Patent · US Expired

Liquid sprays as the target for a laser-plasma extreme ultraviolet light source

US6324256A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
4References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 23, 2000
Grant dateNov 27, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 23, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05G2/003
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A laser-plasma EUV radiation source (50) that generates larger liquid droplets (72) for the plasma target material. The EUV source (50) forces a liquid (58), preferably Xenon, through a nozzle (64), instead of forcing a gas through the nozzle. The geometry of the nozzle (64) and the pressure of the liquid (58) through the nozzle (64) atomizes the liquid (58) to form a dense spray (70) of droplets (72). Because the droplets (72) are formed from a liquid, they are larger in size, and are more conducive to generating EUV radiation. A condenser (60) is used to convert gaseous Xenon (54) to the liquid (58) prior to being forced through the nozzle (64).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.