Abstract: The passivation of a nonlinear optical crystal for use in an inspection tool includes growing a nonlinear optical crystal in the presence of at least one of fluorine, a fluoride ion and a fluoride-containing compound, mechanically preparing the nonlinear optical crystal, performing an annealing process on the nonlinear optical crystal and exposing the nonlinear optical crystal to a hydrogen-containing or deuterium-containing passivating gas.

Abstract: A laser system includes a nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal, wherein the NLO crystal is annealed within a selected temperature range. The NLO crystal is passivated with at least one of hydrogen, deuterium, a hydrogen-containing compound or a deuterium-containing compound to a selected passivation level. The system further includes at least one light source, wherein at least one light source is configured to generate light of a selected wavelength and at least one light source is configured to transmit light through the NLO crystal. The system further includes a crystal housing unit configured to house the NLO crystal.

Abstract: The passivation of a nonlinear optical crystal for use in an inspection tool includes growing a nonlinear optical crystal in the presence of at least one of fluorine, a fluoride ion and a fluoride-containing compound, mechanically preparing the nonlinear optical crystal, performing an annealing process on the nonlinear optical crystal and exposing the nonlinear optical crystal to a hydrogen-containing or deuterium-containing passivating gas.

Abstract: An optical inspection system that utilizes sub-200 nm incident light beam to inspect a surface of an object for defects is described. The sub-200 nm incident light beam is generated by combining first light having a wavelength of about 1109 nm with second light having a wavelength of approximately 234 nm. An optical system includes optical components configured to direct the incident light beam to a surface of the object, and image relay optics are configured to collect and relay at least two channels of light to a sensor, where at least one channel includes light reflected from the object, and at least one channel includes light transmitted through the object. The sensor is configured to simultaneously detect both the reflected and transmitted light. A laser for generating the sub-200 nm incident light beam includes a fundamental laser, two or more harmonic generators, a frequency doubler and a two frequency mixing stages.

Abstract: An inspection system/method in which first optics direct continuous wave (CW) light at 181-185 nm to an inspected article, and second optics redirect image information affected by the article to detectors. A laser assembly generates the CW light by generating fourth harmonic light from first fundamental CW light having a first wavelength between 1 and 1.1 ?m, generating fifth harmonic light by mixing the fourth harmonic light with the first fundamental CW light, and mixing the fifth harmonic light with second light having a second wavelength between 1.26 and 1.82 ?m. An external cavity mixes the first light and the fourth harmonic light using a first nonlinear crystal. The CW light is generated using a second cavity that passes circulated second fundamental or signal CW light through a second nonlinear crystal, and directing the fifth harmonic light through the second nonlinear crystal.

Abstract: A laser system includes a nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal, wherein the NLO crystal is annealed within a selected temperature range. The NLO crystal is passivated with at least one of hydrogen, deuterium, a hydrogen-containing compound or a deuterium-containing compound to a selected passivation level. The system further includes at least one light source, wherein at least one light source is configured to generate light of a selected wavelength and at least one light source is configured to transmit light through the NLO crystal. The system further includes a crystal housing unit configured to house the NLO crystal.

Abstract: A laser system includes a nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal, wherein the NLO crystal is annealed within a selected temperature range. The NLO crystal is passivated with at least one of hydrogen, deuterium, a hydrogen-containing compound or a deuterium-containing compound to a selected passivation level. The system further includes at least one light source, wherein at least one light source is configured to generate light of a selected wavelength and at least one light source is configured to transmit light through the NLO crystal. The system further includes a crystal housing unit configured to house the NLO crystal.

Abstract: A laser assembly generates continuous wave (CW) laser output light in the range of approximately 181 nm to approximately 185 nm by generating fourth harmonic light from first fundamental CW light having a first fundamental wavelength between 1 ?m and 1.1 ?m, generating fifth harmonic light by mixing the fourth harmonic light with the first fundamental CW light, and then mixing the fifth harmonic light with second fundamental or signal CW light having a second wavelength between 1.26 ?m and 1.82 ?m. The fifth harmonic light is generated using an external cavity that circulates first fundamental CW light through a first nonlinear crystal, and by directing the fourth harmonic light through the first nonlinear crystal. The laser output light is generated using a second cavity that passes circulated second fundamental or signal CW light through a second nonlinear crystal, and directing the fifth harmonic light through the second nonlinear crystal.

Abstract: In-situ passivation of a nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal during operation of a characterization tool includes converting a laser beam of a selected wavelength to a converted laser beam of a harmonic wavelength via a nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal and passivating the NLO crystal during conversion to the converted laser beam of the harmonic wavelength.

Abstract: A laser assembly for generating laser output light at an output wavelength of approximately 183 nm includes a fundamental laser, an optical parametric system (OPS), a fifth harmonic generator, and a frequency mixing module. The fundamental laser generates fundamental light at a fundamental frequency. The OPS generates a down-converted signal at a down-converted frequency. The fifth harmonic generator generates a fifth harmonic of the fundamental light. The frequency mixing module mixes the down-converted signal and the fifth harmonic to produce the laser output light at a frequency equal to a sum of the fifth harmonic frequency and the down-converted frequency. The OPS generates the down-converted signal by generating a down-converted seed signal at the down-converted frequency, and then mixing the down-converted seed signal with a portion of the fundamental light.

Abstract: A pulse multiplier includes a polarizing beam splitter, a wave plate, and a set of multi-surface reflecting components (e.g., one or more etalons and one or more mirrors). The polarizing beam splitter passes input laser pulses through the wave plate to the multi-surface reflecting components, which reflect portions of each input laser pulse back through the wave plate to the polarizing beam splitter. The polarizing beam splitter reflects each reflected portion to form an output of the pulse multiplier. The multi-surface reflecting components are configured such that the output pulses exiting the pulse multiplier have an output repetition pulse frequency rate that is at least double the input repetition pulse frequency.

Abstract: A laser assembly generates continuous wave (CW) laser output light in the range of approximately 181 nm to approximately 185 nm by generating fourth harmonic light from first fundamental CW light having a first fundamental wavelength between 1 ?m and 1.1 ?m, generating fifth harmonic light by mixing the fourth harmonic light with the first fundamental CW light, and then mixing the fifth harmonic light with second fundamental or signal CW light having a second wavelength between 1.26 ?m and 1.82 ?m. The fifth harmonic light is generated using an external cavity that circulates first fundamental CW light through a first nonlinear crystal, and by directing the fourth harmonic light through the first nonlinear crystal. The laser output light is generated using a second cavity that passes circulated second fundamental or signal CW light through a second nonlinear crystal, and directing the fifth harmonic light through the second nonlinear crystal.

Abstract: A pulse multiplier includes a polarizing beam splitter, a wave plate, and a set of multi-surface reflecting components (e.g., one or more etalons and one or more mirrors). The polarizing beam splitter passes input laser pulses through the wave plate to the multi-surface reflecting components, which reflect portions of each input laser pulse back through the wave plate to the polarizing beam splitter. The polarizing beam splitter reflects each reflected portion to form an output of the pulse multiplier. The multi-surface reflecting components are configured such that the output pulses exiting the pulse multiplier have an output repetition pulse frequency rate that is at least double the input repetition pulse frequency.

Abstract: An optical inspection system that utilizes sub-200 nm incident light beam to inspect a surface of an object for defects is described. The sub-200 nm incident light beam is generated by combining first light having a wavelength of about 1109 nm with second light having a wavelength of approximately 234 nm. An optical system includes optical components configured to direct the incident light beam to a surface of the object, and image relay optics are configured to collect and relay at least two channels of light to a sensor, where at least one channel includes light reflected from the object, and at least one channel includes light transmitted through the object. The sensor is configured to simultaneously detect both the reflected and transmitted light. A laser for generating the sub-200 nm incident light beam includes a fundamental laser, two or more harmonic generators, a frequency doubler and a two frequency mixing stages.

Abstract: A laser assembly generates continuous (CW) laser output light in the range of approximately 181 nm to approximately 185 nm by generating fourth harmonic light from first fundamental CW light having a first fundamental wavelength between 1 ?m and 1.1 ?m, generating fifth harmonic light by mixing the fourth harmonic light with the first fundamental CW light, and then mixing the fifth harmonic light with second fundamental or signal CW light having a second wavelength between 1.26 ?m and 1.82 ?m. The fifth harmonic light is generated using an external cavity that circulates first fundamental CW light through a first nonlinear crystal, and by directing the fourth harmonic light through the first nonlinear crystal. The laser output light is generated using a second cavity that passes circulated second fundamental or signal CW light through a second nonlinear crystal, and directing the fifth harmonic light through the second nonlinear crystal.

Abstract: A pulse multiplier includes a polarizing beam splitter, a wave plate, and a set of multi-surface reflecting components (e.g., one or more etalons and one or more mirrors). The polarizing beam splitter passes input laser pulses through the wave plate to the multi-surface reflecting components, which reflect portions of each input laser pulse back through the wave plate to the polarizing beam splitter. The polarizing beam splitter reflects each reflected portion to form an output of the pulse multiplier. The multi-surface reflecting components are configured such that the output pulses exiting the pulse multiplier have an output repetition pulse frequency rate that is at least double the input repetition pulse frequency.

Abstract: An improved solid-state laser for generating sub-200 nm light is described. This laser uses a fundamental wavelength between about 1030 nm and 1065 nm to generate the sub-200 nm light. The final frequency conversion stage of the laser creates the sub-200 nm light by mixing a wavelength of approximately 1109 nm with a wavelength of approximately 234 nm. By proper selection of non-linear media, such mixing can be achieved by nearly non-critical phase matching. This mixing results in high conversion efficiency, good stability, and high reliability.

Abstract: A laser assembly for generating laser output light at an output wavelength of approximately 183 nm includes a fundamental laser, an optical parametric system (OPS), a fifth harmonic generator, and a frequency mixing module. The fundamental laser generates fundamental light at a fundamental frequency. The OPS generates a down-converted signal at a down-converted frequency. The fifth harmonic generator generates a fifth harmonic of the fundamental light. The frequency mixing module mixes the down-converted signal and the fifth harmonic to produce the laser output light at a frequency equal to a sum of the fifth harmonic frequency and the down-converted frequency. The OPS generates the down-converted signal by generating a down-converted seed signal at the down-converted frequency, and then mixing the down-converted seed signal with a portion of the fundamental light.

Abstract: A pulse multiplier includes a polarizing beam splitter, a wave plate, and a set of mirrors. The polarizing beam splitter receives an input laser pulse. The wave plate receives light from the polarized beam splitter and generates a first set of pulses and a second set of pulses. The first set of pulses has a different polarization than the second set of pulses. The polarizing beam splitter, the wave plate, and the set of mirrors create a ring cavity. The polarizing beam splitter transmits the first set of pulses as an output of the pulse multiplier and reflects the second set of pulses into the ring cavity. This pulse multiplier can inexpensively reduce the peak power per pulse while increasing the number of pulses per second with minimal total power loss.

Abstract: A laser assembly for generating laser output light at an output wavelength of approximately 183 nm includes a fundamental laser, an optical parametric system (OPS), a fifth harmonic generator, and a frequency mixing module. The fundamental laser generates fundamental light at a fundamental frequency. The OPS generates a down-converted signal at a down-converted frequency. The fifth harmonic generator generates a fifth harmonic of the fundamental light. The frequency mixing module mixes the down-converted signal and the fifth harmonic to produce the laser output light at a frequency equal to a sum of the fifth harmonic frequency and the down-converted frequency. The OPS generates the down-converted signal by generating a down-converted seed signal at the down-converted frequency, and then mixing the down-converted seed signal with a portion of the fundamental light.