Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for reacting on material by means of intense radiation employed to change the physical and, in certain instances, the chemical characteristics of such material. In one form, an intense radiation beam is directed into a cavity of a die or support for a small quantity of material to be reacted on and the intense heat of the beam as well as the shock wave generated in the material in the die cavity by the rapid heat of the beam react on such material to change its physical characteristics. In another form, two or more intense radiation beams, such as generated by one or more lasers or electron guns as intense pulses of radiation, are directed against a particle or pellet of material directed along a predetermined path into a reaction chamber, intensely heat and transmit shock wave energy thereto from opposite directions which shock waves collapse against the material transforming it into another form. In still another form of the invention, pellets or small containers of material to be reacted on are supported by filaments, rods or other structures disposed in a reaction chamber and are reacted on by one or more intense radiation beams. In yet another form, one or more intense pulses of radiation are directed against a solid member compressing a quantity of material in a die and generate one or more shock waves in such solid member which are transmitted therethrough to the compressed material. The pellet or particles may comprise carbon which is converted to diamond by the intense heat and force of the shock wave or shock waves or other material including such other material mixed with carbon.

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First Claim