Abstract: Disclosed are methods of and apparatus for extending a useful lifetime of a laser discharge chamber in which a polarity of an electrode positioned at a fixed position within the chamber is caused to be positive with respect to the polarity of a second electrode defining a discharge gap with the first electrode and the first electrode is made of a material that forms an erosion resistant surface when the first electrode is used and an anode. Also disclosed is an arrangement in which a first electrode is positionable with respect a second electrode defining a discharge gap with the second electrode and the position of the first electrode controlled to maintain the width of the gap within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A laser device may include a laser resonator; a chamber arranged on an optical path of the laser resonator; a pair of electrodes arranged in the chamber; a power source applying a voltage to the electrodes; a storage unit storing a voltage value; and a control unit configured to set an application voltage value of the voltage applied to the electrodes as setting the application voltage value for outputting a pulse whose pulse number is equal to or larger than 1 and smaller than i based on the voltage command value and the voltage value stored in the storage unit, and setting the application voltage for outputting a pulse whose pulse number is equal to or larger than i and smaller than j based on the voltage command value and an offset value corresponding to the voltage command value, where i>1 and j>i.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling pressure in a cavity of a light source are provided. One system includes a barometric pressure sensor configured for measuring pressure in a cavity of a light source. The system also includes one or more gas flow elements configured for controlling an amount of one or more gases in the cavity. In addition, the system includes a control subsystem configured for comparing the measured pressure to a predetermined range of values for the pressure and, when the measured pressure is outside of the predetermined range, altering a parameter of at least one of the one or more gas flow elements based on results of the comparing.

Abstract: A method includes driving, while producing a burst of pulses at a pulse repetition rate, a spectral feature adjuster among a set of discrete states at a frequency correlated with the pulse repetition rate; and in between the production of the bursts of pulses (while no pulses are being produced), driving the spectral feature adjuster according to a driving signal defined by a set of parameters. Each discrete state corresponds to a discrete value of a spectral feature. The method includes ensuring that the spectral feature adjuster is in one of the discrete states that corresponds to a discrete value of the spectral feature of the amplified light beam when a pulse in the next burst is produced by adjusting one or more of: an instruction to the lithography exposure apparatus, the driving signal to the spectral feature adjuster, and/or the instruction to the optical source.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system is configured to selectively solidify a build material at a build plane in a layer-by-layer manner. The three-dimensional printing system includes a laser module, a scan module, and a controller. The laser module is for emitting a light beam along a main optical path from the laser module to the build plane. The scan module includes a motorized mirror and a sensor. The motorized mirror includes a substrate having an optical coating that reflects at least 90% of incoming beam power such that the mirror transmits no more than 10% of the incoming beam power. The sensor is positioned to receive transmitted light from the mirror. The controller is configured to operate the laser module to emit the light beam along the main optical path, analyze a signal from the sensor, and based upon the analysis, to estimate a calibration error for the laser module.

Abstract: An excimer laser apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a chamber configured to accommodate a laser gas and a pair of electrodes and generate pulse-oscillating laser light when the gas pressure of the laser gas is controlled in accordance with voltage applied between the pair of electrodes, a power supply configured to apply the voltage between the pair of electrodes, and a controller to which a target value of the spectral linewidth of the laser light is inputted, the controller configured to correct the voltage used to control the gas pressure, when the target value changes from a first target value to a second target value, based on a first function having the second target value as a parameter and control the gas pressure in accordance with the corrected voltage.

Abstract: A laser apparatus includes a controller that selects one of a first gas control and a second gas control based on gas pressure measured by a pressure sensor. The first gas control causes at least one of first laser gas and second laser gas is supplied to a chamber such that the gas pressure in the chamber after the first gas control is higher than the gas pressure in the chamber before the first gas control. The second gas control causes at least the first laser gas is supplied to the chamber and causes a part of the laser gas in the chamber is exhausted such that a difference between the gas pressure in the chamber before the second gas control and the gas pressure in the chamber after the second gas control is smaller than a difference between the gas pressure in the chamber before the first gas control and the gas pressure in the chamber after the first gas control.

Abstract: Tapered cavity structures disposed within a stratum may be configured as a spectral component splitters, a spectral component combiners, and various combinations thereof including a reflective mode of operation. The tapered cavities have an aperture at their wider and a tip at the narrower, and are dimensioned such that multi-spectral radiant energy admitted into the cavity via the aperture would depart the tapered cavity via its side periphery at a depth and/or direction dependent on its frequency and/or its polarization, and that a plurality of spectral components admitted to the cavities via the its peripheral side or sides will be mixed and emitted via the aperture. Reflective type structures where portions of radiant energy is selectively absorbed and other portions are reflected are also considered. Differing stratums are disclosed. Applications of the tapered cavities in a stratum are also disclosed.

Abstract: A laser gas purifying system to purify laser gas emitted from a laser apparatus and return purified gas to the laser apparatus may include a first pipe configured to pass the laser gas emitted from the laser apparatus, a purifying apparatus connected to the first pipe and configured to purify the laser gas emitted from the laser apparatus, a second pipe connected to the purifying apparatus and configured to return the purified gas purified by the purifying apparatus to the laser apparatus, and an exhausting device provided in at least one of the first pipe, the purifying apparatus, and the second pipe.

Abstract: A method for producing a glass substrate with through glass vias according to the present invention includes: irradiating a glass substrate (10) with a laser beam to form a modified portion; forming a first conductive portion (20a) on a first principal surface of the glass substrate (10), the first conductive portion (20a) being positioned in correspondence with the modified portion (12); and forming a through hole (14) in the glass substrate (10) after formation of the first conductive portion by etching at least the modified portion (12) using an etchant. This method allows easy handling of a glass substrate during formation of a conductive portion such as a circuit on the glass substrate, and is also capable of forming a through hole in the glass substrate relatively quickly while preventing damage to the conductive portion such as a circuit formed on the glass substrate.

Abstract: A gas supply system may include a first gas supply line, a second gas supply line, a circulation gas pipe, a gas purification unit, a first valve, and a second valve. The first gas supply line may include a first branching point at which the first gas supply line branches into a first branch connected to a first chamber and a second branch connected to a second chamber and the second gas supply line may include a second branching point at which the second gas supply line branches into a third branch connected to the first chamber and a fourth branch connected to the second chamber. A first portion of the first gas supply line upstream from the first branching point and a second portion of the second gas supply line upstream from the second branching point may be constituted by separate pipes from each other.

Abstract: An optical source for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photolithography tool includes a light-generation system including a light-generation module; an optical amplifier including a gain medium associated with a gain band, the gain medium configured to amplify light having a wavelength in the gain band; and a wavelength-based optical filter system on a beam path between the light-generation module and the optical amplifier, the wavelength-based optical filter system including at least one optical element configured to allow light having a wavelength in a first set of wavelengths to propagate on the beam path and to remove light having a wavelength in a second set of wavelengths from the beam path, the first set of wavelengths and the second set of wavelengths including different wavelengths in the gain band of the optical amplifier.

Abstract: A laser apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a master oscillator configured to output laser light, a plurality of amplifiers each configured to include carbon dioxide as a laser medium and amplify the laser light, a first optical path pipe configured to cover a laser optical path between the amplifiers, a gas supply port configured to supply, into the first optical path pipe, gas having lower carbon dioxide concentration than that of the air, a first carbon dioxide densitometer configured to measure carbon dioxide concentration in the first optical path pipe, and an alarm device configured to issue an alarm when the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the first carbon dioxide densitometer exceeds a preset prescribed value.

Abstract: A spectral feature selection apparatus includes a dispersive optical element arranged to interact with a pulsed light beam; three or more refractive optical elements arranged in a path of the pulsed light beam between the dispersive optical element and a pulsed optical source; and one or more actuation systems, each actuation system associated with a refractive optical element and configured to rotate the associated refractive optical element to thereby adjust a spectral feature of the pulsed light beam. At least one of the actuation systems is a rapid actuation system that includes a rapid actuator configured to rotate its associated refractive optical element about a rotation axis. The rapid actuator includes a rotary stepper motor having a rotation shaft that rotates about a shaft axis that is parallel with the rotation axis of the associated refractive optical element.

Abstract: In a method, energy is supplied to a first gas discharge chamber of a first stage until a pulsed amplified light beam is output from the first stage and directed toward a second stage. While the energy is supplied to the first gas discharge chamber: a value of an operating parameter of the first gas discharge chamber is measured; it is determined whether to adjust an operating characteristic of the first gas discharge chamber based on the measured value; and, the operating characteristic of the first gas discharge chamber is adjusted if it is determined that the operating characteristic of the first gas discharge chamber should be adjusted. After it is determined that the operating characteristic of the first gas discharge chamber no longer should be adjusted, then an adjustment procedure is applied to an operating characteristic of a second gas discharge chamber of the second stage.

Abstract: A voltage mode laser diode driver selectively turns on and off a laser diode. An output stage has an output node configured to be connected to one of the terminals of the laser diode. Depending upon implementation, an active swing controller drives the output stage in a manner that substantially prevents inductive kickback from causing the output node voltage to swinging above the voltage level at the voltage output of the power supply, or swing below ground. The output stage provides a discharge path around the laser diode to shunt current associated with the inductive kickback, and substantially eliminates ringing on the output node of the output stage while the laser diode is off. A power supply controller adjusts the voltage level of the voltage output of the power supply so that current through the laser diode when on and emitting light is substantially equal to a predetermined desired current.

Abstract: A method can be used for operating an optoelectronic proximity sensor. The proximity sensor includes a radiation-emitting component, a radiation-detecting component and a control unit. The radiation-emitting component is operated by means of a pulsed current. During each measurement period, the pulsed current of the radiation-emitting component has an on-time and an off-time. The pulsed current has a pulse current intensity during the on-time, and the control unit evaluates a detector signal of the radiation-detecting component and lowers the pulse current intensity for a subsequent measurement period, when the detector signal exceeds a threshold value during at least one measurement period.

Abstract: A method of treating a metallic surface comprising a copper alloy, such as phosphor bronze, whereby the metallic surface is ablated by directing a laser beam with a diameter of 200-400 ?m produced by a CO2 laser with a pulse frequency of 1200-1800 HZ onto the metallic surface, and a N2 assist gas is concurrently applied with a pressure of 550-650 KPa co-axially with the laser beam to form an ablated metallic surface comprising microgrooves with Cu3N present on a surface of the microgrooves, wherein the ablated metallic surface has a higher surface hydrophobicity than the metallic surface prior to the ablating.

Abstract: A xenon chloride (XeCl) excimer laser includes a lasing-gas mixture including a buffer gas, a noble gas, a halogen-donating gas, and deuterium. The deuterium is present in a concentration greater than about 10 parts-per-million.

Abstract: Disclosed herein a vacuum ultra violet light source device that is capable of suppressing an amount of ozone generation when the vacuum ultra violet light is emitted into an atmosphere containing oxygen, a light irradiation device incorporating the vacuum ultra violet light device, and a method of patterning a self-assembled monolayer employing the light irradiation device. The light irradiation device is configured to irradiate a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formed on a workpiece with light containing vacuum ultra violet light through a mask M on which a prescribed pattern is formed so as to perform a patterning process of the SAM. The light containing the vacuum ultra violet light to be irradiated onto the SAM is light that is pulsed light and has a duty ratio of light emission equal to or greater than 0.00001 and equal to or less than 0.01.

Abstract: A repetition rate (pulse) multiplier includes one or more beam splitters and prisms forming one or more ring cavities with different optical path lengths that delay parts of the energy of each pulse. A series of input laser pulses circulate in the ring cavities and part of the energy of each pulse leaves the system after traversing the shorter cavity path, while another part of the energy leaves the system after traversing the longer cavity path, and/or a combination of both cavity paths. By proper choice of the ring cavity optical path length, the repetition rate of an output series of laser pulses can be made to be a multiple of the input repetition rate. The relative energies of the output pulses can be controlled by choosing the transmission and reflection coefficients of the beam splitters. Some embodiments generate a time-averaged output beam profile that is substantially flat in one dimension.

Abstract: A method of treating a metallic surface comprising a copper alloy, such as phosphor bronze, whereby the metallic surface is ablated by directing a laser beam with a diameter of 200-400 ?m produced by a CO2 laser with a pulse frequency of 1200-1800 HZ onto the metallic surface, and a N2 assist gas is concurrently applied with a pressure of 550-650 KPa co-axially with the laser beam to form an ablated metallic surface comprising microgrooves with Cu3N present on a surface of the microgrooves, wherein the ablated metallic surface has a higher surface hydrophobicity than the metallic surface prior to the ablating.

Abstract: Problem: to suppress the number of times complete gas replacement in a laser chamber. Solution: this excimer laser apparatus may include a gas supply unit, connected to a first receptacle that holds a first laser gas containing halogen gas and a second receptacle that holds a second laser gas having a lower halogen gas concentration than the first laser gas, that supplies the first laser gas and the second laser gas to the interior of the laser chamber. Then, gas pressure control in which the gas supply unit supplies the second laser gas to the interior of the laser chamber or a gas exhaust unit partially exhausts gas from within the laser chamber, and partial gas replacement control in which the gas supply unit supplies the first laser gas and the second laser gas to the interior of the laser chamber and the gas exhaust unit partially exhausts gas from within the laser chamber sequentially, may be selectively performed.

Abstract: A method using a laser to propagate a laser beam through an optically-transparent medium, wherein the laser has a power level beyond a critical value Pcr, and wherein the laser beam interacts with the optically transparent medium to generate a laser-induced plasma filament (LIPF); and adjusting the power level to qualitatively detect chemical components within the optically-transparent medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for recirculating the gas atmosphere within an excimer laser system, where contaminates, created in the laser's operation, are removed, and the gas concentrations of additive gases, such as Xe, Kr, or others, depleted in the laser operation, are rebalanced to specific lasing mixtures by analyzation and component replenishment from one or more external supplies.

Abstract: A laser chamber including a first space and a second space in communication with the first space may include: a first discharge electrode disposed in the first space; a second discharge electrode disposed in the first space to face the first discharge electrode; a fan disposed in the first space and configured to flow laser gas between the first discharge electrode and the second discharge electrode; a peaking condenser disposed in the second space; and an electrical insulating member configured to partition the first space and the second space from one another, and disposed to allow the laser gas to pass through between the first space and the second space.

Abstract: A method is described for estimating a spectral feature of a pulsed light beam produced by an optical source and directed toward a wafer of a lithography apparatus. The method includes receiving a set of N optical spectra of pulses of the light beam; saving the received N optical spectra to a saved set; transforming the optical spectra in the saved set to form a set of transformed optical spectra; averaging the transformed optical spectra to form an averaged spectrum; and estimating a spectral feature of the pulsed light beam based on the averaged spectrum.

Abstract: A device for reducing spontaneous emission in laser oscillator laser amplifier laser system.

Abstract: Prism beam expansion system which having two or more right angle prisms with the same structure. The incident light beam enters via an incident inclined plane and exits as an exit light beam that is perpendicular to an exit right angle plane of the same right angle prism. The vertex angle ? of all the right angle prisms are the same and satisfies the expression ? = arcsin ( n ? ? 1 n ? ? 2 × sin ? ? ? ? ? 1 ) , where n1 and n2 represent the refractive indexes of the laser beam respectively in the incident media and in the right angle prism.

Abstract: There is provided a laser chamber housing a pair of discharge electrodes and a gas circulation fun, the laser chamber including: a magnetic bearing configured to support a shaft of the gas circulation fan, with the shaft being in non-contact with the magnetic bearing; and a touchdown bearing configured to operate as a bearing when the magnetic bearing is uncontrollable, the touchdown bearing being provided with solid lubricant configured of one or more of an Au plating layer, a Ni-containing plating layer, and a Cu plating layer.

Abstract: A device is provided for controlling a laser beam. The device may include a first wavefront adjuster provided in a beam path of a laser beam outputted from a laser apparatus, a beam delivery unit provided in a beam path of the laser beam from the first wavefront adjuster, a second wavefront adjuster provided in a beam path of the laser beam from the beam delivery unit, a beam monitor provided in a beam path of the laser beam from the second wavefront adjuster, and a controller configured to control the first and second wavefront adjusters based on a detection result of the beam monitor. An extreme ultraviolet light apparatus including the device is also provided.

Abstract: In the present invention, a nitrogen-free ozone generating unit integrates a plurality of functional means into a single package unit, the functional means including a nitrogen-free ozone generator that is cooled to a low temperature, an ozone power source, a MFC, an APC, a heat insulating cooling water inlet pipe, and a heat insulating cooling water outlet pipe. In the nitrogen-free ozone generator, a heat insulating layer made of a heat insulating material such as an insulator is formed to cover substantially the entire surface of an ozone generator outer frame. A cooling water system is configured to set the temperature of cooling water, which is supplied to the nitrogen-free ozone generator through the heat insulating cooling water inlet pipe, to 5° C. or less and to thereby cool the nitrogen-free ozone generator.

Abstract: A single-cavity dual-electrode discharge cavity and an excimer laser including such a discharge cavity are disclosed. The discharge cavity may comprise a cavity body and two sets of main discharge electrodes. The cavity body may comprise a left chamber and a right chamber arranged to form a symmetric dual-chamber cavity. The left and right chambers can interface and communicate with each other at a plane of symmetry of the entire discharge cavity. The two sets of main discharge electrodes can be disposed in the left and right chambers on the upper side, respectively. According to the present disclosure, the single-cavity configuration can be used to achieve functions of dual-cavity configurations, such as MOPA, MOPO, and MOPRA. Thus, it is possible to reduce system complexities and also ensure synchronization of discharging in the discharge cavity.

Abstract: A laser pumping method pumps a primary amount of energy into the near red satellite band of a metal vapor and noble gas mixture laser medium and a lesser amount of energy is pumped into a highly excited level to stimulate laser output. The medium is can be a Rb vapor and Xe gas mixture. The lesser amount of energy is pumped into the laser medium to populate an excited level that lies above the upper laser level and transfers atomic or molecular population to the upper laser level by a nonradiative process. In preferred embodiments, the intermediate level is within a few kT of the upper laser level and the primary amount of energy is a large majority of the total energy. A laser device includes metal vapor and noble gas mixture laser medium to populate an intermediate level near an upper laser level, and pumping a lesser amount of energy into a highly excited level to stimulate laser output. The medium can be an Rb vapor and Xe gas mixture in preferred embodiments.

Abstract: A laser apparatus may include an optical resonator, a laser chamber, an optical loss adjustment mechanism, and a spectral line width adjustment mechanism. The optical resonator includes a mirror configured to reflect a part of light and a grating. The laser chamber is provided in the optical resonator and contains a laser gain medium, configured to emit a laser beam. The optical loss adjustment mechanism is provided in the optical resonator and configured to adjust an optical loss of the laser beam. The spectral line width adjustment mechanism is provided in the optical resonator and configured to adjust a spectral line width of the laser beam.

Abstract: Described herein is device configured to be a solar-blind UV detector comprising a substrate; a plurality of pixels; a plurality of nanowires in each of the plurality of pixel, wherein the plurality of nanowires extend essentially perpendicularly from the substrate.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for an excimer laser that includes a reflective Echelle diffraction grating includes obtaining information of a wavelength of a light source, a blazed order, a repetitive pitch of the grating, a material of the grating, and a predefined orientation ratio B/A that is a ratio between that a diffraction efficiency A of the blazed order and a diffraction efficiency Bb of an order lower by one order than the blazed order, and determining an initial value of a blaze angle based upon these pieces of information.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of operation for a high power broad band elongated thin beam laser annealing light source, which may comprise a gas discharge seed laser oscillator having a resonance cavity, providing a seed laser output pulse; a gas discharge amplifier laser amplifying the seed laser output pulse to provide an amplified seed laser pulse output; a divergence correcting multi-optical element optical assembly intermediate the seed laser and the amplifier laser. The divergence correcting optical assembly may adjust the size and/or shape of the seed laser output pulse within a discharge region of the amplifier laser in order to adjust an output parameter of the amplified seed laser pulse output. The divergence correcting optical assembly may comprise a telescope with an adjustable focus. The adjustable telescope may comprise an active feedback-controlled actuator based upon a sensed parameter of the amplified seed laser output from the amplifier laser.

Abstract: A laser apparatus includes a master oscillator capable of outputting a laser beam having a spectrum that includes at least three wavelength peaks, a multi-wavelength oscillation control mechanism capable of controlling energy of each of the wavelength peaks, a spectrum detecting unit that detects the spectrum of the above-mentioned laser beam, and a controller that controls the multi-wavelength oscillation control mechanism based on a detection result detected by the spectrum detecting unit.

Abstract: A blower apparatus includes a blower casing; an elastic member for mounting a mounting portion that projects on an outer circumferential portion of the blower casing, to a blower support member disposed on the inlet side of the mounting portion; and a flange portion provided on the inlet side of the mounting portion. At least three elastic members are disposed in the same plane that is almost orthogonal to a rotation shaft, and adhesion surfaces are provided on both ends, in the rotation shaft direction, of each elastic member. The mounting portion is fixed to one of the adhesion surfaces, and the blower support member is fixed to the other of the adhesion surfaces. The flange portion is provided so as to oppose the blower support member through a gap having a thickness less than a thickness, in the rotation shaft direction, of the elastic member.

Abstract: An excimer laser system in which the expensive noble gases are reclaimed, while the halogen gas is sacrificed, and the impurities developed during operation of the excimer laser are removed. In the approach disclosed a multi-stage gas purifier is used with a single, premix gas bottle containing a halogen-rich laser gas mixture comprising noble, buffer and halogen gas, to maintain the optimum halogen content of the laser, while also maintaining a consistent ratio of noble, buffer and halogen gases without complicated control apparatus.

Abstract: An excimer laser apparatus includes a gas supply unit, connected to a first receptacle that holds a first laser gas containing halogen gas and a second receptacle that holds a second laser gas having a lower halogen gas concentration than the first laser gas, that supplies the first laser gas and the second laser gas to the interior of the laser chamber. Gas pressure control in which the gas supply unit supplies the second laser gas to the interior of the laser chamber or a gas exhaust unit partially exhausts gas from within the laser chamber, and partial gas replacement control in which the gas supply unit supplies the first laser gas and the second laser gas to the interior of the laser chamber and the gas exhaust unit partially exhausts gas from within the laser chamber sequentially, may be selectively performed.

Abstract: In a slab laser, a gas mixture containing carbon dioxide CO2 is formed as a laser-active medium in a discharge space which is formed between two plate-shaped metal electrodes, the flat faces of which are located opposite one another. A resonator mirror is arranged on each of the mutually opposite end faces of the discharge space, the mirrors forming an unstable resonator parallel to the flat faces. At least one of the mutually facing flat faces is provided either on the entire flat face with a dielectric layer the thickness of which is greater on at least one sub-surface than in the remaining area of the flat face, or the at least one flat face is provided with a dielectric layer exclusively on at least one sub-surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may comprise a line narrowed pulsed excimer or molecular fluorine gas discharge laser system which may comprise a seed laser oscillator producing an output comprising a laser output light beam of pulses which may comprise a first gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser chamber; a line narrowing module within a first oscillator cavity; a laser amplification stage containing an amplifying gain medium in a second gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser chamber receiving the output of the seed laser oscillator and amplifying the output of the seed laser oscillator to form a laser system output comprising a laser output light beam of pulses, which may comprise a ring power amplification stage.

Abstract: A degree of polarization control device includes: a calcium fluoride crystal substrate for transmitting a laser beam; a polarization monitor for measuring the degree of polarization of a laser beam transmitted through the calcium fluoride crystal substrate; and a controller for controlling the rotation angle of the calcium fluoride crystal substrate according to the degree of polarization measured by the polarization monitor; the calcium fluoride crystal substrate being formed by a flat plate having a laser beam entering surface and a laser beam exiting surface running in parallel with the (111) crystal face, the Brewster angle being selected for the incident angle, the rotation angle around the [111] axis operating as a central axis being controlled by the controller.

Abstract: A degree of polarization control device includes: a calcium fluoride crystal substrate for transmitting a laser beam; a polarization monitor for measuring the degree of polarization of a laser beam transmitted through the calcium fluoride crystal substrate; and a controller for controlling the rotation angle of the calcium fluoride crystal substrate according to the degree of polarization measured by the polarization monitor; the calcium fluoride crystal substrate being formed by a flat plate having a laser beam entering surface and a laser beam exiting surface running in parallel with the (111) crystal face, the Brewster angle being selected for the incident angle, the rotation angle around the [111] axis operating as a central axis being controlled by the controller.

Abstract: An excimer laser apparatus includes a gas supply unit, connected to a first receptacle that holds a first laser gas containing halogen gas and a second receptacle that holds a second laser gas having a lower halogen gas concentration than the first laser gas, that supplies the first laser gas and the second laser gas to the interior of the laser chamber. Gas pressure control in which the gas supply unit supplies the second laser gas to the interior of the laser chamber or a gas exhaust unit partially exhausts gas from within the laser chamber, and partial gas replacement control in which the gas supply unit supplies the first laser gas and the second laser gas to the interior of the laser chamber and the gas exhaust unit partially exhausts gas from within the laser chamber sequentially, may be selectively performed.

Abstract: A gas discharge chamber that uses a calcium fluoride crystal which reduces a breakage due to mechanical stress (window holder and laser gas pressure), thermal stress from light absorption, and the like, increases the degree of linear polarization of output laser, and suppresses degradation due to strong ultraviolet (ArF, in particular) laser light irradiation. A first window (2) and a second window (3) of the gas discharge chamber have an incident plane and an emitting plane in parallel with a (111) crystal plane of their calcium fluoride crystal. With respect to an arrangement where laser light entering the calcium fluoride crystal passes through a plane including a <111> axis and a <001> axis of each of the first window (2) and the second window (3) as seen from inside the chamber (1), the first window (2) and the second window (3) are arranged in positions rotated in the same direction by the same angle about their <111> axis.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a high repetition rate gas discharge laser system. The system includes a gas discharge chamber having a hot chamber output window heated by the operation of the gas discharge laser chamber, an output laser light pulse beam path enclosure downstream of the hot chamber window and comprising an ambient temperature window, a cooling mechanism cooling the beam path enclosure intermediate the output window and the ambient window. The gas discharge chamber can include a longitudinally and axially compliant ground rod, including a first end connected to a first chamber wall, a second end connected to a second chamber wall, the second chamber wall opposite the first chamber wall and a first portion formed into a helical spring, the ground rod providing mechanical support for a preionizer tube.

Abstract: A laser includes a regenerative ring resonator that includes a discharge chamber having electrodes and a gain medium between the electrodes for producing a laser beam; a partially-reflective optical coupler, and a beam modification optical system in the path of the laser beam. The beam modification optical system transversely expands a profile of the laser beam such that the near field laser beam profile uniformly fills each aperture within the laser and such that the regenerative ring resonator remains either conditionally stable or marginally unstable when operating the laser at powers that induce thermal lenses in optical elements inside the regenerative ring resonator.