via at least the first light-bearing conduit by dispersing heat derived from the light.

Methods and apparatus for measuring the melt depth of a substrate during pulsed laser melting are provided. The apparatus can include a heat source, a substrate support with an opening formed therein, and an interferometer positioned to direct coherent radiation toward the toward the substrate support. The method can include positioning the substrate with a first surface in a thermal processing chamber, heating a portion of the first surface with a heat source, directing infrared spectrum radiation at a partially reflective mirror creating control radiation and interference radiation, directing the interference radiation to a melted surface and directing the control radiation to a control surface, and measuring the interference between the reflected radiation. The interference fringe pattern can be used to determine the precise melt depth during the melt process.

Methods and apparatus for measuring the melt depth of a substrate during pulsed laser melting are provided. The apparatus can include a heat source, a substrate support with an opening formed therein, and an interferometer positioned to direct coherent radiation toward the toward the substrate support. The method can include positioning the substrate with a first surface in a thermal processing chamber, heating a portion of the first surface with a heat source, directing infrared spectrum radiation at a partially reflective mirror creating control radiation and interference radiation, directing the interference radiation to a melted surface and directing the control radiation to a control surface, and measuring the interference between the reflected radiation. The interference fringe pattern can be used to determine the precise melt depth during the melt process.

An electric barrier to limit crossing of a border or perimeter. It consists of rows of vertical electrodes installed underground or above ground. It has two modes of operation. In an RF heating mode a generator powers electric fields to heat the ground in a pattern around the fence. A temperature may be reached which makes human occupation of tunnels untenable. Humans may also be subjected to RF radiation effects, especially if the frequency is tuned to a resonant frequency of tunnel cavities. Detection of a resonant frequency by suitable instrumentation may also indicate the presence of tunnels. In another mode occupants of a tunnel may be subjected to shock from an electric pulse, without heating, depending on small amounts of moisture to transmit the pulse through soil to the tunnel.