Patent ID: 11862931
Assignee: GIGAPHOTON INC.
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC H

Claim 18:
19. A method for manufacturing electronic devices, the method comprising:
causing a laser system to generate excimer laser light, the laser system including
a solid-state laser apparatus configured to output laser light,
a first crystal holder configured to hold a first nonlinear crystal placed in an optical path of the laser light,
a first heater configured to heat the first nonlinear crystal,
a first container configured to accommodate the first heater and the first crystal holder and including a first light incident window via which the laser light is incident and a first light exit window via which the laser light exits,
a first gas introduction tube via which a first gas is introduced into the first container,
a first gas discharge tube via which the first gas in the first container is discharged,
a second crystal holder configured to hold a second nonlinear crystal placed outside the optical path of the laser light,
a second heater configured to heat the second nonlinear crystal,
a second container configured to accommodate the second heater and the second crystal holder and including a second light incident window via which the laser light is incident and a second light exit window via which the laser light exits when the second container is placed in the optical path of the laser light,
a second gas introduction tube via which the first gas is introduced into the second container,
a second gas discharge tube via which the first gas in the second container is discharged,
a stage configured to hold the first and second containers,
a controller configured to control the stage to move the first nonlinear crystal away from the optical path of the laser light and insert the second nonlinear crystal into the optical path of the laser light,
the controller is configured to carry out a dehydration process of dehydrating the second nonlinear crystal when the first nonlinear crystal is placed in the optical path of the laser light, and
an excimer amplifier configured to amplify the laser light that exits via the first or second light exit window,
outputting the excimer laser light to an exposure apparatus; and
exposing a light sensitive substrate to the excimer laser light in the exposure apparatus to manufacture the electronic devices.