Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method which can reduce computational costs significantly and be applied to a substantially full circuit design or a full mask.SOLUTION: Described herein is a method for simulating a three-dimensional spatial intensity distribution of radiation formed within a resist layer on a substrate resulting from an incident radiation, the method comprising: calculating an incoherent sum of forward propagating radiation in the resist layer and backward propagating radiation in the resist layer; calculating an interference between the forward propagating radiation in the resist layer and the backward propagating radiation in the resist layer; and calculating the three-dimensional spatial intensity distribution of radiation from the incoherent sum and the interference.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for simulating an image formed within a resist layer on a substrate resulting from an incident radiation.SOLUTION: The method for simulating an image formed within a resist layer on a substrate resulting from an incident radiation comprises: calculating a forward propagating electric field or forward propagating magnetic field resultant from the incident radiation at a depth in the resist layer; calculating a backward propagating electric field or backward propagating magnetic field resultant from the incident radiation at the depth in the resist layer; calculating a radiation field at the depth in the resist layer from the forward propagating electric field or forward propagating magnetic field and from the backward propagating electric field or backward propagating magnetic field while ignoring an interference between the forward propagating electric field or forward propagating magnetic field and the backward propagating electric field or backward propagating magnetic field.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide tools for optimizing illumination sources and mask design layouts for use in lithographic apparatuses and processes.SOLUTION: Provided is a computer-implemented method for improving a lithographic process for imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using a lithographic projection apparatus comprising an illumination source and projection optics, the method including: computing a multi-variable cost function of a plurality of design variables that are characteristics of the lithographic process, at least some of the design variables being characteristics of the illumination source and the design layout, the computation of the multi-variable cost function accounting for lens heating effects; and reconfiguring the characteristics of the lithographic process by adjusting the design variables until a predefined termination condition is satisfied.
Abstract:
Described herein is a method for simulating a three-dimensional spatial intensity distribution of radiation formed within a resist layer on a substrate resulting from an incident radiation, the method comprising: calculating an incoherent sum of forward propagating radiation in the resist layer and backward propagating radiation in the resist layer; calculating an interference of the forward propagating radiation in the resist layer and the backward propagating radiation in the resist layer; and calculating the three-dimensional spatial intensity distribution of radiation from the incoherent sum and the interference.
Abstract:
A computer-implemented method for improving a lithographic process for imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using a lithographic projection apparatus comprising an illumination source and projection optics, the method including computing a multi-variable cost function of a plurality of design variables that are characteristics of the lithographic process, at least some of the design variables being characteristics of the illumination source and the design layout, the computing of the multi-variable cost function accounting for lens heating effects; and reconfiguring the characteristics of the lithographic process by adjusting the design variables until a predefined termination condition is satisfied.
Abstract:
A method including: obtaining at least a characteristic of deformation of a resist layer in a first direction, as if there were no deformation in any directions perpendicular to the first direction; obtaining at least a characteristic of deformation of the resist layer in a second direction as if there were no deformation in the first direction, the second direction being perpendicular different to from the first direction; and obtaining at least a characteristic of three-dimensional deformation of the resist layer based on the characteristic of the deformation in the first direction and the characteristic of the deformation in the second direction.