IP Library Granted Patent US 8,604,452
Granted Patent B2
US 8,604,452 · App. 13/050,198 · Granted Dec 10, 2013

Drive laser delivery systems for EUV light source

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,604,452
App. No.
13/050,198
Granted
Dec 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An EUV light source is disclosed herein which may comprise a droplet generator producing a stream of target material droplets, a first optical gain medium amplifying light on a first beam path without a seed laser providing a seed laser output to the first beam path, a second optical gain medium amplifying light on a second beam path without a seed laser providing a seed laser output to the second beam path, and a beam combiner combining light from the first beam path and the second beam path for interaction with a target material droplet to produce EUV light emitting plasma.

Claims (32)

1. An EUV light source comprising;

a droplet generator producing a stream of target material droplets;

a first optical gain medium amplifying light on a first beam path without a seed laser providing a seed laser output to the first beam path, said light on said first beam path having a first linear polarization direction, said first beam path being part of a first optical cavity disposed between a target material irradiation site and a first optics;

a second optical gain medium amplifying light on a second beam path without a seed laser providing a seed laser output to the second beam path, said light on said second beam path having a second linear polarization direction orthogonal to said first linear polarization direction, said second beam path being part of a second optical cavity disposed between said target material irradiation site and said first optics; and

a beam combiner combining light from said first beam path and said second beam path such that said light, after said combining, interacts with a target material droplet at said target material irradiation site to produce EUV light emitting plasma.

2. An EUV light source as recited in claim 1 further comprising a third optical gain medium amplifying light on the first beam path and the second beam path.

3. An EUV light source as recited in claim 1 wherein said first optical gain medium is positioned on said first beam path between the first optic and the beam combiner.

4. An EUV light source as recited in claim 3 wherein said beam combiner is a first beam combiner and wherein said EUV light source further comprises a second optic and a second beam combiner, the second beam combiner positioned on said first beam path between said first optic and said first optical gain medium to combine light travelling from said first optic and said second optic.

5. An EUV light source as recited in claim 3 wherein the first optic comprises a mirror.

6. An EUV light source as recited in claim 3 wherein the first optic comprises a grating.

7. An EUV light source as recited in claim 6 wherein the grating defines a groove direction and said EUV light source further comprises an actuator coupled with said grating to rotate said groove direction about said first beam path.

8. An EUV light source as recited in claim 4 wherein said first optic comprises a grating and said second optic comprises a grating.

9. An EUV light source as recited in claim 1 further comprising a variable attenuator attenuating light on said first beam path.

10. An EUV light source as recited in claim 9 wherein said variable attenuator comprises a polarization compensation device.

11. An EUV light source as recited in claim 1 wherein the beam combiner comprises a polarization beam combiner.

12. An EUV light source comprising;

a first optical gain medium amplifying light on a first beam path, said light on said first beam path having a first linear polarization direction, said first beam path being part of a first optical cavity disposed between a target material irradiation site and a first optics;

a second optical gain medium amplifying light on a second beam path, said light on said second beam path having a second polarization direction, said second beam path being part of a second optical cavity disposed between said target material irradiation site and said first optics;

a first beam combiner diverting a portion of light from the first beam path to a second beam path and through the second optical gain medium; and

a second beam combiner combining light on said first beam path and said second beam path to irradiate with said light after said combining a target material droplet at said target material irradiation site and generate EUV light emitting plasma.

13. An EUV light source as recited in claim 12 further comprising a third optical gain medium amplifying photons on the first beam path and the second beam path.

14. An EUV light source as recited in claim 12 further comprising a variable attenuator attenuating light on said first beam path.

15. An EUV light source as recited in claim 12 wherein said variable attenuator comprises a polarization compensation device.

16. An EUV light source as recited in claim 12 wherein the beam combiner comprises a polarization beam combiner.

17. A method for generating EUV light, said method comprising the steps of:

amplifying light on a first beam path with a first optical gain medium, said light on said first beam path having a first linear polarization direction, said first beam path being part of a first optical cavity disposed between a target material irradiation site and a first optics;

amplifying light on a second beam path with a second optical gain medium, said light on said second beam path having a second polarization direction, said second beam path being part of a second optical cavity disposed between said target material irradiation site and said first optics;

diverting a portion of light from the first beam path to a second beam path and through the second optical gain medium; and

combining light on said first beam path and said second beam path to irradiate with said light after said combining a target material droplet at said target material irradiation site and generate EUV light emitting plasma.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of amplifying photons on the first beam path and the second beam path with a third optical gain medium.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of attenuating light on said first beam path with a variable attenuator.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein the diverting step is accomplished with a polarization beam combiner.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2014
From: CYMER, LLC
To: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 032911/0555 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 14, 2014
From: CYMER, INC.
To: CYMER, LLC
Reel/Frame 032445/0022 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2011
From: ERSHOV, ALEXANDER I.
To: CYMER, INC.
Reel/Frame 025974/0676 →