Methods and apparatus for thermal processing of materials

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods for thermally processing materials are disclosed. An illuminator illuminates material to thermally process the material. To permit the illuminator to illuminate the full scope of the material, the illuminator is moved relative to the material and / or the material is moved relative to the illuminator. Heat from an illuminated first subset of material is transferred to a second subset of the material not yet illuminated. To account for the preheating of the second subset of the material, illumination of the second set of material is adjusted relative to illumination of the first set of material.

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