Patent ID: 6570901
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
An excimer or molecular fluorine laser system, comprising:a laser tube filled with a gas mixture at least including molecular fluorine and a buffer gas; a pulsed electrical discharge circuit; a plurality of electrodes within the laser tube defining a discharge area including a discharge width and connected with the pulsed discharge circuit for energizing the gas mixture, at least one of said electrodes comprising a base portion and a narrow center portion, said narrow center portion substantially carrying a periodic discharge current such that a discharge width is less than a width of the base portion, and the base portion is shaped to provide a selected electric field around the discharge area, and the discharge width is substantially the width of the narrow center portion, wherein as a result of said electrode configuration comprising said base portion and said narrow center portion, a discharge width is substantially 4 mm or less; one or more preionization units within the laser tube for ionizing the gas mixture prior to main discharges; a heat exchanger within the laser tube at least for cooling the gas mixture; a fan within the laser tube for circulating the gas mixture through the discharge area; a laser resonator including at least a portion of the discharge area within the laser tube for generating a pulsed laser beam having a desired energy and a bandwidth of substantially 0.5 pm or less.