Abstract:
In an interferometer system and a method for its operation, the interferometer system includes an interferometer having an interferometer light source whose emitted radiation is able to be split into a measuring arm and a reference arm, an object to be measured being disposed in the measuring arm, and the interferometer delivering interferometer signals as a function of the position of the object to be measured. In addition, a detecting device is provided for detecting fluctuations in the refractive index of the air in the measuring arm and/or reference arm. The detecting device includes a spectrometer unit; the spectrometer unit has at least one spectrometer light source, as well as at least one spectrometer detector unit. The bundles of rays emitted by the spectrometer light source are superimposed on the bundles of rays from the interferometer light source, the spectrometer light source emitting radiation having a wavelength which lies in the range of an absorption line of at least one specific air component. The spectrometer detector unit is used to generate spectrometer signals which characterize the absorption of the air component in terms of the spectrometer light-source wavelength in the measuring arm and/or reference arm.
Abstract:
Thermally controlled enclosures that can be used with gas analyzers are described. The enclosures incorporate one or more phase changing materials that buffer ambient and internal heat loads to reduce the power consumption demand of mechanical or electronic heating apparatus. Maintenance of gas analyzer equipment at a consistent temperature can be important to achieving stable and reproducible results. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
Abstract:
A method for improving the measurement of semiconductor wafers is disclosed. In the past, the repeatability of measurements was adversely affected due to the unpredictable growth of a layer of contamination over the intentionally deposited dielectric layers. Repeatability can be enhanced by removing this contamination layer prior to measurement. This contamination layer can be effectively removed in a non-destructive fashion by subjecting the wafer to a cleaning step. In one embodiment, the cleaning is performed by exposing the wafer to microwave radiation. Alternatively, the wafer can be cleaned with a radiant heat source. These two cleaning modalities can be used alone or in combination with each other or in combination with other cleaning modalities. The cleaning step may be carried out in air, an inert atmosphere or a vacuum. Once the cleaning has been performed, the wafer can be measured using any number of known optical measurement systems.
Abstract:
Die Erfindung betrifft eine Halte- und Drehvorrichtung für flache Objekte, die eine Objektebene definieren, mit einer um eine Rotationsachse drehbaren Greifer-Einrichtung, die eine Mehrzahl von Kantengreifern aufweist und die eingerichtet ist, das Objekt in einer in allen Raumrichtungen definierten Lage zu fixieren, in der die Objektebene senkrecht zur Rotationsachse ausgerichtet ist, und einem mit der Greifer-Einrichtung gekoppelten Rotationsantrieb, der eingerichtet ist, die Greifer-Einrichtung mit dem Objekt um die Rotationsachse in Drehung zu versetzen. Die Erfindung ist durch eine Einrichtung zur Abstandspositionierung gekennzeichnet, die eingerichtet ist, eine senkrecht zur Objektebene gerichtete Stützkraft berührungslos gegen das Objekt aufzubringen.
Abstract:
Devices to detect a substance and methods of producing such a device are disclosed. An example device to detect a substance includes a housing defining an externally accessible chamber and a seal to enclose at least a portion of the chamber. The example device also includes a substrate includes nanoparticles positioned within the chamber. The nanoparticles to react to the substance when exposed thereto. The example device also includes a non-analytic solution within the chamber to protect the nanoparticles from premature exposure.
Abstract:
Chamber elements defining an internal chamber to be utilized during a substrate related stage selected from the group consisting of substrate manufacturing stage and substrate inspection stage, the chamber elements comprising: a first element having a first surface; a second element having a second surface about the periphery of the internal chamber; a third element connected to the second element; and a clamping mechanism that is connected to the second and third elements and is arranged to press the second element towards the first element; wherein a first area of the first surface and a second area of the second surface come into proximity with each other at a first interface; wherein the first surface is positioned above the second surface; wherein a gas groove and a vacuum groove are formed in the second area; wherein the second element comprises a gas conduit that is arranged to provide gas to the gas groove and a vacuum conduit that is arranged to provide vacuum to the vacuum groove; wherein a provision of the gas and the vacuum assists in a formation of a gas cushion between the first and second areas; wherein the chamber elements are operable to partially surround a first portion of a movement system and a substrate during the substrate related stage, the movement system is arranged to introduce a movement of the first element in relation to the second element and the third element, wherein the gas cushion maintains predefined conditions in the internal chamber during the movement.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for measuring the isotope ratio of one or more trace gases and/or components of gas mixtures such as different gas species present in a gas mixture. The system includes a resonant optical cavity having two or more mirrors and containing a gas, the cavity having a free spectral range that equals the difference between frequencies of two measured absorption lines of different gas species in the gas, or of two different isotopes, divided onto an integer number. The system also includes a continuous-wave tunable laser optically coupled with the resonant optical cavity, and a detector system for measuring an absorption of laser light by the gas in the cavity. The detector system includes one of a photo-detector configured to measure an intensity of the intra-cavity light or both a photo- acoustic sensor configured to measure photo-acoustic waves generated in the cavity and a photo-detector configured to measure an intensity of the intra-cavity light.