Patent ID: 6529533
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A beam parameter monitoring unit for use with a molecular fluorine (F2) laser that produces an output beam which includes ultra violet (UV) radiation resulting from de-excitations of fluorine molecules in its gain medium, and red radiation resulting from de-excitations of fluorine atoms in its gain medium, the unit comprising:a mirror disposed to receive at least a portion of an output beam from the molecular fluorine laser, wherein the mirror substantially reflects ultra violet radiation from said de-excitations of said fluorine molecules in the output beam portion and substantially transmits red radiation from said de-excitations of said fluorine atoms in the output beam portion; a detector for measuring at least one optical parameter of the output beam portion reflected by the mirror, said at least one parameter being selected from the group consisting of energy, energy stability, bandwidth, wavelength, beam profile, pulse shape, pulse duration, output power, pulse length and pulse to pulse stability, whereby said at least one optical parameter is measured by the detector without substantial interference by the red radiation that is transmitted by the mirror and not substantially reflected along with the ultraviolet radiation that is reflected by the mirror to the detector; and wherein the detector is signal coupled with a controller and sends signals to the controller indicative of measured values of said at least one parameter for said controller to then send control signals to at least one of a gas replenishment module, a power supply of said laser, a wavelength control component of a bandwidth feedback mechanism and a bandwidth control component of a wavelength feedback mechanism.