Point-ahead laser pointer-tracker systems with stabilization and wavefront correction in both transmit and receive directions provide arrangements for sensing the wavefront correction required in two different directions, one in the received target image direction for good image quality in the tracker and the other in the point-ahead direction for good beam quality on the target. The devices comprise a shank having one or more structures thereon, an anchor button fixedly attached to one end of the shank with the opposite end of the shank being suitable for penetration of tissues or other structures. When the hold-down device is in the second position it presses the sheet stack against the sheet stack tray. Moreover, the spectroscopic techniques may also be applied to quality assessment and control in pharmaceutical manufacturing, thus permitting the implementation of smart manufacturing with feedback control. The ceramic wall of the discharge vessel comprises a tube for introducing the ionizable filling into the discharge vessel during manufacture of the ceramic burner.