Patent ID: 6487229
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: B23K,G01J,G03F,H01S

Abstract:
A system for delivering a beam having a wavelength of less than 200 nm to an external housing leading ultimately to a workpiece, comprising:a system for generating said beam having said wavelength of less than 200 nm; an enclosure separating at least a portion of the beam path exiting the beam generating system from the outer atmosphere; and one or more ports for evacuating the enclosure and removing VUV photoabsorbing species therefrom and maintaining said beam path substantially free of VUV photoabsorbing species to enable the beam to propagate along said beam path, such that the energy of the beam can substantially traverse said enclosure along said beam path, and wherein said enclosure contains no more than 0.5 ppm O2.