SAN JOSE, Calif., July 20 -- Ultratech Stepper Inc. and Applied Materials, a supplier of products and services to the global semiconductor and flat panel display industries, have signed a contract in which Applied Materials will license the laser thermal processing technology of Ultratech's Verdant Technologies Div. Verdant's process, which involves projection optics and short pulse laser technology, is expected to form advanced contacts and junctions at geometries of 0.10 µm and below, said Ultratech.