Patent Number: 061880760
Section: claims

1. A differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source operating in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelength region, comprising: a capillary constructed from a nonconducting and an insulating material;  at least one gaseous species inserted into a pressure input end of the capillary at a pressure of approximately 0.1 Torr to approximately 50 Torr, the capillary having a wide angle emitting end being opposite to the pressure input end;  a first electrode at the pressure input end of the capillary;  a second electrode at the emitting end of the capillary, the first electrode and the second electrode causing an electrical discharge and EUV discharges to be generated through the capillary to the emitting end; and  means for pumping the gaseous species from the emitting end of the capillary causing a pressure differential between the pressure input end of the capillary and the emitting end of the capillary, so as not to have the gaseous species present above a selected pressure beyond the emitting end of the capillary that could absorb the EUV discharges.  helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon.  a low pressure of less than approximately 0.1 Torr.  a low pressure of less than approximately 0.01 Torr.  feeding a gas at a first pressure of at least approximately 0.1 Torr into a pressure input end of a capillary;  causing an electrical radiating discharge to be generated through the capillary to an emitting end of the capillary; and  pumping the gas from the emitting end of the capillary to cause a pressure differential between the pressure input end of the capillary and the emitting end of the capillary, so as not to have enough of the gas present beyond the emitting end of the capillary that could absorb the radiating discharge.  forming the capillary from an insulating and nonconducting material.  a second pressure of less than approximately 0.1 Torr.  emission in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation range.  a wide angle emitting end.  a capillary formed from an insulating and nonconducting material, having electrodes;  a pressure source having a first selected pressure at one end of the capillary for pumping gas into the capillary;  means for forming a discharge across the electrodes and forming radiating discharges through the capillary to an emitting region; and  means for pumping the gas from a second end of the capillary in order to form a pressure differential between the one end of the capillary and the second end of the capillary,  wherein the radiating discharges are generated from the second end of the capillary without substantial absorption from the gas beyond the second end of the capillary.  a range between approximately 0.1 Torr to approximately 50 Torr.  helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon.  a low pressure of less than approximately 0.1 Torr in the emitting region.  a low pressure of less than approximately 0.01 Torr in the emitting region.  emission in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation range.  a wide angle emitting end.  feeding a gas having a first selected pressure into an input end of a capillary;  causing radiating discharges to be generated through the capillary to an emitting end of the capillary; and  forming a pressure differential between the input end of the capillary and the emitting end by having a low pressure region adjacent to the emitting end, the low pressure region having a second selected pressure, the first selected pressure being higher than the second selected pressure, so as not to have enough of the gas present beyond the emitting end of the capillary that could absorb the radiating discharges. 2. The differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source of claim 1, wherein the gas is chosen from at least one of: 3. The differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source of claim 1, wherein the means for pumping includes: 4. The differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source of claim 3, wherein the means for pumping includes: 5. A method of generating radiating discharges from a differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source, comprising the steps of: 6. The method of generating radiating discharges of claim 5, further including the step of: 7. The method of generating radiating discharges of claim 5, wherein the step of pumping the gas includes: 8. The method of generating radiating discharges of claim 7, wherein the second pressure is less than approximately 0.01 Torr. 9. The method of generating radiating discharges of claim 5, wherein the radiating discharge includes: 10. The method of generating radiating discharges of claim 5, wherein the pressure feeding into the capillary is between approximately 0.1 Torr and approximately 50 Torr. 11. The method of generating radiating discharges of claim 5, wherein the emitting end includes: 12. A differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source for generating radiating discharges, comprising; 13. The differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source of claim 12, wherein the first select pressure in the pressure source further includes: 14. The differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source of claim 12, wherein the gas is chosen from at least one of: 15. The differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source of claim 12, wherein the means for pumping includes: 16. The differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source of claim 12, wherein the means for pumping includes: 17. The differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source of claim 12, wherein the radiating discharges include: 18. The differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source of claim 12, wherein the second end of the capillary includes: 19. The differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source of claim 12, wherein the first selected pressure is at least approximately 0.1 Torr. 20. A method of generating radiating discharges from a differentially pumped capillary discharge lamp source, comprising the steps of: