Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control fuel droplets by a method reducing potential contamination on other surfaces in a radiation source and other parts of a lithographic apparatus. SOLUTION: The radiation source is configured to generate extreme ultraviolet rays. The radiation source comprises a laser which is configured to generate a radiation beam to be guided to a plasma generation part for plasma generation when the radiation beam interacts with fuel, an optical component comprising a surface which is configured and positioned to be hit with droplets of the fuel, and a temperature conditioner configured to raise the temperature of the surface. A coating may be so provided on the surface as to change at least one nature of the surface. The energy source may be configured so that the droplets of fuel solidify before they hit the surface or to prevent the droplets of fuel from vaporizing. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an EUV (extreme ultraviolet) radiation source which has a contamination barrier to reduce a deposition rate of such as ion, atom, molecule or particle debris on a light collecting mirror and to minimize an amount of EUV radiation to be absorbed, scattered, or deflected. SOLUTION: The radiation source for producing EUV or lithography of high resolution includes a plasma forming portion on which a fuel contacts with a radiation beam to produce the EUV radiation. A collector with a mirror collects the EUV radiation produced at a first focus to reflect it toward a second focus. The contamination barrier is positioned so that its surrounding portion does not close more than 50% of a solid angle specified by the mirror at the second focus, thereby, the EUV radiation is not excessively attenuated. The contamination barrier traps a fuel material such as ion from plasma, atom, molecule, or nano-small drops to prevent the deposit on the collecting mirror. A gas extraction port may be located near a plasma forming portion to control the fuel debris toward the collecting mirror and diffusion of contamination. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radiation source having a nozzle through which a fuel can pass without encountering an unexpected or unintended trouble or limitation.SOLUTION: The radiation source includes a reservoir, a nozzle, a laser and a positive lens. The reservoir is configured to hold the volume of a fuel. The nozzle in fluid connection with the reservoir is configured to guide the flow of fuel toward a plasma formation position along a track. The laser is configured to guide the laser radiation to the flow at the plasma formation position, and to generate radiation-generating plasma during use. The positive lens configuration is configured so as to focus at least the potential spread of the track of fuel flow toward the plasma formation position, and the lens includes an electric field generation element and/or a magnetic field generation element.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radiation source having a contamination barrier for reducing a deposition rate of ions, atoms, molecules, granular debris and the like on a collector mirror of an EUV radiation source.SOLUTION: A radiation source includes a plasma formation portion, at which fuel comes into contact with a radiation beam to form a plasma. A collector with a mirror collects and reflects EUV radiation generated at a first focal point toward a second focal point. A contamination barrier is positioned so that a peripheral edge of the contamination barrier does not block more than 50% of a solid angle defined by a mirror at the second focal point, and thereby, the EUV radiation reflected by the collector mirror passes through the contamination barrier and is not attenuated excessively. The contamination barrier functions to trap fuel materials such as ions, atoms, molecules or nano droplets from the plasma, so as to prevent them from being accumulated on the collector mirror. A gas extraction port may be provided near the plasma formation portion to restrain diffusion of the fuel debris and contamination toward the collector mirror.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and/or apparatus for increasing the time taken to allow fuel droplets to pass through a laser beam pulse. SOLUTION: A radiation source is configured so as to generate radiation. The radiation source includes: a fuel droplet generator, configured so as to generate the flow of fuel droplets to be guided to a plasma generating portion; a laser which is a laser configured to generate a laser beam to be guided to the plasma generating portion and in which an angle between a direction of movement of the flow of droplets and a direction of the laser beam is smaller than 90°C; and a collector configured so as to condense the radiation generated by plasma formed by the plasma forming portion, when the radiation beam collides with the droplets. The collector is configured so as to substantially reflect the radiation along an optical axis of the radiation source. The laser beam is guided to the plasma generating portion through an aperture provided on the collector. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for determining a suppression factor of a suppression system. The suppression system is arranged to suppress migration of a contaminant gas out of a first system. The suppression factor is an indication of the performance of the suppression system. The method includes introducing a tracer gas in the sub-system, providing a detection system configured to detect the amount of tracer gas that has migrated out of the first system, determining a first suppression factor for the suppression system for the tracer gas. The method further includes determining a second suppression factor for the suppression system for the contaminant gas based on the first suppression factor.
Abstract:
A fuel stream generator comprising a nozzle connected to a fuel reservoir, wherein the nozzle is provided with a gas inlet configured to provide a sheath of gas around fuel flowing along the nozzle is disclosed. Also disclosed are a method of generating fuel droplets and a lithography apparatus incorporating the fuel stream generator.