Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for generating a membrane target for laser produced plasma

US6977383B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
0References
35Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 31, 2003
Grant dateDec 20, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 27, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05G2/0094
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating membrane targets for a laser induced plasma is disclosed herein. Membranes are advantageous targets for laser induced plasma because they are very thin and can be readily illuminated by high-power coherent light, such as a laser, and converted into plasma. Membranes are also advantageous because illumination of the membrane with coherent light produces less debris and splashing than illumination of a thicker, solid target. Spherical membranes possess additional advantages in that they can be readily illuminated from variety of directions and because they can be easily placed (i.e. blown) into a target region for illumination by coherent light. Membranes are also advantageous because they can be formed from a liquid or molten phase of the target material. According to another embodiment, membranes can be formed from a solution in which the target materials are solvated. Membranes can be formed an a variety of ways, such as by rotating a circular apparatus through a reservoir of liquid target material such that membranes form across apertures that are disposed in the circular apparatus. Spherical membranes can also be formed by applying a gas (i.…

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