Patent ID: 6532247
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: G03F,H01S

Abstract:
An electric discharge laser with precision wavelength control for controlling center wavelength of laser beams produced by said laser said laser comprising:A) a laser chamber, B) an elongated electrode structure enclosed within said chamber comprising an elongated anode and an elongated cathode separated by a distance defining a discharge region, said discharge region defining a long dimension in a beam direction, C) a laser gas contained in said chamber, D) a fan for circulating said laser within said chamber and through said discharge region, and E) a precision wavelength control system comprising: 1) a wavemeter for measuring said center wavelength; 2) a wavelength selection unit comprising: a) a beam expander means for expanding a portion of a laser beam produced in said chamber in order to produce an expanded beam, b) a grating, c) an illumination angle control unit for adjusting illumination angles of said expanded beam on said grating said control unit comprising: i) a piezoelectric driver; ii) at least one feedback control system configured to control said piezoelectric driver.