Patent ID: 7332030

Claim:
A process for the treatment of a component having at least one property that can be modified when subjected to thermal energy levels above a specified treatment level, comprising: placing a component ( 1 ) for treatment, the component having a surface ( 2 ) and a depth, and the component being at a thermal energy level below a specified treatment level ( 7 ); subjecting the placed component to a power flux ( 4 ) generated by a particle emission apparatus ( 3 ) located proximate to the surface ( 2 ) of the component; and regulating the particle emission apparatus to (i) produce, for a specified time, at least one pulse having a thermal energy profile that includes thermal energy levels above and below the specified treatment level ( 7 ) and a maximum ( 5 a ) thermal energy level above the specified treatment level, (ii) localize the thermal energy levels above the specified treatment level ( 7 ) in at least one zone ( 6 ) that is a distance from the surface ( 2 ) and in the depth, and (iii) localize the thermal energy levels below the specified treatment level ( 7 ) between the surface ( 2 ) and the at least one zone ( 6 ), wherein, the location of the at least one zone ( 6 ) is determined by the location in the depth of the thermal energy levels above the specified treatment level ( 7 ), at least one property of the component is modified in the at least one zone ( 6 ), and the component is not modified between the surface ( 2 ) and the at least one zone ( 6 ).