Random noise can help to improve synchronisation of excimer laser pulses

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that adding random noise to a digital control system can significantly enhance the synchronization accuracy of excimer laser pulses, approaching theoretical limits in real-world experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel use of random jitter noise in a compact microcontroller-based system to improve laser pulse synchronization accuracy beyond previous methods.

Findings

Delay uncertainty reduced close to theoretical limit

System performs well in real applications

Applicable to various multidisciplinary fields

Abstract

Recently we have reported on a compact microcontroller-based unit developed to accurately synchronise excimer laser pulses (Robert Mingesz et al, Fluct. Noise Lett. 11, 1240007 (2012), DOI: 10.1142/S021947751240007X, arXiv:1109.2632). We have shown that dithering based on the random jitter noise plus pseudorandom numbers can be used in the digital control system to radically reduce the long-term drift of the laser pulse from the trigger and to improve the accuracy of the synchronisation. In this update paper we present our new experimental results obtained by the use of the delay controller unit to tune the timing of a KrF excimer laser as an addition to our previous numerical simulation results. The hardware was interfaced to the laser using optical signal paths in order to reduce sensitivity to electromagnetic interference and the control algorithm tested by simulations were applied in the experiments. We have found that the system is able to reduce the delay uncertainty very close to the theoretical limit and performs well in real applications. The simple, compact and flexible system is universal enough to be used in various multidisciplinary applications as well.