Patent ID: 6463086
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A narrow band molecular fluorine laser system, comprising:(A) an oscillator, comprising; a discharge chamber filled with a laser gas including molecular fluorine and a buffer gas, a plurality of electrodes within the discharge chamber connected to a discharge circuit for energizing the laser gas, and a resonator including said discharge chamber for generating an output beam having a wavelength around 157 nm; (B) a spectral filter after said oscillator which receives the output beam that is now independent of the oscillator, the spectral filter for providing a beam having a linewidth less than 1 pm and an energy below a predetermined energy by suppressing selected wavelengths of the output beam without varying operating conditions of the oscillator; and (C) an amplifier, comprising: a gas-filled second discharge chamber at least including molecular fluorine; a second plurality of electrodes within the second discharge chamber connected to a same or a different discharge circuit for energizing the gas within the second discharge chamber so that gain is stimulated when the line-narrowed 157 nm beam output by the spectral filter is passed through the energized gas of the amplifier, and wherein the laser beam output by the spectral filter and passed through the amplifier has an increased energy so that laser pulses output by the spectral filter and passed through the amplifier have an energy that is equal to or above said predetermined pulse energy.