Patent ID: 7095038

Claim:
A source of radiation in the extreme ultra-violet (EUV), the source comprising means ( 7 , 15 ) for injecting a stream of radiation-generator material into the inlet of an irradiation zone ( 3 ), means ( 8 , 16 ) for picking up the stream of radiation-generator material leaving the irradiation zone ( 3 ), means for generating and focusing power laser radiation ( 5 , 6 ) on the radiation-generator material in the irradiation zone ( 3 ), means ( 13 ) for collecting and conditioning the EUV radiation emitted by the radiation-generator material in the irradiation zone ( 3 ), and first vacuum generator means ( 11 ) connected to an irradiation chamber ( 1 ) in which the irradiation zone ( 3 ) is situated for maintaining a first pressure (P 1 ), the source being characterized in that: the means ( 13 ) for collecting and conditioning the emitted EUV radiation are placed in a transmission chamber ( 2 ) which is connected to second vacuum generator means ( 12 ) for maintaining a second pressure (P 2 ) lower than the first pressure (P 1 ); the transmission chamber ( 2 ) communicates with the irradiation chamber ( 1 ) via a diaphragm ( 4 ) of small size placed in the immediate proximity of the irradiation zone ( 3 ) and oriented on an optical axis (I—I); and the stream of radiation-generator material in the irradiation zone ( 3 ) flows in a direction (Il—Il) extending transversely relative to the optical axis (I—I).