Patent ID: 6735225
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A wavelength chirp compensation method for an excimer or molecular fluorine laser system operating in burst mode, comprising:pre-programming into a computer of the laser system resonator tuning optic adjustments for making the adjustments during pauses between bursts to compensate wavelength chirp at beginnings of succeeding bursts; wherein the resonator tuning optic adjustments are determined according to the steps of: operating the laser system at an operating duty cycle such that the laser system is in a condition which corresponds to a burst when the laser is operated in burst mode; switching the laser system to a nominal duty cycle; measuring wavelengths of laser pulses generated at the nominal duty cycle for a period of time without adjusting resonator optics to adjust the wavelength; and calculating the resonator tuning optic adjustments, based on the wavelengths measured over the period of time, wherein the calculated adjustments, provide for adjusting an output wavelength during the nominal duty cycle, so that the output wavelength during the nominal duty cycle is closer to a desired output wavelength when the laser in operated during a burst.