Patent ID: 6768762
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: C30B,H01S

Abstract:
A method of producing a &gE;4 kilohertz repetition rate excimer laser having a &gE;4 kilohertz laser beam and a second laser beam suitable for annealing optical components of the laser, said method comprising:providing a &gE;4 kilohertz repetition rate excimer laser for producing a first &gE;4 kilohertz repetition rate laser beam and a second laser beam suitable for annealing optical components of the laser, said laser comprised of a laser chamber and a first and a second discharge electrode, said laser chamber having a first optical fluoride crystal window and a second optical fluoride crystal window with a laser gas for generating said first and second laser beams sealed in said chamber between said optical fluoride crystal windows; wherein an electrical discharge from said first electrode supplies energy to said laser gas to produce a &gE;4 kilohertz repetition rate laser beam and an electrical discharge from said second electrode supplies energy to said laser gas to produce said second laser beam for annealing said optical components, and oscillating said first laser beam whereby the first laser beam exits said first optical fluoride crystal window of said chamber and passing the first laser beam through said second optical fluoride crystal window of the chamber to provide said &gE;4 kilohertz repetition rate excimer laser beam; and oscillating said second laser beam whereby the second laser beam exits said first optical fluoride crystal window of said chamber and passing the second laser beam through said second optical fluoride crystal window of the chamber to provide said second annealing laser beam; wherein said excimer laser is a &gE;10 mJ power excimer laser and said first &gE;4 kilohertz repetition rate laser beam has a power &gE;10 mJ.