摘要:
A gas supply path structure forms a fluid path for allowing a laser gas to flow into or out of a pair of fluid inlet and outlet 11a and a laser gas is controlled to a predetermined subsonic speed at a throat portion. Gas supplies for controlling the speed of the gas are connected each to the fluid inlet and to the fluid outlet of the gas supply path structure and, together with a cooling device, compose a circulation system for controlling the speed and pressure of the laser gas at the fluid inlet and/or at the fluid outlet.
摘要:
An excimer laser generating system includes a laser chamber (1) whose inner surface (101) is covered with a fluorine-passivated surface. Preferably, the surfaces (102,103) of a blower (23) and heat exchanger (24) disposed in the laser chamber(1) are also covered with a fluorine-passivated surface. The fluorine-passivated surface (101,102,103) may be formed of a wide variety of materials including an aluminum oxide film, a fluoride film containing aluminum fluoride and magnesium fluoride, iron fluoride, and nickel fluoride. Preferably, the excimer laser generation system includes a gas supply system having an inert gas purging system so that gas sources can be replaced without exposing the inside of gas supply pipes to atmosphere. With the above arrangement, the excimer laser generating system can generate a laser beam pulse whose energy and shape are maintained constant for a long period of operation time without encountering serious degradation. The invention also provides a high-reliability step-and-repeat exposure apparatus using the above excimer laser generating system, capable of exposing a very fine pattern.