Sapphire lamp for laser sustained plasma broadband light source

A plasma lamp comprising:

• a gas containment structure configured to contain a gas, wherein the gas containment structure comprises:
• a first portion formed from a first grade of sapphire;
• a second portion formed from a second grade of sapphire different from the first grade of sapphire,
• wherein the first portion is coupled to one or more sections of the second portion of second grade sapphire, wherein the first portion formed from the first grade of sapphire comprises a cylindrically-symmetric tube, wherein the second portion formed from the second grade of sapphire comprises one or more cylindrically-symmetric tubes,
• wherein at least the first portion is transparent to illumination from a pump laser and at least a portion of broadband light from a plasma generated within the gas containment structure.

A characterization system comprising:

• a laser-sustained light source comprising:
• a gas containment structure configured to contain a gas, wherein the gas containment structure comprises:
• a first portion formed from a first grade of sapphire;
• a second portion formed from a second grade of sapphire different from the first grade of sapphire,
• wherein the first portion is coupled to one or more sections of the second portion of second grade sapphire, wherein the first portion formed from the first grade of sapphire comprises a cylindrically-symmetric tube, wherein the second portion formed from the second grade of sapphire comprises one or more cylindrically-symmetric tubes;
• a primary laser pump source, wherein the primary laser pump source is configured to direct a primary pump beam into the gas containment structure to sustain a plasma;
• and
• a light collector element configured to collect at least a portion of broadband light emitted from the plasma,
• wherein the characterization system further comprises:
• a set of illumination optics configured to direct broadband light from the laser-sustained light source to one or more samples;
• a set of collection optics configured to collect light emanating from the one or more samples;
• and
• a detector assembly.