A laser-sustained plasma (LSP) light source with reverse vortex flow is disclosed. The LSP source includes gas cell including a gas containment structure including a body, neck, and shaft. The gas cell includes one or more gas delivery lines for delivery gas to one or more nozzles positioned in or below the neck of the gas containment structure. The gas cell includes one or more gas inlets and one or more gas outlets arranged to generate a reverse vortex flow within the gas containment structure of the gas cell. The LSP source also includes a laser pump source configured to generate an optical pump to sustain a plasma in a region of the gas containment structure. The LSP source includes a light collector element configured to collect at least a portion of broadband light emitted from the plasma.

An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus includes a disc-shaped cathode rotating about an axis, a disc-shaped anode rotating about an axis, an energy beam irradiation device irradiating a plasma raw material on the cathode with an energy beam to vaporize the plasma raw material, a power supply for causing a discharge between the cathode and the anode for generating a plasma in the gap between the cathode and the anode to emit extreme ultraviolet light, and an irradiation position adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position at which the cathode is irradiated with the energy beam. The cathode, the anode, and the irradiation position adjusting mechanism are accommodated in a housing. A photography device is disposed outside the housing and is configured to photograph a visible-light image of a vicinity of the cathode and the anode, the vicinity including visible light emitted from the plasma.

A plasma light with at least one non-rotating light bulb is disclosed. The light includes a conducting cavity structure with a radiation source input port and a light bulb. The geometry of the cavity is designed to generate electrical fields with time-dependent geometrical designed orientation within parts of the light bulb, while the direction of the radiation fields from the radiation source port caused by a microwave generator to the input port fields is stationary.

A laser-sustained plasma (LSP) light source with reverse vortex flow is disclosed. The LSP source includes gas cell including a gas containment structure including a body, neck, and shaft. The gas cell includes one or more gas delivery lines for delivery gas to one or more nozzles positioned in or below the neck of the gas containment structure. The gas cell includes one or more gas inlets and one or more gas outlets arranged to generate a reverse vortex flow within the gas containment structure of the gas cell. The LSP source also includes a laser pump source configured to generate an optical pump to sustain a plasma in a region of the gas containment structure. The LSP source includes a light collector element configured to collect at least a portion of broadband light emitted from the plasma.

An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus includes a disc-shaped cathode rotating about an axis, a disc-shaped anode rotating about an axis, an energy beam irradiation device irradiating a plasma raw material on the cathode with an energy beam to vaporize the plasma raw material, a power supply for causing a discharge between the cathode and the anode for generating a plasma in the gap between the cathode and the anode to emit extreme ultraviolet light, and an irradiation position adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position at which the cathode is irradiated with the energy beam. The cathode, the anode, and the irradiation position adjusting mechanism are accommodated in a housing. A photography device is disposed outside the housing and is configured to photograph a visible-light image of a vicinity of the cathode and the anode, the vicinity including visible light emitted from the plasma.

The invention relates to plasma light sources with a continuous optical discharge (COD). The light source contains a gas filled chamber with a region of radiating plasma sustained by a focused beam of a CW laser. A density of gas particles in the chamber is less than 90.Math.10.sup.19 cm.sup.3 and a temperature of the chamber is in a range from 600 to 900 K or optionally higher. Preferably the density of gas particles is as low as possible and the temperature of the inner surface of the chamber at operation is as high as possible under providing a gas pressure in the chamber of about 50 bar or more. The technical result of the invention consists in providing COD sustaining conditions, which are optimal for achieving high stability and high brightness of the radiating plasma, in the creation on this basis of broadband light sources with ultra-high brightness and stability.

A pulse-assisted LSP broadband light source in flowing high-pressure liquid or supercritical fluid is disclosed. The light source includes a fluid containment structure for containing a high-pressure liquid or supercritical fluid. The light source includes a primary laser pump source and a high-repetition pulse-assisting laser light source. wherein the primary laser pump source is configured to direct a primary pump beam into a plasma-forming region of the fluid. The primary beam and the pulsed-assisting beam are configured to sustain a plasma within the plasma-forming region of the fluid within the fluid containment structure. A light collector element is configured to collect broadband light emitted from the plasma for use in downstream applications.

A sealed high intensity illumination device configured to receive a laser beam from a laser light source and method for making the same are disclosed. The device includes a sealed cylindrical chamber configured to contain an ionizable medium. The chamber has a cylindrical wall, with an ingress and an egress window disposed opposite the ingress window. A tube insert is disposed within the chamber formed of an insulating material. The insert is configured to receive the laser beam within the insert inner diameter.

A sealed high intensity illumination device configured to receive a laser beam from a laser light source and method for making the same are disclosed. The device includes a sealed cylindrical chamber configured to contain an ionizable medium. The chamber has a cylindrical wall, with an ingress and an egress window disposed opposite the ingress window. A tube insert is disposed within the chamber formed of an insulating material. The insert is configured to receive the laser beam within the insert inner diameter.

A LSP broadband light source is disclosed. The light source may include a gas containment structure for containing a gas. The light source may include a laser pump source configured to generate an optical pump to sustain a plasma within the gas containment structure for generation of broadband light. The light source may include a tapered window configured to transmit broadband light through an aperture within a wall of the gas containment structure, the tapered window including a tapered section including a tapered surface, wherein the tapered surface is configured to deflect light impinging on a peripheral portion of the tapered window away from a portion of the gas containment structure to protect the portion of the gas containment structure.