Inventors:
Christian J. Wittak - San Diego CA, US
William N. Partlo - Poway CA, US
Richard L. Sandstrom - Encinitas CA, US
Paul C. Melcher - El Cajon CA, US
David M. Johns - Lakeside CA, US
Robert B. Saethre - San Diego CA, US
Richard M. Ness - San Diego CA, US
Curtis L. Rettig - Vista CA, US
Robert A. Shannon - Ramona CA, US
Richard C. Ujazdowski - San Diego CA, US
Shahryar Rokni - Carlsbad CA, US
Scott T. Smith - San Diego CA, US
Stuart L. Anderson - San Diego CA, US
John M. Algots - San Diego CA, US
Ronald L. Spangler - Arlington MA, US
Igor V. Fomenkov - San Diego CA, US
Thomas D. Steiger - San Diego CA, US
Jerome A. Emilo - San Diego CA, US
Clay C. Titus - San Diego CA, US
Alex P. Ivaschenko - La Jolla CA, US
Paolo Zambon - San Diego CA, US
Gamaralalage G. Padmabandu - San Diego CA, US
Mark S. Branham - Fallbrook CA, US
Sunjay Phatak - Alpine CA, US
Raymond F. Cybulski - San Diego CA, US
Assignee:
Cymer, Inc. - San Diego CA
International Classification:
H01S003/22
US Classification:
372 58, 372 55, 372 57, 372 59
Abstract:
The present invention provides an excimer laser capable of producing a high quality pulsed laser beam at pulse rates of about 4,000 Hz at pulse energies of about 5 mJ or greater. A preferred embodiment is an ArF excimer laser specifically designed as a light source for integrated circuit lithography. An improved wavemeter with special software monitors output beam parameters and controls a very fast PZT driven tuning mirror and the pulse power charging voltage to maintain wavelength and pulse energy within desired limits. In a preferred embodiment two fan motors drive a single tangential fan which provides sufficient gas flow to clear discharge debris from the discharge region during the approximately 0. 25 milliseconds between pulses.