The limits of image-based optical metrology

R. M. Silver; B. M. Barnes; R. Attota; J. Jun; J. Filliben; J. Soto; M. Stocker; P. Lipscomb; E. Marx; H. J. Patrick; R. Dixson; R. Larrabee

doi:10.1117/12.660289

24 March 2006 The limits of image-based optical metrology

R. M. Silver, B. M. Barnes, R. Attota, J. Jun, J. Filliben, J. Soto, M. Stocker, P. Lipscomb, E. Marx, H. J. Patrick, R. Dixson, R. Larrabee

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6152, Metrology, Inspection, and Process Control for Microlithography XX; 61520Z (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.660289
Event: SPIE 31st International Symposium on Advanced Lithography, 2006, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

An overview of the challenges encountered in imaging device-sized features using optical techniques recently developed in our laboratories is presented in this paper. We have developed a set of techniques we refer to as scatterfield microscopy which allows us to engineer the illumination in combination with appropriately designed metrology targets. The techniques have previously been applied to samples with sub-50 nm sized features having pitches larger than the conventional Rayleigh resolution criterion which results in images having edge contrast and elements of conventional imaging. In this paper we extend these methods to targets composed of features much denser than the conventional Rayleigh resolution criterion. For these applications, a new approach is presented which uses a combination of zero order optical response and edge-based imaging. The approach is, however, more general and a series of analyses based on theoretical methods is presented. This analysis gives a direct measure of the ultimate size and density of features which can be measured with these techniques and addresses what measurement resolution can be obtained. We present several experimental results, optical simulations using different electromagnetic scattering packages, and statistical analyses to evaluate the ultimate sensitivity and extensibility of these techniques.

Citation Download Citation

R. M. Silver, B. M. Barnes, R. Attota, J. Jun, J. Filliben, J. Soto, M. Stocker, P. Lipscomb, E. Marx, H. J. Patrick, R. Dixson, and R. Larrabee "The limits of image-based optical metrology", Proc. SPIE 6152, Metrology, Inspection, and Process Control for Microlithography XX, 61520Z (24 March 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.660289

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

;

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE