IP Library Granted Patent US 9,265,136
Granted Patent B2
US 9,265,136 · App. 13/572,484 · Granted Feb 16, 2016

System and method for generating extreme ultraviolet light

Inventors: Tsukasa Hori (Hiratsuka, JP); Kouji Kakizaki (Hiratsuka, JP); Tatsuya Yanagida (Hiratsuka, JP); Osamu Wakabayashi (Hiratsuka, JP); Hakaru Mizoguchi (Oyama, JP)
Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
H05G2/005H01S3/2391H05G2/008H01S3/005H01S3/102H01S3/104H01S3/1611H01S3/2232H01S3/2366
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,265,136
App. No.
13/572,484
Granted
Feb 16, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a chamber, a laser beam apparatus configured to generate a laser beam to be introduced into the chamber, a laser controller for the laser beam apparatus to control at least a beam intensity and an output timing of the laser beam, and a target supply unit configured to supply a target material into the chamber, the target material being irradiated with the laser beam for generating extreme ultraviolet light.

Claims (45)

1. A system comprising:

a laser beam apparatus configured to generate a laser beam; and

a target supply unit configured to supply a target material to be irradiated with the laser beam for generating extreme ultraviolet light, wherein

the laser beam apparatus is configured to:

generate a first pre-pulse laser beam with which the target material is irradiated, the first pre-pulse laser beam having a pulse duration of less than 1 ns, so as to make the target be diffused in a dome shape,

generate a second pre-pulse laser beam with which the target material irradiated with the first pre-pulse laser beam is irradiated, and

generate a main pulse laser beam with which the target material irradiated with the second pre-pulse laser beam is irradiated.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the laser beam apparatus includes a CO 2 laser apparatus.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the laser beam apparatus comprises:

a first laser apparatus configured to generate the first pre-pulse laser beam with which the target material is irradiated; and

a second laser apparatus configured to generate the second pre-pulse laser beam with which the target material irradiated with the first pre-pulse laser beam is irradiated, and the main pulse laser beam with which the target material irradiated with the second pre-pulse laser beam is irradiated.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein

the first laser apparatus is configured to generate a laser beam having a first wavelength, and

the second laser apparatus is configured to generate a laser beam having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein

the first laser apparatus is a YAG laser apparatus; and

the second laser apparatus is a CO 2 laser apparatus.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the laser beam apparatus comprises:

a first laser apparatus configured to generate the first pre-pulse laser beam with which the target material is irradiated;

a second laser apparatus configured to generate the second pre-pulse laser beam with which the target material irradiated with the first pre-pulse laser beam is irradiated; and

a third laser apparatus configured to generate the main pulse laser beam with which the target material irradiated with the second pre-pulse laser beam is irradiated.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein

the first and second laser apparatuses are configured to generate laser beams each having a first wavelength, and

the third laser apparatus is configured to generate a laser beam having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein

the first laser apparatus is a first YAG laser apparatus;

the second laser apparatus is a second YAG laser apparatus; and

the third laser apparatus is a CO 2 laser apparatus.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the laser beam apparatus comprises:

a first laser apparatus configured to generate the first pre-pulse laser beam with which the target material is irradiated and the second pre-pulse laser beam with which the target material irradiated with the first pre-pulse laser beam is irradiated; and

a second laser apparatus configured to generate the main pulse laser beam with which the target material irradiated with the second pre-pulse laser beam is irradiated.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein

the first laser apparatus is configured to generate a laser beam having a first wavelength, and

the second laser apparatus is configured to generate a laser beam having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein

the first laser apparatus is a YAG laser apparatus; and

the second laser apparatus is a CO 2 laser apparatus.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein

the first laser apparatus is a fiber laser apparatus; and

the second laser apparatus is a CO 2 laser apparatus.

13. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a laser controller for the laser beam apparatus to control an output timing of the main pulse laser beam.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the laser controller is configured to control the laser beam apparatus to output the main pulse laser beam in 0.3 μs to 3.0 μs after the target material is irradiated with the first pre-pulse laser beam.

15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the laser beam apparatus includes a mode-locked laser apparatus.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the mode-locked laser apparatus is a Ti:sapphire laser.

17. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the mode-locked laser apparatus is a fiber laser.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2012
From: HORI, TSUKASA; KAKIZAKI, KOUJI; YANAGIDA, TATSUYA; WAKABAYASHI, OSAMU; MIZOGUCHI, HAKARU
To: GIGAPHOTON INC
Reel/Frame 028768/0140 →
Priority Claims (6)
JP 2010-034889 · Feb 19, 2010 · national
JP 2010-265789 · Nov 29, 2010 · national
JP 2011-015691 · Jan 27, 2011 · national
JP 2011-133111 · Jun 15, 2011 · national
JP 2012-103580 · Apr 27, 2012 · national
JP 2012-141079 · Jun 22, 2012 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 13492067 · Jun 8, 2012
Related Publication 20120307851A1 · Dec 6, 2012