Abstract: An ion withdrawal apparatus that withdraws ions emitted from a plasma in an EUV light production apparatus in which a target at an EUV light production point is irradiated with laser light to be made in a plasma state and the target emits EUV light, the ion withdrawal apparatus which includes: a collector mirror that is disposed in a direction opposite to a laser light incidence direction to collect the EUV light and has a hole for the ions to pass therethrough; magnetic line of force production means that produces a magnetic line of force that is parallel or approximately parallel to the laser light incidence direction at or in the vicinity of the EUV light production point; and ion withdrawal means that is disposed on the opposite side of the collector mirror from the EUV light production point and withdraws the ions.

Abstract: An EUV light source apparatus capable of preventing deterioration and/or breakage of a filter for filtering EUV light. The EUV light source apparatus includes an EUV generation chamber in which EUV light is generated; a target material supply unit for supplying a target material into the EUV light generation chamber; a laser source for applying a laser beam to the target material supplied into the EUV light generation chamber to generate plasma; collection optics for collecting EUV light radiated from the plasma; a filter for filtering the EUV light collected by the collection optics; and a filter protecting member provided between the plasma and the filter, for protecting the filter by blocking flying matter flying from the plasma toward the filter.

Abstract: A collector mirror exchanging apparatus capable of safely and easily exchanging a collector mirror for collecting extreme ultra violet light emitted from plasma generated within a chamber of an extreme ultra violet light source apparatus. The collector mirror exchanging apparatus includes: a supporting base for supporting a collector mirror or a collector mirror structure; and a guiding rail disposed on the supporting base and regulating a moving direction of the collector mirror or the collector mirror structure; wherein at least the collector mirror is taken out of the chamber by moving the collector mirror or the collector mirror structure along the guiding rail on the supporting base.

Abstract: An extreme ultra violet light source apparatus having relatively high output for exposure, in which debris are suppressed to be produced as much as possible in stead of disposing debris that has been once produced. The extreme ultra violet light source apparatus includes: a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated; a target supply unit for supplying solid tin or lithium as a target to a predetermined position within the chamber; a CO2 laser for applying a laser beam based on pulse operation to the target supplied by the target supply unit so as to generate plasma; and a collector mirror having a multilayer film on a reflecting surface thereof, for collecting the extreme ultra violet light radiated from the plasma to output the extreme ultra violet light.

Abstract: An EUV light source apparatus capable of preventing the efficiency of generation of EUV light from decreasing due to deterioration of a window of an EUV light generation chamber. The EUV light source apparatus includes an EUV light generation chamber provided with a window, a driver laser which generates a laser beam, a concave lens which enlarges the laser beam, a convex lens which collimates the enlarged laser beam, a parabolic concave mirror which is arranged in the EUV light generation chamber and reflects the collimated laser beam to collect the laser beam to a target material, a parabolic concave mirror adjusting mechanism which adjusts position and angle of the parabolic concave mirror, an EUV light collector mirror which collects EUV light, and a purge gas supply unit which supplies a purge gas for protecting the window and the parabolic concave mirror.

Abstract: Burst and spike characteristics in an excimer laser output in a burst operation are efficiently improved. Xenon gas is added from a compact Xe gas cylinder to gases for excimer laser in a chamber supplied from an Ar/Ne gas cylinder and an Ar/F2/Ne gas cylinder, a ratio of the xenon gas is detected by an Xe gas sensor, and the supply of the xenon gas from the Xe gas cylinder to the chamber is controlled by a gas controller.

Abstract: A film is formed on the discharge parts of the main discharge electrodes. In order to prevent erosion of the discharge parts by the halogen gas contained in the laser gas, a substance that tends not to react with the halogen gas, i.e., a halogen-resistant substance, is used for this film. Furthermore, in order to prevent deformation of the discharge parts by the bombardment and heat of the main discharge, a substance that has a higher hardness than the metal of the main discharge electrodes or a substance that has a higher melting point than the metal of the main discharge electrodes is used for this film. As a result, deterioration of the electrodes can be inhibited, so that a stable laser output can be obtained, and the replacement interval of the electrodes can be extended.

Abstract: A film is formed on the discharge parts of the main discharge electrodes. In order to prevent erosion of the discharge parts by the halogen gas contained in the laser gas, a substance that tends not to react with the halogen gas, i.e., a halogen-resistant substance, is used for this film. Furthermore, in order to prevent deformation of the discharge parts by the bombardment and heat of the main discharge, a substance that has a higher hardness than the metal of the main discharge electrodes or a substance that has a higher melting point than the metal of the main discharge electrodes is used for this film. As a result, deterioration of the electrodes can be inhibited, so that a stable laser output can be obtained, and the replacement interval of the electrodes can be extended.

Abstract: Xenon gas is added from a small-sized Xe gas cylinder (15) to the excimer laser gas inside a chamber (10) supplied from an Ar/Ne gas cylinder (13) and an Ar/Ne/F2 gas cylinder (14), the xenon gas proportion is detected by an Xe gas sensor (16), and the supply of the xenon gas supplied to the chamber (10) from the Xe gas cylinder (15) is controlled by a gas controller (18).

Abstract: A method of continuously draw-molding a fiber reinforced plastic rod formed with a spiral groove includes the steps of arranging in parallel a plurality of reinforcing fibers under tension, impregnating an unhardened thermosetting resin in the reinforcing fibers with tension being applied to the reinforcing fibers, winding a tape having a resin impregnable property and an expandible and contractible property around a fiber bundle composed of the thermosetting resin impregnated reinforcing fibers in a spiral fashion with a winding angle being substantially equal to an angle of the spiral groove with respect to an axial direction of a rod to be molded, passing the fiber bundle with the wound tape in a heating mold provided with a hole having a cross section substantially equal to that of the rod to be molded to heat and harden the thermosetting resin, and taking up the tape thereafter.