Abstract:
A method for quantifying the effect of pupil function variations on a lithographic effect within a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises: determining a discrete, two-dimensional sensitivity map in a pupil plane of the lithographic apparatus, wherein the lithographic effect is given by the inner product of said sensitivity map with a discrete, two-dimensional pupil function variation map of a radiation beam in the pupil plane. The pupil plane of a lithographic apparatus generally refers to the exit pupil of a projection system of the lithographic apparatus. Pupil function variations may comprise: relative phase variations within the pupil plane and/or relative intensity variations within the pupil plane.
Abstract:
A scanning exposure of a plurality of target regions on a substrate is performed such that an image of each of a plurality of markers is formed on each of the plurality of target regions. Each of the plurality of markers is of a form such that a property of the image of the marker is dependent on the contrast in a known manner. During the scanning exposure the substrate is moved in a scanning direction and at least one of: a difference between a rotation angle of the substrate and a rotation angle of a plane of best focus, about a first axis perpendicular to the scanning direction, a difference between a rotation angle of the substrate and a rotation angle of the plane of best focus about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and perpendicular to the scanning direction, and a speed of the substrate in the scanning direction relative to the plane of best focus, is selected to be different for the scanning exposures of at least two of the plurality of target regions. Next the property of the image of each of the plurality of markers is determined.
Abstract:
A patterning device comprising a reflective marker, wherein the marker comprises: a plurality of reflective regions configured to preferentially reflect radiation having a given wavelength; and a plurality of absorbing regions configured to preferentially absorb radiation having the given wavelength; wherein the absorbing and reflective regions are arranged to form a patterned radiation beam reflected from the marker when illuminated with radiation, and wherein the reflective regions comprise a roughened reflective surface, the roughened reflective surface being configured to diffuse radiation reflected from the reflective regions, and wherein the roughened reflective surface has a root mean squared roughness of about an eighth of the given wavelength or more.
Abstract:
A method comprising illuminating a patterning device (ΜΑ') comprising a plurality of patterned regions (15a-15c) of which each patterns a measurement beam (17a-17c), projecting, with a projection system (PL), the measurement beams onto a sensor apparatus (21) comprising a plurality of detector regions (25a-25c), making a first measurement of radiation when the patterning device and the sensor apparatus are positioned in a first relative configuration, moving at least one of the patterning device and the sensor apparatus so as to change the relative configuration of the patterning device to a second relative configuration, making a second measurement of radiation when the patterning device and the sensor apparatus are positioned in the second relative configuration in which at least some of the plurality of detector regions receive a different measurement beam to the measurement beam which was received at the respective detector region in the first relative configuration and determining aberrations caused by the projection system.
Abstract:
A measurement method comprising using multiple radiation poles to illuminate a diffraction grating on a mask at a mask side of a projection system of a lithographic apparatus, coupling at least two different resulting diffraction orders per illumination pole through the projection system, using the projection system to project the diffraction orders onto a grating on a wafer such that a pair of combination diffraction orders is formed by diffraction of the diffraction orders, coupling the combination diffraction orders back through the projection system to detectors configured to measure the intensity of the combination diffraction orders, and using the measured intensity of the combination diffraction orders to measure the position of the wafer grating.
Abstract:
An immersion lithographic apparatus comprising: a projection system for projecting a patterned radiation beam through an optically active part of a final lens element of the projection system towards a substrate supported by a substrate table, the final lens element having an exposed bottom surface; a liquid confinement structure configured to supply and confine immersion liquid to an immersion space between the final lens element of the projection system and a surface formed of at least one of the substrate and substrate table; and a passageway-former between the projection system and the liquid confinement structure, and a passageway between the passageway-former and the optically active part of the final lens element, the passageway being in liquid communication via an opening with the immersion space and extending radially outwardly with respect to an optical axis of the projection system at least to an edge of the exposed bottom surface of the final lens element and being constructed and configured such that in use it is filled with liquid from the immersion space by capillary action.
Abstract:
Radiation source assembly and method for generating broadband radiation by spectral broadening. The radiation source assembly comprises a pump assembly configured to provide broadband input radiation. The pump assembly comprises a pump source configured to provide first radiation at a pump wavelength, and a broadband assembly configured to provide second radiation comprising a continuous wavelength range, wherein the first radiation and the second radiation form the broadband input radiation. The radiation source assembly further comprises an optical fibre configured to receive the broadband input radiation. The optical fibre comprises a core configured along at least a part of the length of the fibre to guide the received broadband input radiation during propagation through the fibre, so as to generate broadband radiation by spectral broadening to be output by the fibre.