Improved emission uniformity from a liquid-jet laser-plasma extreme-ultraviolet source.
Many modern compact soft-x-ray and extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) imaging systems operate with small fields of view and therefore benefit from the use of small high-brightness sources. Such systems include water-window microscopes and EUV lithography tools. We show that the photon losses in such systems can be minimized while uniformity of object-plane illumination is maintained by controlled scanning of the source. The improved collection efficiency is demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally for a scanned laser-plasma source compared with static sources. A prospective aerial image microscope and a liquid-xenon-jet laser-plasma source are offered as examples of modern imaging tools that may benefit from such scanning of the source.
Hansson
Björn A M
BA
Biomedical & X-Ray Physics, Royal Institute of Technology/Albanova, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. bjorn.hansson@biox.kth.se
Mosesson
Sofia
S
Hertz
Hans M
HM