Abstract:
A radiation source for a lithographic apparatus uses a plurality of fiber lasers to ignite a fuel droplet at an ignition location to generate EUV radiation. The fiber lasers may be provided to emit parallel to an optical axis and a telescopic optical system is provided to focus the lasers at the ignition location, or the lasers may be directed towards the optical axis with a final focus lens being used to reduce beam waist. The lasers may be provided in two or more groups to allow them to be independently controlled and some of the lasers may be focused at a different location to provide a pre-pulse. Radiation from fiber lasers may also be combined using dichroic mirrors.
Abstract:
A source collector apparatus includes a plasma generation apparatus arranged to excite a fuel to form a radiation emitting plasma, a collector arranged to collect the radiation, and a contamination receiving apparatus, wherein the contamination receiving apparatus is provided with a porous structure.
Abstract:
A method of generating radiation for a lithography apparatus. The method comprises providing a continuously renewing fuel target at a plasma formation location and directing a continuous-wave excitation beam at the plasma formation location such that fuel within the continuously renewing fuel target is excited by the continuous-wave excitation beam to generate a radiation generating plasma.
Abstract:
A source-collector device is constructed and arranged to generate a radiation beam, The device includes a target unit constructed and arranged to present a target surface of plasma- forming material; a laser unit constructed and arranged to generate a beam of radiation directed onto the target surface so as to form a plasma from said plasma-forming material; a contaminant trap constructed and arranged to reduce propagation of particulate contaminants generated by the plasma; a radiation collector comprising a plurality of grazing-incidence reflectors arranged to collect radiation emitted by the plasma and form a beam therefrom; and a filter constructed and arranged to attenuate at least one wavelength range of the beam.
Abstract:
A delivery system for use within a lithographic system. The beam delivery system comprises optical elements arranged to receive a radiation beam from a radiation source and to reflect portions of radiation along one or more directions to form a one or more branch radiation beams for provision to one or more tools.
Abstract:
In an embodiment, a lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a modulator configured to expose an exposure area of the substrate to a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern and a projection system configured to project the modulated beams onto the substrate. The modulator includes a deflector to displace the plurality of beams with respect to an exposure area.
Abstract:
A method of patterning lithographic substrates, the method comprising using a free electron laser (FEL) to generate EUV radiation and delivering the EUV radiation to a lithographic apparatus (LA) which projects the EUV radiation onto lithographic substrates, wherein the method further comprises reducing fluctuations in the power of EUV radiation delivered to the lithographic substrates by using a feedback-based control loop (CT) to monitor the free electron laser and adjust operation of the free electron laser accordingly.
Abstract:
A lithographic apparatus include an optical element that includes an oriented carbon nanotube sheet. The optical element has an element thickness in the range of about 20-500 nm and has a transmission for EUV radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 1-20 nm of at least about 20% under perpendicular irradiation with the EUV radiation. The oriented carbon nanotube sheet may be used per se as optical element, and may be designed to reduce debris and/or improve the ratio of EUV/non-desired radiation. The sheet, due to its strength, does not necessarily need a support. The optical element of the invention may be unsupported.