Abstract:
A laser-sustained plasma lamp includes a gas containment structure configured to contain a volume of gas. The gas containment structure is configured to receive pump illumination from a pump laser for generating a plasma within the volume of gas. The gas containment structure includes one or more transmissive structures being at least partially transparent to the pump illumination from the pump laser and at least a portion of the broadband radiation emitted by the plasma. The one or more transmissive structures have a graded absorption profile so as to control heating of the one or more transmissive structures caused by the broadband radiation emitted by the plasma.
Abstract:
A laser-sustained plasma light source includes a plasma lamp configured to contain a volume of gas and receive illumination from a pump laser in order to generate a plasma. The plasma lamp includes one or more transparent portions transparent to illumination from the pump laser and at least a portion of the broadband radiation emitted by the plasma. The one or more transparent portions are formed from a transparent material having elevated hydroxide content above 700 ppm.
Abstract:
A system for controlling convective flow in a light-sustained plasma includes an illumination source configured to generate illumination, a bulb-less gas containment structure, and a collector element arranged to focus illumination from the illumination source into the volume of gas in order to generate a plasma within the volume of gas contained within the bulb-less gas containment structure. Further, the plasma is generated within a concave region of the collector element, where the collector element includes an opening through the collector element for propagating a portion of a plume of the plasma from a first region of the bulb-less gas containment structure to a second region of the bulb-less gas containment structure, wherein the first region of the bulb-less gas containment structure and the second region of the bulb-less gas containment structure are at least partially separated by a surface of the collector element.
Abstract:
A system for forming a laser-sustained plasma includes a gas containment element, an illumination source configured to generate pump illumination, and a collector element configured to focus the pump illumination from the pumping source into the volume of the gas mixture in order to generate a plasma within the volume of the gas mixture that emits broadband radiation. The gas containment element may be configured to contain a volume of a gas mixture including a first gas component and a second gas component. The second gas component suppresses at least one of a portion of the broadband radiation associated with the first gas component or radiation by one or more excimers associated with the first gas component from a spectrum of radiation exiting the gas mixture.
Abstract:
A system for forming a light-sustained plasma capable of emitting vacuum ultraviolet light includes an illumination source configured to generate illumination, a plasma cell including a transmission element having one or more openings, one or more flanges disposed at the openings of the transmission element and configured to enclose the internal volume of the transmission element in order to contain a volume of gas within the plasma cell. The system further includes a collector element arranged to focus the illumination from the illumination source into the volume of gas to generate a plasma within the volume of gas contained within the plasma cell. Further, the plasma emits broadband radiation including at least vacuum ultraviolet radiation. In addition, the transmission element of the plasma cell is transparent to the illumination generated by the illumination source and at least the vacuum ultraviolet radiation emitted by the plasma.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for performing non-contact temperature measurements of optical elements with long wavelength infrared light are described herein. The optical elements under measurement exhibit low emissivity to long wavelength infrared light and are often highly reflective or highly transmissive to long wavelength infrared light. In one aspect, a material coating having high emissivity, low reflectivity, and low transmission at long wavelength IR wavelengths is disposed over selected portions of one or more optical elements of a metrology or inspection system. The locations of the material coating are outside the direct optical path of the primary measurement light employed by the metrology or inspection system to perform measurements of a specimen. Temperature measurements of the front and back surfaces of an IR-transparent optical element are performed with a single IR camera. Temperature measurements are performed through multiple optical elements in an optical path of a primary measurement beam.
Abstract:
A plasma cell for controlling convection includes a transmission element configured to receive illumination from an illumination source in order to generate a plasma within a plasma generation region of the volume of gas. The transmission element of the plasma cell is at least partially transparent to at least a portion of the illumination generated by the illumination source and at least a portion of broadband radiation emitted by the plasma. The plasma cell also includes one or more gas return channels formed within the transmission element for transferring gas from a region above the plasma generation region to a region below the plasma generation region.
Abstract:
A laser-sustained plasma light source includes a plasma cell configured to contain a volume of gas. The plasma cell is configured to receive illumination from a pump laser in order to generate plasma within the volume of gas. The plasma emits broadband radiation. The plasma cell includes one or more transparent portions being at least partially transparent to at least a portion of illumination from the pump laser and at least a portion of the broadband radiation emitted by the plasma. The plasma cell also includes one or more nanostructured layers disposed on one or more surfaces of the one or more transparent portions of the plasma cell. The one or more nanostructure layers form a region of refractive index control across an interface between the one or more transparent portions of the plasma cell and an atmosphere.
Abstract:
A system for controlling convective flow in a light-sustained plasma includes an illumination source configured to generate illumination, a plasma cell including a bulb for containing a volume of gas, a collector element arranged to focus illumination from the illumination source into the volume of gas in order to generate a plasma within the volume of gas contained within the bulb. Further, the plasma cell is disposed within a concave region of the collector element, where the collector element includes an opening for propagating a portion of a plume of the plasma to a region external to the concave region of the collect element.
Abstract:
A laser sustained plasma light source includes a plasma bulb containing a working gas flow driven by an electric current sustained within the plasma bulb. Charged particles are introduced into the working gas of the plasma bulb. An arrangement of electrodes maintained at different voltage levels drive the charged particles through the working gas. The movement of the charged particles within the working gas causes the working gas to flow in the direction of movement of the charged particles by entrainment. The resulting working gas flow increases convection around the plasma and increases laser to plasma interaction. The working gas flow within the plasma bulb can be stabilized and controlled by control of the voltages present on the each of the electrodes. A more stable flow of working gas through the plasma contributes to a more stable plasma shape and position within the plasma bulb.