Patent ID: 7126143

Claim:
A device for generating extreme ultraviolet radiation and soft x-ray radiation with a gas discharge operated on the left branch of the Paschen curve, the device comprising: a discharge chamber ( 10 ) of a predetermined gas pressure; two electrodes ( 11 , 12 ) arranged in the discharge chamber ( 10 ), wherein the two electrodes have an opening ( 14 , 15 ), respectively, wherein the openings have coinciding symmetry axes ( 13 ); wherein the two electrodes, in the course of a voltage increase ( 16 ) upon reaching a predetermined ignition voltage (U z ), generate a plasma ( 17 ) located in the area between the openings ( 14 , 15 ); a triggering electrode ( 19 ) arranged in a space ( 23 ) adjoining a first one of the electrodes ( 11 ), wherein the triggering electrode triggers an ignition of the plasma ( 17 ) for producing the radiation ( 17 ′) by gas discharge; an energy storage device for supplying stored energy into the plasma ( 17 ) with the two electrodes ( 11 , 12 ); wherein the triggering electrode ( 19 ) is arranged outside of a particle beam being formed on the symmetry axes ( 13 ) or is provided with a shielding ( 35 ) preventing the particle beam from impinging on the triggering electrode ( 19 ).