A first diamond layer made of polycrystalline diamonds and doped with foreign atoms, is arranged on a metal surface of a machining tool, and is used to detect the degree of wear of an undoped polycrystalline second diamond layer, which is arranged on the doped diamond layer and forms a functional region of the machining tool, wherein at least one physical parameter is detected continuously or periodically during operation of the tool, and wherein a change in the parameter indicates the degree of wear of the undoped second diamond layer. The doped diamond layer forms an “intelligent stop layer” for the tool because as a result of change in the transition from the undoped to the doped layer, the conductivity of the system changes, for example, and this change can be used to form a stop signal for the machine drive before the tool and the machined workpiece are damaged.

The present invention relates to an information storage medium and a method for long-term storage of information comprising the steps of: providing a ceramic substrate; coating the ceramic substrate with a layer of a second material different from the material of the ceramic substrate, the layer having a thickness no greater than 10 μm; tempering the coated ceramic substrate to form a writable plate or disc; encoding information on the writable plate or disc by using a laser and/or a focused particle beam to manipulate localized areas of the writable plate or disc.

The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the fabrication of certain functionally-shaped fibers and microstructures. In some embodiments, the invention may also utilize laser beam profiling to enhance fiber and microstructure fabrication.

The present invention relates to an information storage medium and a method for long-term storage of information comprising the steps of: providing a ceramic substrate; coating the ceramic substrate with a layer of a second material different from the material of the ceramic substrate, the layer having a thickness no greater than 10 m; tempering the coated ceramic substrate to form a writable plate or disc; encoding information on the writable plate or disc by using a laser and/or a focused particle beam to manipulate localized areas of the writable plate or disc.

A method for modifying an LGA package after production is described herein. Generally, a modification of an LGA package by shorting two contacts together via a trace made of a robust conductive metal such as tungsten or platinum. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a method for modifying a LGA package shorting two contacts together using FIB deposition via a gallium ion beam.

Methods of forming structures using a neutral beam, structures formed using a neutral beam, and reactor systems for forming the structures are disclosed. The neutral beam can be used to provide activated species during deposition of a layer and/or to provide activated species to treat a deposited layer.

A gas generation system for an ion implantation system has a hydrogen generator configured to generate hydrogen gas within an enclosure. A chuck, such as an electrostatic chuck, supports a workpiece in an end station of the ion implantation system, and a delivery system provides the hydrogen gas to the chuck. The hydrogen gas can be provided through the chuck to a backside of the workpiece. Sensors can detect a presence of the hydrogen gas within the enclosure. A controller can control the hydrogen generator. An exhaust system can pass air through the enclosure to prevent a build-up of the hydrogen gas within the enclosure. A purge gas system provides a dilutant gas to the enclosure. An interlock system can control the hydrogen generator, delivery system, purge gas system, and exhaust system to mitigate hydrogen release based on a signal from the one or more sensors.

The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the fabrication of certain functionally-shaped fibers and microstructures. In some embodiments, the invention may also utilize laser beam profiling to enhance fiber and microstructure fabrication.

There is provided a method for manufacturing graphene. The method includes an adsorption step of causing six-membered ring structures of carbon atoms to be adsorbed to a surface of a substrate; and an irradiation step of irradiating the surface of the substrate with a beam of a molecule containing carbon atoms.

The present application relates to a method for permanently repairing defects of absent material of a photolithographic mask, comprising the following steps: (a) providing at least one carbon-containing precursor gas and at least one oxidizing agent at a location to be repaired of the photolithographic mask; (b) initiating a reaction of the at least one carbon-containing precursor gas with the aid of at least one energy source at the location of absent material in order to deposit material at the location of absent material, wherein the deposited material comprises at least one reaction product of the reacted at least one carbon-containing precursor gas; and (c) controlling a gas volumetric flow rate of the at least one oxidizing agent in order to minimize a carbon proportion of the deposited material.