Apparatus and method of delivering a focused beam of a thermodynamically stable/metastable mixture of a functional material in a dense fluid onto a receiver

A method of delivering a functional material comprising:

• providing a pressurized source of a thermodynamically stable mixture of a fluid and the functional material;
• and
• causing the functional material to collimate, wherein the fluid is in a gaseous state at a location beyond an outlet of the discharge device.

An apparatus for delivering a beam of a functional material comprising:

• a pressurized source of a thermodynamically stable mixture of a fluid and the functional material;
• and
• a discharge device having an inlet and an outlet, the discharge device being connected to the pressurized source at the inlet, the discharge device including a variable area portion and a constant area portion, wherein a collimated beam of functional material is produced as the mixture moves from the inlet of the discharge device through the outlet of the discharge device, the fluid being in a gaseous state at a location relative to the discharge device.

An apparatus for delivering a functional material comprising:

• a pressurized source of a thermodynamically stable mixture of a fluid and the functional material;
• and
• a discharge device having an inlet and an outlet, the discharge device being connected to the pressurized source at the inlet, the discharge device being shaped to produce a beam of functional material, wherein the fluid is in a gaseous state at a location beyond the outlet of the discharge device.