Abstract: A plasma cell for use in a laser-sustained plasma light source includes a plasma bulb configured to contain a gas suitable for generating a plasma, the plasma bulb being transparent to light from a pump laser, wherein the plasma bulb is transparent to at least a portion of a collectable spectral region of illumination emitted by the plasma. The plasma bulb of the plasma cell is configured to filter short wavelength radiation, such as VUV radiation, emitted by the plasma sustained within the bulb in order to keep the short wavelength radiation from impinging on the interior surface of the bulb.

Abstract: A system for forming a laser-sustained plasma includes a gas containment element, an illumination source configured to generate pump illumination, and a collector element configured to focus the pump illumination from the pumping source into the volume of the gas mixture in order to generate a plasma within the volume of the gas mixture that emits broadband radiation. The gas containment element may be configured to contain a volume of a gas mixture including a first gas component and a second gas component. The second gas component suppresses at least one of a portion of the broadband radiation associated with the first gas component or radiation by one or more excimers associated with the first gas component from a spectrum of radiation exiting the gas mixture.

Abstract: A system for controlling convective flow in a light-sustained plasma includes an illumination source configured to generate illumination, a bulb-less gas containment structure, and a collector element arranged to focus illumination from the illumination source into the volume of gas in order to generate a plasma within the volume of gas contained within the bulb-less gas containment structure. Further, the plasma is generated within a concave region of the collector element, where the collector element includes an opening through the collector element for propagating a portion of a plume of the plasma from a first region of the bulb-less gas containment structure to a second region of the bulb-less gas containment structure, wherein the first region of the bulb-less gas containment structure and the second region of the bulb-less gas containment structure are at least partially separated by a surface of the collector element.

Abstract: A system for forming a laser-sustained plasma includes a gas containment element, an illumination source configured to generate pump illumination, and a collector element configured to focus the pump illumination from the pumping source into the volume of the gas mixture in order to generate a plasma within the volume of the gas mixture that emits broadband radiation. The gas containment element may be configured to contain a volume of a gas mixture including a first gas component and a second gas component. The second gas component suppresses at least one of a portion of the broadband radiation associated with the first gas component or radiation by one or more excimers associated with the first gas component from a spectrum of radiation exiting the gas mixture.

Abstract: An open plasma lamp includes a cavity section. A gas input and gas output of the cavity section are arranged to flow gas through the cavity section. The plasma lamp also includes a gas supply assembly fluidically coupled to the gas input of the cavity section and configured to supply gas to an internal volume of the cavity section. The plasma lamp also includes a nozzle assembly fluidically coupled to the gas output of the cavity section. The nozzle assembly and cavity section are arranged such that a volume of the gas receives pumping illumination from a pump source, where a sustained plasma emits broadband radiation. The nozzle assembly is configured to establish a convective gas flow from within the cavity section to a region external to the cavity section such that a portion of the sustained plasma is removed from the cavity section by the gas flow.

Abstract: A laser-sustained plasma lamp includes a gas containment structure configured to contain a volume of gas. The gas containment structure is configured to receive pump illumination from a pump laser for generating a plasma within the volume of gas. The gas containment structure includes one or more transmissive structures being at least partially transparent to the pump illumination from the pump laser and at least a portion of the broadband radiation emitted by the plasma. The one or more transmissive structures have a graded absorption profile so as to control heating of the one or more transmissive structures caused by the broadband radiation emitted by the plasma.

Abstract: An illumination source for igniting and sustaining a plasma in a plasma lamp of a laser-sustained plasma (LSP) broadband source includes one or more ignition lasers configured to ignite the plasma within a gas contained within the plasma lamp. The illumination sources also includes one or more sustaining lasers configured to sustain the plasma. The illumination sources includes a delivery optical fiber one or more optical elements configured to selectively optically couple an output of the one or more ignition lasers and an output of the one or more sustaining lasers to the delivery optical fiber.

Abstract: A system for forming a laser-sustained plasma includes a gas containment element, an illumination source configured to generate pump illumination, and a collector element. The gas containment element is configured to contain a volume of a gas mixture. The collector element is configured to focus the pump illumination from the pumping source into the volume of the gas mixture contained within the gas containment element in order to generate a plasma within the volume of the gas mixture that emits broadband radiation. The gas mixture filters one or more selected wavelengths of radiation emitted by the plasma.

Abstract: An illumination pump source is disclosed. The illumination pump source includes a set of power sources configured to generate a set of laser beams, with at least some of the set of laser beams configured to include illumination having different wavelengths. The illumination pump source also includes an optical fiber. The illumination pump source also includes one or more optical elements, the one or more optical elements configured to couple the illumination from at least some of the laser beams to one or more regions of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A fluid input manifold distributes injected fluid around the body of a bulb to cool the bulb below a threshold. The injected fluid also distributes heat more evenly along the surface of the bulb to reduce thermal stress. The fluid input manifold may comprise one or more airfoils to direct a substantially laminar fluid flow along the surface of the bulb or it may comprise a plurality of fluid injection nozzles oriented to produce a substantially laminar fluid flow. An output portion may be configured to facilitate fluid flow along the surface of the bulb by allowing injected fluid to easily escape after absorbing heat from the bulb or by applying negative pressure to actively draw injected fluid along the surface of the bulb and away.

Abstract: A laser-sustained plasma light source includes a plasma cell configured to contain a volume of gas. The plasma cell is configured to receive illumination from a pump laser in order to generate plasma within the volume of gas. The plasma emits broadband radiation. The plasma cell includes one or more transparent portions being at least partially transparent to at least a portion of illumination from the pump laser and at least a portion of the broadband radiation emitted by the plasma. The plasma cell also includes one or more nanostructured layers disposed on one or more surfaces of the one or more transparent portions of the plasma cell. The one or more nanostructure layers form a region of refractive index control across an interface between the one or more transparent portions of the plasma cell and an atmosphere.

Abstract: A system for controlling convective flow in a light-sustained plasma includes an illumination source configured to generate illumination, a plasma cell including a bulb for containing a volume of gas, a collector element arranged to focus illumination from the illumination source into the volume of gas in order to generate a plasma within the volume of gas contained within the bulb. Further, the plasma cell is disposed within a concave region of the collector element, where the collector element includes an opening for propagating a portion of a plume of the plasma to a region external to the concave region of the collect element.

Abstract: A system for forming a laser-sustained plasma includes a gas containment element, an illumination source configured to generate pump illumination, and a collector element. The gas containment element is configured to contain a volume of a gas mixture. The collector element is configured to focus the pump illumination from the pumping source into the volume of the gas mixture contained within the gas containment element in order to generate a plasma within the volume of the gas mixture that emits broadband radiation. The gas mixture filters one or more selected wavelengths of radiation emitted by the plasma.

Abstract: A system for controlling convective flow in a light-sustained plasma includes an illumination source configured to generate illumination, a plasma cell including a bulb for containing a volume of gas, a collector element arranged to focus illumination from the illumination source into the volume of gas in order to generate a plasma within the volume of gas contained within the bulb. Further, the plasma cell is disposed within a concave region of the collector element, where the collector element includes an opening for propagating a portion of a plume of the plasma to a region external to the concave region of the collect element.

Abstract: An open plasma lamp includes a cavity section. A gas input and gas output of the cavity section are arranged to flow gas through the cavity section. The plasma lamp also includes a gas supply assembly fluidically coupled to the gas input of the cavity section and configured to supply gas to an internal volume of the cavity section. The plasma lamp also includes a nozzle assembly fluidically coupled to the gas output of the cavity section. The nozzle assembly and cavity section are arranged such that a volume of the gas receives pumping illumination from a pump source, where a sustained plasma emits broadband radiation. The nozzle assembly is configured to establish a convective gas flow from within the cavity section to a region external to the cavity section such that a portion of the sustained plasma is removed from the cavity section by the gas flow.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing laser sustained plasma light sources are disclosed. Different from conventional laser sustained plasma light sources where one fiber size and one wavelength combination is used in the lamphouse to generate light for different bands and pixel sizes, switchable fiber sizes and wavelength combinations are provided for optimal power output in different wavelength bands and pixel sizes. More specifically, switchable fiber configurations are provided where larger fibers with higher pump powers are used for bigger pixel sizes and higher wavelength bands while smaller fibers are used for smaller pixel size and shorter wavelength bands. Additionally and/or alternatively, pumping schemes are provided where pump wavelengths close to the absorption peak of the gas fill are used for bigger pixel sizes while pump wavelengths away from the gas fill absorption peak are used for smaller pixel sizes.

Abstract: A refillable plasma cell for use in a laser-sustained plasma light source includes a plasma bulb, the bulb being formed from a glass material substantially transparent to a selected wavelength of radiation, and a gas port assembly, the gas port assembly being operably connected to the bulb and disposed at a first portion of the gas bulb, wherein the bulb is configured to selectively receive a gas from a gas source via the gas port assembly.

Abstract: An open plasma lamp includes a cavity section. A gas input and gas output of the cavity section are arranged to flow gas through the cavity section. The plasma lamp also includes a gas supply assembly fluidically coupled to the gas input of the cavity section and configured to supply gas to an internal volume of the cavity section. The plasma lamp also includes a nozzle assembly fluidically coupled to the gas output of the cavity section. The nozzle assembly and cavity section are arranged such that a volume of the gas receives pumping illumination from a pump source, where a sustained plasma emits broadband radiation. The nozzle assembly is configured to establish a convective gas flow from within the cavity section to a region external to the cavity section such that a portion of the sustained plasma is removed from the cavity section by the gas flow.

Abstract: A laser-sustained plasma illuminator system includes at least one laser light source to provide light. At least one reflector focuses the light from the laser light source at a focal point of the reflector. An enclosure substantially filled with a gas is positioned at or near the focal point of the reflector. The light from the laser light source at least partially sustains a plasma contained in the enclosure. The enclosure has at least one wall with at least one property that is varied to compensate for optical aberrations in the system.

Abstract: A laser-sustained plasma light source includes a plasma lamp configured to contain a volume of gas and receive illumination from a pump laser in order to generate a plasma. The plasma lamp includes one or more transparent portions transparent to illumination from the pump laser and at least a portion of the broadband radiation emitted by the plasma. The one or more transparent portions are formed from a transparent material having elevated hydroxide content above 700 ppm.