Patent ID: 6442182
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: B23K,G01J,G03F,H01S

Abstract:
A VUV laser system, comprising:a discharge chamber filled with a laser gas; a plurality of electrodes in the discharge chamber connected to a discharge circuit for energizing the laser gas; a resonator having the discharge chamber therein for generating an output beam; a sealed enclosure connected to the resonator providing an output beam path for the beam as it exits the resonator that is substantially free of VUV photoabsorbing species so that the energy of the beam can reach an application process without substantial attenuation due to the presence of photoabsorbing species along said output beam path; a detector optically coupled with the enclosure for detecting a parameter of the output beam; and a beam splitter module within the enclosure for directing part of the beam to the detector, and wherein said part of said beam that is directed to the detector is directed along a beam path within said enclosure and is thereby protected from being substantially attenuated by said VUV photoabsorbing species, such that in operation of said VUV laser system, said detector detects said parameter of said output beam by detecting said part of said beam that is directed to the detector from the beam splitter module along said beam path within said enclosure and not substantially attenuated by said VUV photoabsorbing species.