Patent ID: 6894298
Filing Date: 2005-05-17
Classification: G03F,H05G

Abstract:
1. An arrangement for generating extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation based on a gas discharge comprising: a discharge chamber which is enclosed by a first electrode housing and a second electrode housing and through which a working gas flows under a defined pressure; said two electrode housings being arranged coaxial to one another and having cylindrical superficies surfaces which face the discharge chamber and which are isolated from one another by an insulator layer so as to resist breakthrough; an outlet opening for the EUV radiation which is provided axially in the second electrode housing; a coaxially arranged preionization unit having two parallel, substantially flat electrodes at a distance from one another axially being provided in the interior of the first electrode housing; said flat electrodes being substantially circular; a cylindrical insulator in which at least one electric line is inserted being arranged between said flat electrodes, so that a sliding surface discharge is generated along the superficies surface of the cylindrical insulator when a sufficiently high voltage is applied to the flat electrodes; said first electrode housing having a narrowed output in the direction of the second electrode housing; and said cylindrical superficies surface of the second electrode housing being covered by a tubular insulator at least in the immediate vicinity of a narrowed output of the first electrode housing.