Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of operating an electrical discharge device (12) comprising at least one first electrode (14) and at least one second electrode (16) at a distance therefrom, which electrodes are electrically connected to a power supply (18) and, upon ignition of a first gas discharge (22) between the electrodes (14, 16), transmit an electrical current (1), as a result of which a plasma (24) is produced in a working gas (26), which plasma emits radiation (28), in particular extreme ultraviolet and/or soft X-ray radiation, which is passed via a solid angle (30) into a chamber (32) outside the electrodes (14, 16). In order to prevent erosion at the electrodes (14, 16), it is proposed that the formation of a secondary plasma (34) in the chamber (32) is suppressed by a device (42).

Abstract: A method for generating extreme ultraviolet radiation and soft x-ray radiation with a gas discharge operated on the left branch of the Paschen curve, in particular, for EUV lithography, wherein a discharge chamber (10) of a predetermined gas pressure and two electrodes (11, 12) are used, wherein the electrodes have an opening (14, 15), respectively, positioned on the same symmetry axis (13) and, in the course of a voltage increase (16) upon reaching a predetermined ignition voltage (Uz), generate a plasma (17) located in the area between their openings (14, 15), which plasma is a source of the radiation (17?) to be generated, wherein an ignition of the plasma (17) is realized by affecting the gas pressure and/or by triggering, and wherein, with the ignition of the plasma (17), an energy storage device supplies by means of the electrodes (11, 12) stored energy into the plasma (17), characterized in that the ignition of the plasma (17) is realized by using a predetermined ignition delay (18).