Patent ID: 9156068
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: B08B,G03F

Abstract:
1. An optical instrument, comprising: a chamber; an object exposed to an interior of the chamber; a source of low-pressure gas, the gas comprising at least one of low-pressure molecular hydrogen gas, low-pressure molecular oxygen and a low-pressure noble gas, the source of low pressure gas being fluidly coupled to the chamber; a low voltage source electrically coupled between the object and a remaining portion of the instrument that is exposed to the interior of the chamber so as to maintain the object at a low voltage relative to the remaining portion; and an EUV/VUV light source adapted to direct EUV/VUV light through the low pressure gas in the chamber onto the object, whereby when the EUV/VUV light source is activated ions of the low-pressure gas are formed and directed to the object.