Extreme repetition rate gas discharge laser with improved blower motor
First Claim
1. An extreme repetition rate gas discharge laser capable of operating at pulse repetition rates in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 pulses per second, said laser comprising:
- A) a laser chamber having two elongated electrodes, defining a discharge region and containing laser gas, B) a squirrel cage type tangential fan for circulating said laser gas producing sufficient gas velocities in said discharge region to clear from said discharge region, following each pulse, substantially all discharge produced ions prior to a next pulse when operating at a repetition rate in the range of 4,000 pulses per second or greater, C) a finned heat exchanger system capable of removing at least 16 kw of heat energy from said laser gas, D) a pulse power system configured to provide electrical pulses to said electrodes sufficient to produce laser pulses at rates of at least 4,000 pulses per second with precisely controlled pulse energies in the range of about 5 mJ to 10 mJ, and E) a laser beam measurement and control system capable of measuring pulse energy energy wavelength and bandwidth of substantially every pulse with feedback control of pulse energy and wavelength, and F) a liquid cooled motor, defining a rotor and a stator, driving said tangential fan, said motor comprising;
1) a pressure cup sealing member separating said stator from said rotor and protecting said stator from said laser gas and
2) a breach detection means for detecting a breach of said sealing member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas discharge laser capable of operating at pulse rates in the range of 4,000 Hz to 6,000 Hz at pulse energies in the range of 5 mJ to 10 mJ or greater. Important improvements over prior art designs include: (1) a squirrel cage type fan for producing gas velocities through the discharge region of more than 67 m/s and capable of continuous trouble-free operation for several months, (2) a liquid cooled drive motor having a low loss sealing member separating the motor rotor from the motor starter and protecting the motor from the laser gas and a breach detection device for detecting any breach of the sealing member, (3) a heat exchanger system capable of removing in excess of 16 kw of heat energy from the laser gas and (4) a pulse power system capable of providing precisely controlled electrical pulses to the electrodes needed to produce laser pulses at the desired pulse energies in the range of 5 mJ to 10 mJ or greater at pulse repetition rates in the range of 4,000 Hz to 6,000 Hz or greater.
200 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An extreme repetition rate gas discharge laser capable of operating at pulse repetition rates in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 pulses per second, said laser comprising:
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A) a laser chamber having two elongated electrodes, defining a discharge region and containing laser gas, B) a squirrel cage type tangential fan for circulating said laser gas producing sufficient gas velocities in said discharge region to clear from said discharge region, following each pulse, substantially all discharge produced ions prior to a next pulse when operating at a repetition rate in the range of 4,000 pulses per second or greater, C) a finned heat exchanger system capable of removing at least 16 kw of heat energy from said laser gas, D) a pulse power system configured to provide electrical pulses to said electrodes sufficient to produce laser pulses at rates of at least 4,000 pulses per second with precisely controlled pulse energies in the range of about 5 mJ to 10 mJ, and E) a laser beam measurement and control system capable of measuring pulse energy energy wavelength and bandwidth of substantially every pulse with feedback control of pulse energy and wavelength, and F) a liquid cooled motor, defining a rotor and a stator, driving said tangential fan, said motor comprising;
1) a pressure cup sealing member separating said stator from said rotor and protecting said stator from said laser gas and
2) a breach detection means for detecting a breach of said sealing member.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification