Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An EUV photon source, comprising: a plasma chamber filled with a gas mixture;  multiple electrodes within the plasma chamber defining a pinch region and a central axis;  a power supply circuit connected to the electrodes for delivering a main pulse to the electrodes for energizing the plasma around the central axis to produce an EUV beam output;  a preionizer for ionizing the gas mixture in preparing to form a dense plasma around the central axis upon application of the main pulse from the power supply circuit to the electrodes;  an ionization unit positioned along a beam path of the EUV beam outside of the plasma region for ionizing contaminant particulates along the beam path; and  an electrostatic particle filter for collecting the ionized particulates. 2. The EUV source of  claim 1 , wherein said ionizing unit generates a corona discharge. claim 1 3. The EUV source of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more baffles along the beam path outside of the pinch region. claim 1 4. The EUV source of  claim 3 , the one or more baffles for diffusing gaseous and contaminant particulate flow emanating from the pinch region. claim 3 5. The EUV source of  claim 4 , the one or more baffles further for absorbing or reflecting acoustic waves emanating from the pinch region away from the pinch region. claim 4 6. The EUV source of  claim 3 , further comprising a clipping aperture along the beam path outside of the pinch region for at least partially defining an acceptance angle of the EUV beam. claim 3 7. The EUV source of  claim 6 , wherein said aperture comprises ceramic. claim 6 8. The EUV source of  claim 6 , wherein said aperture comprises Al 2 O 3 . claim 6 9. The EUV source of  claim 6 , wherein said power supply circuit generates the main pulse and a relatively low energy prepulse before said main pulse for homogenizing the preionized plasma prior to the main pulse. claim 6 10. The EUV source of  claim 9 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 9 11. The EUV source of  claim 10 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 10 12. The EUV source of  claim 10 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 10 13. The EUV source of  claim 6 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 6 14. The EUV source of  claim 13 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 13 15. The EUV source of  claim 13 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 13 16. The EUV source of  claim 3 , wherein said power supply circuit generates the main pulse and a relatively low energy prepulse before said main pulse for homogenizing the preionized plasma prior to the main pulse. claim 3 17. The EUV source of  claim 16 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 16 18. The EUV source of  claim 17 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 17 19. The EUV source of  claim 17 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 17 20. The EUV source of  claim 3 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 3 21. The EUV source of  claim 20 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 20 22. The EUV source of  claim 20 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 20 23. The EUV source of  claim 1 , further comprising a clipping aperture along the beam path outside of the pinch region for at least partially defining an acceptance angle of the EUV beam. claim 1 24. The EUV source of  claim 23 , wherein said aperture comprises ceramic. claim 23 25. The EUV source of  claim 23 , wherein said aperture comprises Al 2 O 3 . claim 23 26. The EUV source of  claim 23 , wherein said power supply circuit generates the main pulse and a relatively low energy prepulse before said main pulse for homogenizing the preionized plasma prior to the main pulse. claim 23 27. The EUV source of  claim 26 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 26 28. The EUV source of  claim 27 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 27 29. The EUV source of  claim 27 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 27 30. The EUV source of  claim 23 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 23 31. The EUV source of  claim 30 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 30 32. The EUV source of  claim 30 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 30 33. The EUV source of  claim 1 , wherein said power supply circuit generates the main pulse and a relatively low energy prepulse before said main pulse for homogenizing the preionized plasma prior to the main pulse. claim 1 34. The EUV source of  claim 33 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 33 35. The EUV source of  claim 34 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 34 36. The EUV source of  claim 34 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 34 37. The EUV source of  claim 1 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 1 38. The EUV source of  claim 37 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 37 39. The EUV source of  claim 37 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 37 40. An EUV photon source, comprising: a plasma chamber filled with a gas mixture;  multiple electrodes within the plasma chamber defining a pinch region and a central axis;  a power supply circuit connected to the electrodes for delivering a main pulse to the electrodes for energizing the plasma around the central axis to produce an EUV beam output;  a preionizer for ionizing the gas mixture in preparing to form a dense plasma around the central axis upon application of the main pulse from the power supply circuit to the electrodes; and  one or more baffles along a beam path outside of the pinch region. 41. The EUV source of  claim 40 , the one or more baffles for diffusing gaseous and contaminant particulate flow emanating from the pinch region. claim 40 42. The EUV source of  claim 41 , the one or more baffles further for absorbing or reflecting acoustic waves emanating from the pinch region away from the pinch region. claim 41 43. The EUV source of  claim 40 , further comprising a clipping aperture along the beam path outside of the pinch region for at least partially defining an acceptance angle of the EUV beam. claim 40 44. The EUV source of  claim 43 , wherein said aperture comprises ceramic. claim 43 45. The EUV source of  claim 43 , wherein said aperture comprises Al 2 O 3 . claim 43 46. The EUV source of  claim 43 , wherein said power supply circuit generates the main pulse and a relatively low energy prepulse before said main pulse for homogenizing the preionized plasma prior to the main pulse. claim 43 47. The EUV source of  claim 46 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 46 48. The EUV source of  claim 47 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 47 49. The EUV source of  claim 47 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 47 50. The EUV source of  claim 43 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 43 51. The EUV source of  claim 50 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 50 52. The EUV source of  claim 50 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 50 53. The EUV source of  claim 40 , wherein said power supply circuit generates the main pulse and a relatively low energy prepulse before said main pulse for homogenizing the preionized plasma prior to the main pulse. claim 40 54. The EUV source of  claim 53 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 53 55. The EUV source of  claim 54 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 54 56. The EUV source of  claim 54 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 54 57. The EUV source of  claim 40 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 40 58. The EUV source of  claim 57 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 57 59. The EUV source of  claim 57 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 57 60. An EUV photon source, comprising: a plasma chamber filled with a gas mixture;  multiple electrodes within the plasma chamber defining a pinch region and a central axis;  a power supply circuit connected to the electrodes for delivering a main pulse to the electrodes for energizing the plasma around the central axis to produce an EUV beam output;  a preionizer for ionizing the gas mixture in preparing to form a dense plasma around the central axis upon application of the main pulse from the power supply circuit to the electrodes; and  a clipping aperture along a beam path outside of the pinch region for at least partially defining an acceptance angle of the EUV beam. 61. The EUV source of  claim 60 , wherein said aperture comprises ceramic. claim 60 62. The EUV source of  claim 60 , wherein said aperture comprises Al 2 O 3 . claim 60 63. The EUV source of  claim 60 , wherein said power supply circuit generates the main pulse and a relatively low energy prepulse before said main pulse for homogenizing the preionized plasma prior to the main pulse. claim 60 64. The EUV source of  claim 63 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 63 65. The EUV source of  claim 64 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 64 66. The EUV source of  claim 64 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 64 67. The EUV source of  claim 60 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along the beam path of the EUV beam. claim 60 68. The EUV source of  claim 67 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 67 69. The EUV source of  claim 67 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 67 70. An EUV photon source, comprising: a plasma chamber filled with a gas mixture;  multiple electrodes within the plasma chamber defining a pinch region and a central axis;  a power supply circuit connected to the electrodes for delivering a main pulse to the electrodes for energizing the plasma around the central axis to produce an EUV beam output;  a preionizer for ionizing the gas mixture in preparing to form a dense plasma around the central axis upon application of the main pulse from the power supply circuit to the electrodes, and  wherein said power supply circuit generates the main pulse and a relatively low energy prepulse before said main pulse for homogenizing the preionized plasma prior to the main pulse. 71. The EUV source of  claim 70 , further comprising a multi-layer EUV mirror disposed opposite a beam output side of the pinch region for reflecting radiation in a direction of the beam output side for output along a beam path of the EUV beam. claim 70 72. The EUV source of  claim 71 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially collimating the reflected radiation. claim 71 73. The EUV source of  claim 71 , wherein the EUV mirror has a curved contour for substantially focusing the reflected radiation. claim 71