Wavelength selector for laser with adjustable angular dispersion

[0002] This application is a 37 C.F.R. 1.53(b) continuation application which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/244,554, filed Feb. 3, 1999.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a laser including an angular dispersion element, and particularly to a laser including a beam expander for varying the magnitude of the angular dispersion provided by the dispersion element.

[0005] 2. Discussion of the Related Art

[0006] Lasers emitting spectrally narrowed output beams are useful in a broad range of applications. Among these lasers, excimer lasers including KrF-, ArF-, XeCl-, XeF- and F₂- lasers, exhibit output emission wavelengths in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) and the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. A typical setup of an excimer laser system includes a resonator and a discharge chamber filled with a gas mixture and connected to a power supply for generating an output beam, and a wavelength selection unit.

[0007] Without a wavelength selection unit, the natural output beam of an excimer laser is spectrally very broad (e.g., having a linewidth around 500 pm) compared with a linewidth desired for applications in microlithography (around one picometer or less). The linewidth is thus narrowed by the wavelength selection unit which also allows a particular narrow band of wavelengths within the broadband spectrum of the excimer laser to be selected as the output.

[0008] The wavelength selection unit typically includes one or more prisms and/or a grating or a highly reflective mirror producing angular wavelength dispersion. The dispersive nature of the prism and/or grating causes the linewidth of the output beam to be narrowed because only the rays within the acceptance angle of the resonator are selected as laser radiation evolves. Conventional wavelength selection units exhibit a fixed dispersion or beam expansion meaning that the dispersion or expansion ratio cannot be adjusted during laser operation. Consequently, to adjust the linewidth of a conventional laser, the system must be taken off-line and the wavelength selection unit adjusted or replaced by one that produces the now desired linewidth.

[0009] One prominent application of excimer lasers having narrowed spectral emission bands is microlithographic processing for creating various structures in microelectronics. Narrowed spectral linewidths are desired because minimum feature size and depth of focus are limited by chromatic aberrations of projection optics.

[0010] Dispersive gratings have been employed for spectral narrowing. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,492 to Sandstrom; U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,012 to Harshaw. Prisms have been used as wavelength selection devices. See, e.g., M. Kakehata, et al., Experimental Study of Tunability of Discharge Pumped Molecular Fluorine Laser,Optical Society of America, Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO), Vol. 7 (May 1990). Fabry-Perot etalons have also been employed as wavelength selection devices. See M. Okada and S. Ieiri, Electronic Tuning of Dye Lasers by an Electro-Optic Birefringent Fabry-Perot Etalon,Optics Communications, vol. 14, No. 1 (May 1975). Birefringent plates have also been used for wavelength selection. See A. Bloom, Modes of a Laser Resonator Containing Tilted Birefringent Plates,Journal of the Optical Society of America, Vol. 64, No. 4 (April 1974); See also U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,592 to Yarborough et al. Unstable resonator configurations have been employed within pulsed excimer lasers. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,822 to Partlo. U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,692 to Johnson et al. discloses a solid state laser including a rotatable grating and a fixed beam expander for narrowing the linewidth and tuning the wavelength of the laser. Further background information on methods of spectral linewidth narrowing of lasers can be found in textbooks on the tunable lasers. See, e.g., A. E. Siegman, Lasers (1986).

[0011] In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,429 to Herbst describes an achromatic beam expander for a high magnification and tunable laser. U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,456 to Luecke describes an achromatic anamorphic prism pair. These achromatic setups are designed to produce an output beam of a laser whose beam direction is independent of wavelength, and each includes an arrangement of prisms that are fixed in their orientations. Neither arrangement produces a beam wherein the linewidth and wavelength are adjustable.

[0012] The spectral linewidth of a laser output depends on several factors, including the angular dispersion of the wavelength selection unit, the angular acceptance of the resonator, and pulse duration and shape. In an excimer laser, since relatively few roundtrips occur per pulse, even small changes in pulse duration and/or shape can cause noticeable changes in the output emission linewidth. Any change in the angular acceptance of the resonator, which depends on such factors as the electrical discharge intensity distribution and the geometrical shape of the electrodes, may also cause the linewidth to vary. These factors are difficult to control. Moreover, minimal downtime for higher throughput is important in today's industrial environment. Therefore, there is a need for a reliable way of automatically adjusting laser output emission linewidths “on-line”, i.e., during operation of the laser. At the same time, it is also desired to have a laser system whose output emission wavelength and linewidth may be separately controlled.

[0013] It is an object of the invention to provide a laser system having a wavelength selection unit with variable dispersion such that the linewidth of the output laser beam is adjustable to a selected value.

[0014] It is a further object to provide the above laser system such that the wavelength of the output laser beam may be held to selected values when the dispersion is varied.

[0015] It is a further object to provide the above laser system such that each of the linewidth, wavelength are monitored and adjusted while the system is on-line using a feedback loop.

[0016] To meet these objects, a tunable laser system is provided including a resonator and a gain medium excited by a power supply for generating a spectral output emission, and a wavelength selection unit including an angular dispersion element. The wavelength selection unit also includes an adjustable beam expander for adjustably magnifying the angular dispersion. Separate optical elements, such as a grating and one or more prisms, or a single element, such as a prism, may provide the dispersion and the adjustable beam expansion. The adjustable beam expander preferably includes two synchronously rotatable prisms wherein a refraction angle change caused by rotation of one of the prisms is compensated by rotation of the other prism.

[0017] A processor preferably adjusts the orientation of the rotatable prisms and the tilt angle of a grating or highly reflective mirror of the resonator to control the linewidth and wavelength of the output laser beam. The linewidth may be controlled and/or adjusted to a certain linewidth on-line and automatically while the wavelength is maintained as desired by the processor in a feedback loop.

[0018] FIG. 1ashows a first embodiment of a laser resonator according to the present invention having a wavelength selection unit employing an angular wavelength dispersion element and a beam expander for controlling and adjusting emission wavelength and linewidth.

[0019] FIG. 1bshows a second embodiment of a laser resonator according to the present invention having a wavelength selection unit employing an angular wavelength dispersion element and a beam expander for controlling and adjusting emission wavelength and linewidth.

[0020] FIG. 2ashows a first embodiment of a wavelength selection unit according to the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2bshows a second embodiment of a wavelength selection unit according to the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2cshows a third embodiment of a wavelength selection unit according to the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2dshows a fourth embodiment of a wavelength selection unit according to the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2eshows a fifth embodiment of a wavelength selection unit according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates the incidence angle dependence of the beam expansion ratio and refraction angle of the beam expander of the first and second embodiments of FIGS. 2aand 2b.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows the incidence angle dependence of the angular dispersion and refraction angle of the wavelength selection unit of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 2d.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows the incidence angle dependence of the angular dispersion and refraction angle of the wavelength selection unit of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 2e.

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a complete laser system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Wavelength selection units commonly used in lasers for spectral linewidth narrowing can be divided into two groups. The first group utilizes a dependence of the angle at which the selection unit reflects light on the wavelength of the light (angular wavelength dispersion). The second group utilizes other effects such as wavelength dependent birefringence in birefringent filters, or multiwave interference in interference filters.

[0030] The first group of selection units is widely used in high power lasers due to their high reliability and wavelength resolving power. FIGS. 1a& 1bshow two embodiments of a laser system having a wavelength selection unit employing an angular wavelength dispersion element and a beam expander according to the present invention. Many other resonator arrangements within the scope of the present invention including, e.g., alternative output coupling means may be substituted for those shown.

[0031] FIG. 1aillustrates an arrangement wherein a linear resonator is used. The arrangement of FIG. 1aincludes a gain medium 2, an outcoupling mirror 4, an angular dispersive element 6 and a beam expander 8. As described below, the angular dispersive element 6 and the beam expander 8 may be separate optical elements. Alternatively, a single optical component may function to facilitate both angular dispersion and beam expansion.

[0032] FIG. 1billustrates an arrangement wherein a polarization-outcoupled resonator is used. The arrangement of FIG. 1bincludes the gain medium 2, a highly reflective mirror 14, the angular dispersive element 6, the beam expander 8 and a polarization output coupler 18. A waveplate 20 is also shown.

[0033] The angular dispersive element 6 of each of the embodiments of FIGS. 1a& 1breflects different spectral components within the emission band of the laser gain medium at different angles. Those wavelength components that are reflected at larger angles to the optical axis of the resonator suffer greater losses on subsequent roundtrips, and linewidth narrowing is thus provided.

[0034] Linewidth narrowing occurs because those wavelength components of the beam emerging from the beam expander at angles larger than the fixed acceptance angle of the resonator of the laser are eliminated from the beam as it resonates. Thus, the linewidth of the output beam is inversely proportional to the dispersion, (δα/δλ)_{(dispersive element)}, of the dispersive element 6. The linewidth is narrowed further when the dispersion (δα/δλ)_{(dispersive element)}is magnified by the adjustable beam expander 8 of the present invention because a smaller range of wavelengths emanate from the beam expander 8 at angles within the acceptance angle of the resonator. Thus, the linewidth is understood to be inversely proportional to the product of the dispersion (δα/δλ)_{(dispersive element)}of the dispersive element 6 and the magnification M of the beam expander 8. This product is hereinafter referred to as the total dispersion (δα/δλ)_(total).

[0035] The beam expanders 8 of each of the embodiments of FIGS. 1a& 1bfunction to magnify the angular dispersion (δα/δλ)_{(dispersivc element)}already produced by the dispersive element 6. Thus, since a total angular dispersion, (dα/dλ)_(total), of the combination of the dispersive element 6 and the beam expander 8 is the product of the angular dispersion, (δα/δλ)_{(dispersive clement)}, of the dispersive element 6 and the magnification M of the beam expander 8, we can write:

[0036] (dδ/dλ)_(total)=M·(dα/dλ)_{(dispersive element)}  (1)

[0037] The dispersive element 6 may comprise any of a wide variety of optical elements and combinations of optical components including, for example, a dispersive prism and a highly reflective mirror, a diffraction grating aligned for retroreflecting the incident beam (Littrow configuration), and a dispersive prism and a diffraction grating. The tilt of either the highly reflective mirror, which is coupled with the prism of the dispersion element, or the grating, if the Littrow configuration is used, may be adjusted by a processor to control or tune the output emission wavelength.

[0038] The beam expander 8 preferably comprises two prisms, and alternatively comprises a single prism, as described more particularly below. The magnification M of the beam expander 8 of the present invention may be adjusted by rotating the prisms. The angular dispersion (dα/dλ)_{(dispersive clement)}of the angular dispersion element 6 may also be adjusted. By adjusting either the magnification M, the angular dispersion (dα/dλ)_{(dispersive element)}of the dispersive element 6, or both, the total angular dispersion (dα/dλ)_(total)is adjusted according to formula (1), and as discussed, the linewidth of the output beam is inversely proportional to the total dispersion (dα/dλ)_(total). Several preferred configurations of angular dispersion elements 6 and beam expanders 8 will be described below, as well as preferred techniques for adjusting the total angular dispersion (dα/dλ)_(total)as described generally above.

[0039] Preferably, the total angular dispersion (dα/dλ)_(total)is adjusted by adjusting the magnification M of the beam expander 8. As discussed more particularly below, in a preferred embodiment, the adjustment of the magnification M is achieved by changing the incidence angle of the beam onto the surface of the first of two prisms of the beam expander 8. This incidence angle is changed by rotating this prism. The second prism is also rotated to compensate the change in refraction angle caused by the rotation of the first prism for maintaining the selected output emission wavelength.

[0040] As also described more fully below with reference to FIG. 6, the present invention advantageously provides the adjustability in magnification (or beam expansion or dispersivity) by preferably employing a feedback loop using a processor which controls the rotation of the prisms as well as the tilt of the highly reflective mirror or grating. In this way, the wavelength may be maintained as the linewidth is adjusted on-line.

[0041] FIGS. 2a-2eshow several alternative combinative configurations of angular dispersive elements 6a-6b& 6d-6eand beam expanders 8a& 8c-8e.The preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 2a.The angular dispersive element 6aused in the arrangement of FIG. 2aincludes a highly reflective mirror 22 and a dispersive prism 24. The tilt of the highly reflective mirror 22 is computer controlled for adjusting and tuning the output wavelength of the laser system. The dispersive prism 24 is responsible for angularly dispersing light reflecting from the mirror 22.

[0042] The beam expander 8aof the arrangement of FIG. 2aincludes a first expansion prism 26 and a second expansion prism 28. Each of the first and second expansion prisms 26,28 is rotatable. Rotation of the expansion prisms 26 and 28 adjusts the magnification M of the beam expander 8a.

[0043] Conventional lasers emit output beams with fixed linewidths and are not easily Unmodified to have a wavelength selection unit with adjustable dispersion or expansion ratio for varying the linewidth. One solution would be to modify a conventional wavelength selection unit to include a prism that is rotatable. Then, the expansion ratio or dispersion of the prism expander would be adjustable by rotating the prism. However, the refraction angle from the first expansion prism 26 would change when the prism is rotated. If not compensated for, this refraction angle change will result in a change in the output emission wavelength generated by the laser system because a different range of wavelengths emanating from the beam expander 8 would now lie within the acceptance angle of the resonator.

[0044] The highly reflective mirror 22 of FIG. 2a(or the grating 30 of FIG. 2bdiscussed below), may be itself tilted or rotated to compensate for the refractive angle change caused by rotating the first prism 26. However, when it is desired to change the expansion ratio appreciably, the first prism 26 would be rotated a significant amount leading to a significant change in refraction angle. To compensate for this significant change in refraction angle, the mirror 22 or grating 30 would then have to be tilted or rotated through a large angle. Unfortunately, a system wherein the mirror 22 or grating 30 must be tilted or rotated through a large angle is at odds with the desire to be able to increment the rotation of the mirror 22 or grating 30 to achieve the smallest possible wavelength resolution. Also, large refraction angle changes may cause beam displacements that in turn will require additional degrees of freedom in making further mechanical adjustments.

[0045] For this reason, in the preferred embodiment, the beam expander includes a second expansion prism 28 which can be used to compensate the change in the refraction angle of the beam which occurs when the first expansion prism 26 is rotated. Preferably, the first and second prisms 26,28 are rotatable in synchronous fashion in a manner to substantially compensate for the change in refraction angle. Once the prism pair is rotated, the highly reflective mirror 22 or grating 30 may be tilted or rotated slightly to more precisely compensate the refraction angle change. Advantageously, all of the elements in this optical system may be adjusted automatically using a processor and a feedback loop as shown in FIG. 6 employed for on-line monitoring and adjusting of the linewidth and wavelength of the output emission beam of the complete laser system.

[0046] The first and second expansion prisms 26,28 are preferably rotated “synchronously”. The synchronization of the rotation of the expansion prisms 26 and 28 is provided either by computer controlled rotation, and/or by mounting the prisms 26,28 onto rotational stages linked through a gear pair or belt drive with reduction ratio S. That is, the ratio of the angular Velocity θ₁of the first expansion prism 26 to the angular velocity θ₂of the second expansion prism 28 is equal to the gear ratio S, which is preferably more than one (i.e., the second expansion prism 28 is preferably rotated slower than the first expansion prism 26). The preferred precise value of S is a function of the apex angle θ₁of the first expansion prism 26, the apex angle θ₂of the second expansion prism 28, the range of incidence angles and the refractive indices of the prisms, n₁and n₂.

[0047] Preferably n₁=n₂, but the indices of refraction n₁and n₂of the first and second prisms 26 and 28, respectively, may be different. When employed in an excimer laser system, the prisms 26 and 28 each comprise a material having a substantial transmissivity in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) and/or vacuum ultraviolet range (VUV). Such materials as CaF₂and MgF₂are preferred.

[0048] The plot of FIG. 3 shows an exemplary dependence of the magnification M, or the “expansion ratio”, on the incidence angle of the beam at the entrance surface of the first expansion prism 26. The plot of FIG. 3 was generated using a theoretical model based on the arrangement of FIG. 2awherein the expansion prisms 26,28 were taken to be similar prisms. The beam expands as it traverses the first prism 26 and the second prism 28. Thereafter, the beam passes through the dispersive prism before reflecting from the highly reflective mirror 22. The apex angle θ₁of the first expansion prism 26 and the apex angle θ₂of the second expansion prism 28 are preferably each equal to approximately 34°, the refractive indices n₁, n₂of each prism 26,28, respectively, is approximately equal to 1.508 and the gear reduction ratio, or the ratio of the angular velocities of the prisms 26,28, is S=ω₁/ω₂and is preferably approximately equal to 1.56. The apex angles of the two prisms 26 and 28 may however slightly or greatly differ, as desired.

[0049] An inspection of FIG. 3 reveals that the magnification M, or expansion ratio, of the system of FIG. 2amay be varied from approximately 1.5 to 4.5 when the incidence angle is changed by rotation of the first expansion prism 26 from approximately 45° to 70°. FIG. 3 also shows that the refraction angle of the beam only varies by at most 0.5° over the same interval.

[0050] This residual refraction of the beam may be compared to a typical resolution using computer controlled tilt of the highly reflective mirror 22 of the arrangement of FIG. 2a.For example, a dispersion of a typical dispersive prism of the preferred embodiment is approximately 1.8 mrad/nm at an incident wavelength of 248 nm. A wavelength controller having a typical resolution of 1 pm then has an angular resolution of approximately 1.8×10⁻³mrad. Therefore, a residual refraction of 0.5° corresponds to an angular adjustment range within 5,000 times the typical minimum increment of the controller, which is readily achievable.

[0051] The residual refraction of the beam may be modified by adjusting the gear reduction ratio S. Synchronization of the rotations of the two expansion prisms 26 and 28 is preferably realized using computer controlled synchronous rotation of the prisms 26,28. The synchronization of the prisms 26,28 may be realized with or without using a computer by mounting the prisms onto rotational stages preferably linked through a gear pair (or belt drive) with reduction ratio S.

[0052] Another way of providing synchronization of the prisms 26,28 is to mount each of the prisms 26,28 onto separate computer-controlled stages, wherein the computer calculates and controls the position of each prism 26,28 for a given expansion. In this alternative case, the ratio of angular velocities of the prisms may vary with refraction angle since it is the separate computer calculations and not the synchronous rotations of the prisms 26,28 that leads to the cancellation of the residual refraction for a given expansion ratio.

[0053] The exemplary numerical values of the prism apex angles θ₁and θ₂and the ratio S given above demonstrate some of the features of the present invention. These values are not asserted as being optimal values, and one skilled in the art could vary these values within the scope of and while still realizing the advantages and benefits of the present invention. It is also noted that lenses may generally be used as beam expansion devices, although it is not contemplated to use lenses as beam expanders in any of the embodiments of the present invention described here.

[0054] The arrangement shown in FIG. 2bincludes the same beam expansion unit 8aas the arrangement of FIG. 2a.The dispersive element 8bused in the arrangement of FIG. 2b,however, differs from that of FIG. 2a.A grating 30 is used as the dispersive element 8bin the arrangement of FIG. 2binstead of the prism 24 of FIG. 2a.The grating 30 also serves to reflect the beam, and thus the function of the highly reflective mirror 22 of FIG. 2ais also performed by the grating 30 and the highly reflective mirror 22 is thus not included in the arrangement of FIG. 2b.

[0055] The arrangement of FIG. 2cincludes only a single rotatable prism as the variable beam expander 8c.The dispersive element 6bshown is a grating 30, as it is in the arrangement of FIG. 2b.The dispersive element 6bmay alternatively include the prism 24 and the highly reflective mirror 22 of the arrangement of FIG. 2a.An advantage of using the beam expansion prism 8cshown in the arrangement of FIG. 2cover that shown in FIG. 2ais that the thickness of the optical material that the beam passes through is reduced. This total thickness reduction helps to reduce such effects as material degradation which may occur when materials are exposed to high intensity laser light, since dependence of laser performance on such material degradation effects is diminished as material thicknesses are reduced. Additionally, the laser beam encounters fewer total prism surfaces per round trip and thus suffers fewer reflective losses at prism surfaces. It is advantageous to minimize reflective losses where possible to minimize overall beam energy losses. Thus, the embodiment of FIG. 2cmight be selected as a desirable alternative to that of FIG. 2awhen it is desired to minimize optical losses and only small linewidth adjustments are required.

[0056] The refraction angle will change as a result of having only one prism 32 included in the beam expansion unit 8c,as contrasted with the two prisms 26 and 28 of the beam expansion units 8aof FIGS. 2aand 2b.The absence of the second prism 28 means that the grating 30 will be tilted to compensate for the entire refraction angle change caused by the expansion prism 32. For this reason, the arrangement of FIG. 2calso provides a smaller adjustable range of magnifications M and a lower total angular dispersion (dα/dλ)_(total)than is realized with the arrangements of FIGS. 2aand 2b.A lower angular dispersion ability is also normally accompanied by a lower wavelength resolution. An exemplary apex angle for the F prism 32 is approximately 34°.

[0057] Another exemplary arrangement in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 2d.The arrangement of FIG. 2dincludes a first prism 34, a second prism 36 and a highly reflective mirror 22. The first prism 34 may have a different, and if so preferably smaller, apex angle than the second prism 36. Each of the prisms 34 and 36 may be rotated either separately or, preferably, synchronously, just as the prisms 26 and 28 of the arrangements of FIGS. 2aand 2bare preferably rotated synchronously. As one or preferably both prisms 34 and 36 are rotated, the total dispersion (dα/dλ)_(total)is varied. The combination of the first and second prisms 34,36 functions as both a dispersive element 6d and a variable beam expansion prism 8d.Thus, the combination of the first and second prisms 34,36 may be described by its combinative function as a dispersion element having an adjustable dispersion.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows how the refraction angle and the total round trip angular dispersion (dα/dλ)_(total)vary as the prism pair 34,36 is rotated and the incidence angle is consequently varied from 45° and 70°. An inspection of the plot of FIG. 4 reveals that the total dispersion (dα/dλ)_(total)may be varied by a factor of 1.5, or as shown from around 0.0055 rad/nm to 0.0085 rad/nm when the incidence angle is varied from 45° to 70°. The refraction changes from around 67° to around 83° over the same range. The gear reduction ratio, or the ratio of the angular velocities of the first prism 34 and the second prism 36 was S=2.5. That is, the first prism 34 was rotated faster than the second prism 36 by a gear reduction ratio S=2.5. In addition to providing a smaller range of total dispersion (dα/dλ)_(total)values within which the system may be varied, the absolute angular dispersion is lower than that provided by the arrangement of FIG. 2a.

[0059] FIG. 2eshows a further arrangement in accord with the present invention. The arrangement of FIG. 2eincludes a highly reflective mirror 22 and a rotatable prism 38. The rotatable prism 38 by itself functions as both a dispersive element 6eand as a variable beam expander 8e.Thus, the prism 38 may be described as a dispersion element having an adjustable dispersion. The system exhibits a similar range of total dispersion variability as that of the arrangement of FIG. 2d.FIG. 5 reveals that the total dispersion may be varied by a factor of approximately 1.5, or as shown from around 0.0019 rad/nm to around 0.0030 rad/nm, when the incidence angle is varied from 45° to 70° due to rotation of the prism 38. The refraction angle varies from around 26° to around 35° over the same range. The arrangement of FIG. 2eprovides yet a lower absolute angular dispersion than even the arrangement of FIG. 2d.

[0060] FIG. 5 shows how the refraction angle and the total dispersion vary as the prism 38 of the arrangement of FIG. 2eis rotated to vary the incidence angle between 45° and 70°. The apex angle of the prism 38 was taken to be 45° for generating the plot of FIG. 5.

[0061] A variable dispersion wavelength selector in accord with the present invention generally can be advantageously used for real-time automatic adjustment of the linewidth of a working laser. A typical layout of a line narrowed excimer laser having a wavelength control feedback loop is shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows an exemplary arrangement which illustrates how this automatic linewidth adjustment may be realized including a laser tube 40, a variable dispersion wavelength selector 42, an outcoupling mirror 44, a beam splitter 46, a wavelength monitor 48 and a processor 50.

[0062] A portion of the outcoupled beam is reflected by the beam splitter 46, and directed to the wavelength monitor 48. The processor 50 receives spectral information from the wavelength monitor 48 needed for determining what, if any, adjustments it should signal the wavelength selector 42 to make. The wavelength monitor 48 may comprise, for example, a temperature stabilized optical etalon and a linear detector array. The wavelength monitor 48 provides a feedback signal to the processor 50 containing information on both the central wavelength and the linewidth of the laser output emission beam. After analyzing this information received from the wavelength monitor 48 the processor 50 may determine that the value of the output emission wavelength or the linewidth of the output emission beam should be adjusted. Advantageously, an arrangement, such as that of FIG. 6, in accord with the present invention, has the capability and flexibility of making such wavelength and linewidth adjustments. Moreover, it may do so automatically and on-line.

[0063] The processor 50 communicates both with the wavelength monitor 48 and the wavelength selector 42, preferably continuously while the laser system is on-line. The processor 50 may first receive wavelength and linewidth information from the wavelength monitor 48. The processor 50 may then send a signal to the wavelength selector 42 to cause the prism pair 26,28 of FIGS. 2a& 2b,e.g., to rotate to adjust the linewidth to a desired value different from its present value. In this way, the magnification, or expansion ratio, of the beam expansion unit of the wavelength selector 42 may be either reduced to broaden the linewidth, or increased to narrow the linewidth when the processor 50 signals the wavelength selector 42 which responds by rotating the prisms 26,28 in one direction or the other. The processor may simultaneously signal the actuator controlling the tilt of the highly reflective mirror 22 (or grating 30) to tilt the mirror 22 in order to adjust the wavelength to a desired value based on previous knowledge of a known wavelength shift caused by the rotation of the prisms 26,28.

[0064] Alternatively, the processor 50 may receive wavelength information from the wavelength monitor 48 after the prisms 26,28 are rotated to adjust the linewidth, and then based on this new wavelength information, the processor 50 may then send a signal to the actuator controlling the tilt of the mirror 22 or grating 30 to tilt the mirror 22 or grating 30 to adjust the wavelength of the output beam. The processor 50 may continuously, periodically or as desired monitor the linewidth and/or the wavelength and signal the wavelength selector 42 to vary the linewidth and/or wavelength on-line and automatically as discussed above.

[0065] The above described objects are met by the present invention. It is noted here that the present invention may be incorporated within many other types of tunable laser systems such as, e.g., dye lasers or solid-state lasers. It is also noted here that the configurations shown in FIGS. 2a-2eand 6 are exemplary and many other combinations of optical and electronic elements may be used that are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the dispersive element 6 or the beam expander 8, or both, of any of the above-described embodiments of the present invention may include one or more additional prisms. As a specific example, the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2amay be modified to include a fourth prism which is rotationally fixed, such that the embodiment would have two rotatable and two fixed prisms in all. In that regard, the scope of the present invention is meant to be that set forth in the claims that follow, and is not limited to any of the specific embodiments described above.