Speckle can be reduced through increased laser bandwidth co-optimized with SMO-OPC. Figure 1 is a plot of calculated speckle contrast for the Cymer 860ix laser that is coupled with the ASML NXT 2000 scanner and the Cymer 960ix coupled with the ASML NXT 2050 scanner with the increased pulse duration (TIS is time integral squared) vs laser bandwidth. We focus on 300fm speckle contrast for the XLR 960ix (blue) and the XLR 860ix (red) at 640fm, where the speckle contrast is equal which is a reduction of 30%. On wafer LWR vs laser bandwidth for a 56nm line on a 120nm pitch test case data has been generated. This case was used in the qualification of the pulse stretcher2. Wafers have been processed with a fixed imaging pupil and mask CD with increasing laser bandwidth. This data will be reviewed, to demonstrate a reduction in local critical dimension uniformity (LCDU). The Authors will review simulations, experimental data and the process to develop a working imaging solution that further reduces LCDU.
In this work, the authors will review the laser operation and imaging fundamentals behind a new method of alternating wavelengths in a single exposure and the application to Customer use cases. Two focal positions are created that are averaged over the exposure field, which can be turned on and off, thus eliminating any potential scanner calibration issues. The main focus of this work is the application of this imaging method (single exposure with two focus positions) to significantly improve the sidewall angle linearity of features in extremely thick photoresist applications. This novel technique, called MFI (multi-focal imaging), can be tuned specifically to provide the required amount of focus offset for a specific thick photoresist application. There are several Customer use cases that have been evaluated in simulation and demonstrated on wafer.
Edge placement error (EPE) is a critical indicator for the imaging performance of semiconductor technology nodes, and is among others influenced by writing errors on the reticle. The impact of global mask variations is generally well understood and local variations are often considered to have a similar behavior. In this contribution we highlight the differences between the local and global mask variations and their impact on CD and placement in resist. We discuss the concept of local Mask Error Enhancement Factor (MEEF) and the impact of mask perturbation on neighboring structures within a certain interaction length. We show that local mask variations have a significantly smaller effect than global effects, which can have an influence on mask requirements. We show results of HyperLith simulations for a DUV use case of staggered contact holes arrays. We explore the prediction of the impact in resist of random mask fingerprints using impulse responses from single contact hole perturbation. We show that such prediction can be used to calculate the global MEEF from the local effects. The simulation results are compared to experimental data, measured in resist with CDSEM.
As the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors critical dimension uniformity (CDU) specification shrinks, semiconductor companies need to maintain a high yield of good wafers per day and high performance (and hence market value) of finished products. This cannot be achieved without continuous analysis and improvement of on-product CDU as one of the main drivers for process control and optimization with better understanding of main contributors from the litho cluster: mask, process, metrology and scanner. We will demonstrate a study of mask CDU characterization and its impact on CDU Budget Breakdown (CDU BB) performed for advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography with 1D (dense lines) and 2D (dense contacts) feature cases. We will show that this CDU contributor is one of the main differentiators between well-known ArFi and new EUV CDU budgeting principles. We found that reticle contribution to intrafield CDU should be characterized in a specific way: mask absorber thickness fingerprints play a role comparable with reticle CDU in the total reticle part of the CDU budget. Wafer CD fingerprints, introduced by this contributor, may or may not compensate variations of mask CDs and hence influence on total mask impact on intrafield CDU at the wafer level. This will be shown on 1D and 2D feature examples. Mask stack reflectivity variations should also be taken into account: these fingerprints have visible impact on intrafield CDs at the wafer level and should be considered as another contributor to the reticle part of EUV CDU budget. We also observed mask error enhancement factor (MEEF) through field fingerprints in the studied EUV cases. Variations of MEEF may play a role towards the total intrafield CDU and may need to be taken into account for EUV lithography. We characterized MEEF-through-field for the reviewed features, with results herein, but further analysis of this phenomenon is required. This comprehensive approach to quantifying the mask part of the overall EUV CDU contribution helps deliver an accurate and integral CDU BB per product/process and litho tool. The better understanding of the entire CDU budget for advanced EUVL nodes achieved by Samsung and ASML helps extend the limits of Moore’s Law and to deliver successful implementation of smaller, faster and smarter chips in semiconductor industry.
As the ITRS Critical Dimension Uniformity (CDU) specification shrinks, semiconductor companies need to maintain a
high yield of good wafers per day and a high performance (and hence market value) of finished products. This cannot be
achieved without continuous analysis and improvement of on-product CDU as one of the main drivers for process
control and optimization with better understanding of main contributors from the litho cluster: mask, process, metrology
and scanner.
In this paper we will demonstrate a study of mask CDU characterization and its impact on CDU Budget Breakdown
(CDU BB) performed for an advanced EUV lithography with 1D and 2D feature cases.
We will show that this CDU contributor is one of the main differentiators between well-known ArFi and new EUV CDU
budgeting principles. We found that reticle contribution to intrafield CDU should be characterized in a specific way:
mask absorber thickness fingerprints play a role comparable with reticle CDU in the total reticle part of the CDU budget.
Wafer CD fingerprints, introduced by this contributor, may or may not compensate variations of mask CD’s and hence
influence on total mask impact on intrafield CDU at the wafer level. This will be shown on 1D and 2D feature examples
in this paper.
Also mask stack reflectivity variations should be taken into account: these fingerprints have visible impact on intrafield
CDs at the wafer level and should be considered as another contributor to the reticle part of EUV CDU budget.
We observed also MEEF-through-field fingerprints in the studied EUV cases. Variations of MEEF may also play a role
for the total intrafield CDU and may be taken into account for EUV Lithography. We characterized MEEF-through-field
for the reviewed features, the results to be discussed in our paper, but further analysis of this phenomenon is required.
This comprehensive approach to characterization of the mask part of EUV CDU characterization delivers an accurate
and integral CDU Budget Breakdown per product/process and Litho tool.
The better understanding of the entire CDU budget for advanced EUVL nodes achieved by Samsung and ASML helps to
extend the limits of Moore's Law and to deliver successful implementation of smaller, faster and smarter chips in
semiconductor industry.
KEYWORDS: Antennas, Near field scanning optical microscopy, Near field, Polarization, Finite-difference time-domain method, Silver, Metals, Dielectrics, Near field optics, Nanoantennas
We have studied the ability of a lamellar near-field superlens to transfer an enhanced electromagnetic field to the far side
of the lens. In this work, we have experimentally and numerically investigated superlensing in the visible range. By
using the resonant hot-spot field enhancements from optical nanoantennas as sources, we investigated the translation of
these sources to the far side of a layered silver-silica superlens operating in the canalization regime. Using near-field
scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), we have observed evidence of superlens-enabled enhanced-field translation at a
wavelength of about 680 nm. Specifically, we discuss our recent experimental and simulation results on the translation of
hot spots using a silver-silica layered superlens design. We compare the experimental results with our numerical
simulations and discuss the perspectives and limitations of our approach.
Modifications in scattering strength of and local field enhancement by retardation-based plasmonic nanoantennas when
being transformed from straight nanorods to split-rings are investigated. The scattering properties are monitored by linear
reflection and extinction spectroscopy whereas local field enhancement is estimated from measurements on individual
nanoantennas by nonlinear scanning optical microscopy in which two-photon-excited photoluminescence (TPL) is
detected. The linear and nonlinear optical characterizations reveal, that the optical response of nanoantennas is
dominated by constructively interfering short-range surface plasmon polaritons (SR-SPP) and that the transformation of
straight nanorods into split-rings by bending significantly influences the scattering strength. Importantly, strong
suppression of scattering for the fundamental SR-SPP mode is observed when the bend radius is decreased, a feature that
we attribute to the decrease in the nanoantenna electric-dipole response in tact with its bending. The experimental
observations are corroborated with numerical simulations using the finite-element method.
We report on the fabrication of a metal-dielectric composite material with tunable optical properties. The developed
fabrication method relies on simultaneous DC sputtering of a metal and a suitable dielectric, creating an isotropic
material with optical properties that can be controllably varied over a wide range of wavelengths. Currently the research
is focusing on a combination of Ag and ZnO that is suitable for applications at the visible and telecommunication
frequencies. The material combination is well suited for the deposition method chosen, and physical characterizations
using AFM and SEM measurements show that the mixture forms homogeneous films with low surface roughness. In
order to test the validity of this approach films are deposited with a variety of deposition parameters, focusing mainly on
the relative deposition rates basically controlling the filling factor. Optical properties found from experiments using
spectroscopic ellipsometry as well as farfield reflection-transmission measurements are compared to those predicted by
the effective medium theory.
We report on experimental realization of the Fang Ag superlens structure [1] suitable for further processing and
integration in bio-chips by replacing PMMA with a highly chemical resistant cyclo-olefin copolymer, mr-I T85 (Micro
Resist Technology, Berlin, Germany). The superlens was able to resolve 80 nm half-pitch gratings when operating at a
free space wavelength of 365 nm.
Fang et al. used PMMA since it enables the presence of surface plasmons at the PMMA/Ag interface at 365 nm and
because it planarizes the quartz/chrome mask. If the superlens is to be integrated into a device where further processing
is needed involving various organic polar solvents, PMMA cannot be used. We propose to use mr-I T85, which is highly
chemically resistant to acids and polar solvents.
Our superlens stack consists of a quartz/chrome grating mask, a 40 nm layer of mr-I T85, 35 nm Ag, and finally 70 nm
of the negative photoresist mr-UVL 6000 (Micro Resist). A 50 nm layer of aluminium on top of the quartz/chrome mask
reflected all light that did not penetrate through the mask openings thereby reducing waveguiding in the top resist layer.
The exposures took place in a UV-aligner at 365 nm corresponding to the excitation wavelength of the surface plasmons
at the mr-I T85/Ag interface. Supporting COMSOL simulations illustrate the field intensity distribution inside the resist
as well as the presence of surface plasmons at the mr-I T85/Ag boundary. AFM scans of the exposed structure revealed
80 nm gratings.
KEYWORDS: Gold, Nanoimprint lithography, Metals, Waveguides, Near field optics, Surface roughness, Near field scanning optical microscopy, Ultraviolet radiation, Silicon, Plasmonics
We present a nanoimprint lithography based method for the fabrication of plasmonic waveguides in the form of V-grooves
in a metal surface which support propagation of channel plasmon polaritons (CPPs). The developed method is
compatible with large scale production, easily adaptable to different device designs and offers wafer-scale parallel
fabrication of plasmonic components. The metal quality is improved in terms of surface roughness when compared to
previous demonstrations where grooves were made by direct milling of metal, and the design allows easy fiber access at
both ends of the waveguide. We demonstrate the design, fabrication and scanning near-field optical characterization of
channel plasmon polariton waveguides at telecom wavelengths. Optical characterization of the fabricated waveguides
shows low-loss (propagation length ~ 120 μm) CPP guiding.
We report on experimental realization of different metal-insulator geometries that are used as plasmonic waveguides
guiding electromagnetic radiation along metal-dielectric interfaces via excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs).
Three configurations are considered: metal strips, symmetric nanowires and nanowire pairs embedded in a dielectric, and
metal V-shaped grooves. Planar plasmonic waveguides based on nm-thin and μm-wide gold strips embedded in a
polymer that support propagation of long-range SPPs are shown to constitute an alternative for integrated optical
circuits. Using uniform and thickness-modulated gold strips different waveguide components including reflecting
gratings can be realized. For applications where polarization is random or changing, metal nanowire waveguides are
shown to be suitable candidates for efficient guiding of arbitrary polarized light. Plasmonic waveguides based on metal
V-grooves that offer subwavelength confinement are also considered. We focus on recent advances in manufacturing of
nanostructured metal strips and metal V-grooves using combined UV, electron-beam and nanoimprint lithography.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
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.