Patent ID: 6914919
Filing Date: 2005-07-05
Classification: G03F,H01S

Abstract:
1. An extreme repetition rate gas discharge laser system capable of operating at pulse repetition rates in excess of 4,000 pulses per second, and providing light in the form of a laser output light pulses said laser comprising: A) a laser discharge chamber containing a laser gas and having two elongated electrodes, defining a discharge region, B) a blower system producing sufficient gas movement of said laser gas in said discharge region to clear from said discharge region, following each gas discharge, substantially all discharge produced ions prior to a next gas discharge when operating at a laser output light pulse repetition rate in the range of 6,000 laser output light pulses per second or greater, C) a heat exchanger system removing heat energy from said laser gas, D) a pulse power system providing electrical pulses to said electrodes suffcient to produce laser output light pulses at rates of about 6,000 laser output light pulses per second with precisely controlled laser output light pulse energies in the range of about 5 mJ and above, and E) a laser output light pulse beam measurement and control system measuring laser output light pulse energy, wavelength and bandwidth of every laser output light pulse or substantially every laser output light pulse with feedback control of laser output light pulse energy and wavelength.