Element Six, the synthetic diamond division of the De Beers Group, announced at Photonics West 2013 that its California facility has boosted its production levels of synthetic diamond wafers by 50 percent. The increase in volume manufacturing will allow Element Six to meet the growing market demand for optical windows, a critical component of laser-produced plasma extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems. The synthetic diamond optical windows are an accessible alternative to traditional optical materials, delivering very low defect levels to ensure uncompromised system performance, said Adrian Wilson, head of technologies. The chemical vapor deposition technology creates synthetic windows with unique properties suitable for high-power CO2 lasers and high-throughput EUV processing, therefore increasing the cost efficiency and productivity of these lithography systems. The news comes just a few weeks after the company announced that Cyrus Jilla was stepping down as its CEO. (See: Element Six CEO Steps Down). For more information, visit: www.e6.com