摘要:
A F2-laser includes a discharge chamber filled with a gas mixture including molecular fluorine for generating a spectral emission in a wavelength range between 157 nm and 158 nm including a primary line and a secondary line, multiple electrodes coupled with a power supply circuit for producing a pulsed discharge to energize the molecular fluorine, a resonator including the discharge chamber and an interferometric device for generating a laser beam having a bandwidth of less than 1 pm, and a wavelength monitor coupled in a feedback loop with a processor for monitoring a spectral distribution of the laser beam. The processor controls an interferometric spectrum of the interferometric device based on the monitored spectral distribution such that sidebands within the spectral distribution are substantially minimized.
摘要:
Output beam parameters of a gas discharge laser are stabilized by maintaining a molecular fluorine component at a predetermined partial pressure using a gas supply unit and a processor. The molecular fluorine is subject to depletion within the discharge chamber. Gas injections including molecular fluorine can increase the partial pressure of molecular fluorine by a selected amount. The injections can be performed at selected intervals to maintain the constituent gas substantially at the initial partial pressure. The amount per injection and/or the interval between injections can be varied, based on factors such as driving voltage and a calculated amount of molecular fluorine in the discharge chamber. The driving voltage can be in one of multiple driving voltage ranges that are adjusted based on system aging. Within each range, gas injections and gas replacements can be performed based on, for example, total applied electrical energy or time/pulse count.
摘要:
Output beam parameters of a gas discharge laser are stabilized by maintaining a molecular fluorine component at a predetermined partial pressure using a gas supply unit and a processor. The molecular fluorine is subject to depletion within the discharge chamber. Gas injections including molecular fluorine can increase the partial pressure of molecular fluorine by a selected amount. The injections can be performed at selected intervals to maintain the constituent gas substantially at the initial partial pressure. The amount per injection and/or the interval between injections can be varied, based on factors such as driving voltage and a calculated amount of molecular fluorine in the discharge chamber. The driving voltage can be in one of multiple driving voltage ranges that are adjusted based on system aging. Within each range, gas injections and gas replacements can be performed based on, for example, total applied electrical energy or time/pulse count.
摘要:
A method and apparatus is provided for stabilizing output beam parameters of a gas discharge laser by maintaining a molecular fluorine component of the laser gas mixture at a predetermined partial pressure using a gas supply unit and a processor. The molecular fluorine is provided at an initial partial pressure and is subject to depletion within the laser discharge chamber. Injections of gas including molecular fluorine are performed each to increase the partial pressure of molecular fluorine by a selected amount in the laser chamber preferably less than 0.2 mbar per injection, or 7% of an amount of F2 already within the laser chamber. A number of successive injections may be performed at selected intervals to maintain the constituent gas substantially at the initial partial pressure for maintaining stable output beam parameters. The amount per injection and/or the interval between injections may be varied based on the measured value of the driving voltage and/or a calculated amount of the molecular fluorine in the discharge chamber. The driving voltage is preferably determined to be in one of multiple driving voltage ranges that are adjusted based on the aging of the system. Within each range, gas injections and gas replacements are preferably performed based on total applied electrical energy to the discharge and/or alternatively, on time and/or pulse count.
摘要:
A line-narrowing module for a laser includes a prism beam expander and a grating preferably attached to a heat sink. A pressure-controlled enclosure filled with an inert gas seals the grating and/or other elements of the line-narrowing module. The pressure in the enclosure is adjusted for tuning the wavelength. Preferably, the pressure is controlled by controlling the flow of an inert gas through the enclosure. A pump may be used, or an overpressure flow may be used. Alternatively, a prism of the beam expander or an etalon may be rotatable for tuning the wavelength.
摘要:
A tunable laser system includes a gain medium and an optical resonator for generating a laser beam, and a spectral narrowing and tuning unit within the resonator. A detection and control unit controls a relative wavelength of the laser system. A wavelength calibration module calibrates the detection and control unit. The module contains more than one species each having an optical transition line within the tuning spectrum of the laser. A beam portion of the narrowed emission from the laser is directed through the wavelength calibration module and a beam portion is directed through the detection and control unit when the laser beam is scanned through the optical transition line of each of the species within the module. The detection and control unit is monitored and calibrated during the scanning.
摘要:
An excimer or molecular fluorine laser system includes a discharge chamber containing a gas mixture, multiple electrodes connected to a power supply circuit for energizing the gas mixture, a resonator for generating a laser beam, a processor, and means for monitoring an amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) signal of the laser, such as preferably an ASE detector. The processor receives a signal from the preferred ASE detector indicative of the ASE signal of the laser. Based on the signal from the ASE detector, the processor determines whether to initiate a responsive action for adjusting a parameter of the laser system.
摘要:
An excimer or molecular fluorine laser includes a discharge chamber filled with a gas mixture, multiple electrodes within the discharge chamber connected to a power supply circuit for energizing the gas mixture, and a resonator including the discharge chamber and a pair of resonator reflectors for generating an output laser beam. The resonator includes an interferometric device, which may be a resonator reflector such as an output coupling interferometer or HR reflector, or a transmissive intracavity component, including a pair of opposing reflecting surfaces tuned to produce a response maximum at a selected wavelength for narrowing a linewidth of the output laser beam. One of the pair of opposing reflecting surfaces is preferably configured such that the opposing reflecting surfaces of the interferometer have a varying optical distance therebetween over an incident beam cross-section which serves to suppress at least one side band or outer portions of the response maximum to reduce spectral purity. Preferably, this surface is non-planar, and may include a step, a recess or a raised or recessed curved portion of a quarter wavelength in height or depth, respectively, and may be cylindrical, Gaussian or spherical, and the curvature may extend over the entire reflecting surface or diameter of the incident beam. The curved surface may be part of a component that couples with a base optical block at a surface opposing the other reflecting surface, such as by a slot defined in the optical block or using an adhesive.
摘要:
A line-narrowed excimer or molecular fluorine laser system includes a discharge chamber filled with a gas mixture at least including molecular fluorine and a buffer gas, multiple electrodes within the discharge chamber connected to a discharge circuit for energizing the gas mixture, a resonator including a pair of resonator reflecting surfaces disposed on either side of the discharge chamber for generating a laser beam, and a line-narrowing/selection unit within the resonator for narrowing the bandwidth of the laser beam. The resonator further includes a third reflecting surface which is deformable and disposed between the pair of resonator reflecting surfaces. The line-narrowing/selection unit preferably includes a beam expander and a dispersive element, wherein the deformable third reflecting surface is disposed between the beam expander and the dispersive element.
摘要:
An excimer or molecular fluorine laser system includes a laser chamber filled with a gas mixture at least including a halogen-containing species and a buffer gas, multiple electrodes, including a pair of main discharge electrodes and at least one preionization electrode, within the laser chamber and connected to a discharge circuit for energizing the gas mixture, and a resonator including a line-narrowing and/or selection module for generating a laser beam at high spectral purity. The line-narrowing module includes one or more line-narrowing and/or selection optics within a sealed module coupled to vacuum equipment through a vacuum port for reducing the pressure within the module,