Patent ID: 7649187

Claim:
An arrangement for generating extreme ultraviolet radiation based on a plasma that is generated by electric discharge in which electrodes are coated with a coating material which is at least partially sacrificed in the local evaporation of emitter material induced by an energy beam and subsequent generation of plasma by electric discharge between the electrodes and which can be renewed by a continual movement of the electrodes comprising: a vessel containing a molten metal of coating material for regenerating the coating and for electrically contacting the electrodes with a pulsed high-voltage source provided for each electrode; said electrodes being arranged in the form of two strip electrodes circulating endlessly over guide rollers and having an area at a short distance from one another in which the electric discharge for generating the plasma is provided; every strip electrode being guided over at least one guide roller in the vessel filled with the molten metal; said respective strip electrode being immersed in the molten metal by a substantially extended portion of its length and after exiting from the molten metal being guided through a wiper to generate a defined thickness of the coating material on the strip electrode; means being provided for driving each strip electrode; and wherein during its revolution the strip electrode is immersed in the vessel containing molten metal, passes a location in a vacuum chamber where the desired generation of plasma takes place, and is guided back into the vessel containing the molten metal after the electric discharge.