Patent ID: 6215806
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
An excimer laser generator comprising:a laser chamber having an optical axis and a fluorine-passivated inner surface;a blower located inside said laser chamber for generating a flow of any gas therein, said blower having a surface that, during operation of the generator, is exposed to any gas that is in said laser chamber, said surface being fluorine-passivated;a heat exchanger located inside said laser chamber and having a surface that, during operation of the generator, is exposed to any gas that is in said laser chamber, said surface being fluorine-passivated; anda pair of windows disposed along the optical axis of said laser chamber and formed in the walls of said laser chamber, each window having a fluorine-passivated inner surface,wherein at least one of the fluorine-passivated inner surface of said laser chamber, the fluorine-passivated inner surfaces of said windows, the fluorine-passivated surface of said blower, and the fluorine-passivated surface of said heat exchanger comprises an aluminum oxide film having a surface roughness Ra.ltoreq.0.1 .mu.m, andwherein said aluminum oxide film has a composition comprising:Mg: between 2.0 and 5.0% by weight;impurities: less than 100 ppm; andAl: the remainder of the composition.