Abstract: A broadband light source and method are disclosed. The broadband light source may include a rotatable drum at least partially coated with plasma-forming target material, a rotational actuator configured to rotate the rotatable drum, a linear actuator configured to axially translate the rotatable drum, and a laser source configured to direct pulsed illumination to a set of spots on a material-coated portion of the rotatable drum for exciting the plasma-forming target material and emitting broadband light. The broadband light source may include a control system configured to receive laser clock data of the laser source. The control system may be configured to control, in a closed loop synchronized configuration, the actuation of the rotational and linear actuators based on at least the laser clock data to selectively position a plurality of loops of the set of spots on the material-coated portion of the rotatable drum.