Development of novel trace contaminant removal technology for extending Excimer Laser life

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LightMachinery is a manufacturer of high power gas discharge TEA CO2 and Excimer lasers based out of Ottawa, ON. Over the past several years, this company has been seeking new ways of extending the useable lifespan of their lasers through removal of trace impurities generated within the system during operation. Within a recently completed Engage grant between LightMachinery and Dalhousie University, preliminary testing of adsorption-based technology for removal of acid gases from industrial process streams provided promising results for the selective reduction of contaminant gases which negatively effect laser performance and lifespan. The proposed project continues to explore the potential of this technology, focusing on variations in adsorbent preparation methods and their impact on separation performance, as well as practical performance testing within industrial laser units. This project is exploring novel methods of addressing the key deactivation mechanism which limits the life-span of gas fills for Fluoride-based Excimer lasers, and is anticipated to yield direct, measurable performance improvements over the course of the Engage Plus grant period.