Eli5: Why can lasers with lower wave lengths/bigger energy cut smaller circuits on a CPU than lasers with bigger wave lengths?

Question

I get it that lasers with a lower wave length are stronger, but how do strong lasers help one cut smaller circuit?

In: Physics

Answer 1

This is due to diffraction.

A diffraction pattern will form always when light hits an edge.

Smaller wavelength light experiences less diffraction.

For example if you put laser through a small hole (90 micrometer) you get pattern like this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Laser_Interference.JPG

Smaller wavelength means the hole (or wahtever feature) can be smaller before this pattern becomes problem.