Patent ID: 6865212
Filing Date: 2005-03-08
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A method for energy regulation of pulsed-operation gas discharge-coupled radiation sources with excitation of a work gas and application of a high-voltage charging, particularly of excimer lasers, F 2 lasers and EUV radiation sources which generate a quasi-stationary pulse train, a so-called burst, in continuous operation comprising the following steps: measuring the pulse energy for each individual pulse; measuring at least the charging voltage as influencing variable on the pulse energy for each individual pulse; determining an error of the current pulse energy for that pulse in relation to a predetermined target value of the pulse energy, the set energy E calculating the mean square deviation from the set energy E controlling the pulse energy for every pulse by a proportional regulation of the charging voltage, wherein the proportional regulation is carried out with an adapted regulating factor which is determined by minimizing the mean square deviation of the current pulse energy.