Patent ID: 8391329
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a gas discharge laser including a lasing gas between discharge electrodes and having a power supply for generating RF pulses to be delivered to the electrodes of the laser for energizing the lasing gas, the method comprising the steps of: (a) delivering a sequence of RF simmer pulses to the electrodes, the simmer pulses having a duration and pulse-repetition frequency (PRF) such that the simmer pulses create sufficient free electrons in the lasing gas to facilitate subsequent ignition of the discharge while not causing laser action; (b) selectively delivering one or more RF lasing pulses to the electrodes, the pulse duration of the lasing pulses being selected such the lasing pulses ignite the discharge and induce laser action in the laser; (c) suspending delivery of the simmer pulses prior to delivering the first of the lasing pulses; (d) measuring the time elapsed following each of the one or more RF lasing pulses; (e) if another RF lasing pulse is not delivered within a predetermined time period following completion of the delivery of the prior RF lasing pulse, resuming the delivery of the simmer pulses; and (f) repeating steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) to generate sequences of laser output pulses.