0000000000459479
AUTHOR
Jingquan Lin
Inspection of EUVL mask blank defects and patterned masks using EUV photoemission electron microscopy
We report on recent developments of an "at-wavelength" full-field imaging technique for inspection of multilayer mask blank defects and patterned mask samples for extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) by EUV photoemission electron microscopy (EUV-PEEM). A bump-type line defect with a width of approximately 35nm that is buried beneath Mo/Si multilayer has been detected clearly, and first inspection results obtained from a patterned TaN absorber EUVL mask sample is reported. Different image contrast of a similar width of multilayer-covered substrate line defect and on top TaN absorber square has been observed in the EUV-PEEM images, and origin of the difference in their EUV-PEEM image contra…
Actinic inspection of sub-50 nm EUV mask blank defects
A new actinic mask inspection technology to probe nano-scaled defects buried underneath a Mo/Si multilayer reflection coating of an Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography mask blank has been implemented using EUV Photoemission Electron Microscopy (EUV-PEEM). EUV PEEM images of programmed defect structures of various lateral and vertical sizes recorded at around 13 nm wavelength show that 35 nm wide and 4 nm high buried line defects are clearly detectable. The imaging technique proves to be sensitive to small phase jumps enhancing the visibility of the edges of the phase defects which is explained in terms of a standing wave enhanced image contrast at resonant EUV illumination.
At-wavelength inspection of sub-40 nm defects in extreme ultraviolet lithography mask blank by photoemission electron microscopy.
A new at-wavelength inspection technology to probe nanoscale defects buried underneath Mo/Si multilayers on an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography mask blank has been implemented using EUV photoemission electron microscopy (EUV-PEEM). EUV-PEEM images of programmed defect structures of various lateral and vertical sizes recorded at an ~13.5 nm wavelength show that 35 nm wide and 4 nm high buried line defects are clearly detectable. The imaging technique proves to be sensitive to small phase jumps, enhancing the edge visibility of the phase defects, which is explained in terms of a standing wave enhanced image contrast at resonant EUV illumination.
Actinic EUVL mask blank defect inspection by EUV photoelectron microscopy
A new method for the actinic at-wavelength inspection of defects inside and ontop of Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUVL) multilayer-coated mask blanks is presented. The experimental technique is based on PhotoElectron Emission Microscopy (PEEM) supported by the generation of a standing wave field inside and above the multilayer mask blank when illuminated near the resonance Bragg wavelength at around 13.5 nm wavelength. Experimental results on programmed defect samples based on e-beam lithographic structures or PSL equivalent silica balls overcoated with an EUV multilayer show that buried defects scaling down to 50 nm in lateral size are detectable with further scalability down to 30 nm …
Phase defect inspection of multilayer masks for 13.5 nm optical lithography using PEEM in a standing wave mode
We report on recent developments of an "at wavelength" full-field imaging technique for defect inspection of multilayer mask blanks for extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL). Our approach uses photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) in a near normal incidence mode at 13.5 nut wavelength to image the photoemission induced by the EUV wave field on the multilayer blank surface. We analyze buried defects on Mo/Si multilayer samples down to a lateral size of 50 nm and report on first, results obtained from a six inches mask blank prototype as prerequisite for industrial usage. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Three-dimensional characterization of extreme ultraviolet mask blank defects by interference contrast photoemission electron microscopy
A photoemission electron microscope based on a new contrast mechanism "interference contrast" is applied to characterize extreme ultraviolet lithography mask blank defects. Inspection results show that positioning of interference destructive condition (node of standing wave field) on surface of multilayer in the local region of a phase defect is necessary to obtain best visibility of the defect on mask blank. A comparative experiment reveals superiority of the interference contrast photoemission electron microscope (Extreme UV illumination) over a topographic contrast one (UV illumination with Hg discharge lamp) in detecting extreme ultraviolet mask blank phase defects. A depth-resolved det…