Brant et al.

We have 3 GAM lasers and two LPX. The GAM lasers are all running that the LPX lasers both dead. I have been very impressed with the GAMs. Minor service issues over the years, very responsive tech support. Reliable with very low cost of operation. High performance in a small package. Once Coherent took over LP,  the quality of the phone based tech support disintegrated and the expensive on-site support became unreliable, at least in the US. 

Arthur Suits


On Jun 27, 2013, at 5:59 AM, Mark Blitz wrote:

> Dear Brant,
>  
> Regarding excimer lasers, I think the Lambda Physik Compex and LPX lasers are as good as you can buy, especially with respect to longevity. I have several LPX lasers and they are over 20 years old and are still running, plus a couple of Compex lasers which are over 10 years. We typically run them regularly, and pulse between 1 – 10 Hz, and it is only now that the LPX lasers are requiring replacement thyratrons. However, excimer lasers do every now and again require repair. In the UK we have excellent technical support from Coherent, so many problems can be sorted out over the phone. The reason for the excellent support is because the engineer has been around for over 25 years. The thing that does get slowly worse with time are the slow leaks. It is not true for all lasers as I have some XeCl lasers that hold their gas for months and months. These leaks are generally on the pre-ionization pins or the solenoid valves. Changing o-rings, or tightening them, can help with the pins and putting taps before the valves stop leaks through them. However, it is getting increasingly more difficult to source parts for excimer lasers as Coherent are now suggesting that these problems with old lasers are solved by buying a new laser! Does anyone know of where to buy excimer parts, e.g. pre-ionization pins? In general, the gas bill for running an old excimer laser goes up, with reduced output energies.
>  
> At the moment I have an excimer lasers just for parts, and sometimes look at what is available on eBay or from colleagues that are looking to get rid of their old lasers. It actually costs a bit of money to dispose of an excimer lasers, so some people are grateful if you can take their old laser off  them. So in general I would say if you are doing 10 Hz experiments you should be able to get a decade out of it before serious repairs are required. The one thing that goes occasionally at any time is the “hockey puck” capacitors blowing up, but there is usually a spare in the tool box.
>  
> I only have one GAM laser and to date I have been reasonably impressed with it. But I have not had the use out of it compared with Lambda Physik lasers, so I cannot really say if it is better or worse.
>  
>  
> Hope this information has helped,
>  
>  
> Mark
>  
>  
>  
> Mark Blitz
>  
> School of Chemistry,
> University of Leeds,
> Woodhouse Lane,
> Leeds LS2 9JT. U.K.
> 
> Tel 0113 343 6594
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>  
>  
>  
>  
> From: Molecular dynamics and chemical physics community [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brant Jones
> Sent: 26 June 2013 21:02
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: excimer laser advice
>  
> Dear MDN community,
>  
> We have a Compex 110 multigas (ArF, KrF) excimer laser that unfortunately is no longer functioning.  The problem has been traced to the tube.  We would appreciated any cost saving advice that would direct us to a person or company with parts/service allowing us to fix the issue.  Also, for those that use a similar laser (Compex, Gam, etc) if you could send me some general comments about lifetime or any problems encountered and/or recommendations so that we can make a decision of whether or not to continue with compex or switch to a different laser, we would appreciate that as well.
>  
> Thanks,
>  
> Brant Jones
> University of Hawaii
> Department of Chemistry
> Honolulu, HI 96822
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