Patent ID: 7366213

Claim:
An excimer or molecular fluorine laser system, comprising: first and second discharge chambers each being filled with a gas mixture, each of said first and second discharge chambers containing a pair of electrodes for energizing the gas mixture such that the first discharge chamber outputs an optical pulse and the second discharge chamber amplifies the optical pulse received from said first discharge chamber; a common pulser circuit operable to apply a common pulse; a first compression branch in electrical communication with the first discharge chamber and operable to receive the common pulse applied by the common pulser circuit, and in response to the common pulse the first compression branch being operable to transmit a first electrical pulse to said first discharge chamber to cause a first discharge in the first discharge chamber, said first compression branch including at least one inductor; a second compression branch in electrical communication with the second discharge chamber and operable to receive the common pulse applied by the common pulser circuit, and in response to the common pulse being operable to transmit a second electrical pulse to said second discharge chamber to cause a second discharge in the second discharge chamber; and a first control voltage source coupled to said first compression branch, the first control voltage source capable of applying a control voltage pre-pulse to said inductor of said first compression branch wherein the voltage level of the pre-pulse is substantially less than the voltage of the first electrical pulse supplied to the first discharge chamber and wherein the length of the pre-pulse is substantially longer than the first electrical pulse supplied to the first discharge chamber and wherein the voltage and length of the pre-pulse is selected to adjust the magnetic flux in the inductor in order to control a timing of the first discharge in the first discharge chamber.