Abstract:
An apparatus capable of detecting defects of a pattern on a sample with high accuracy and reliability and at a high throughput, and a semiconductor manufacturing method using the same are provided. The electron beam apparatus is a mapping-projection-type electron beam apparatus for observing or evaluating a surface of the sample by irradiating the sample with a primary electron beam and forming on a detector an image of reflected electrons emitted from the sample. An electron impact-type detector such as an electron impact-type CCD or an electron impact-type TDI is used as the detector for detecting the reflected electrons. The reflected electrons are selectively detected from an energy difference between the reflected electrons and secondary electrons emitted from the sample. To eliminate charge-up caused on the sample surface by irradiation with the primary electron beam, the surface of the sample is covered with a cover placed above the sample and a gas is supplied to the space above the sample covered with the cover. The gas is brought into contact with the sample surface to reduce charge-up on the sample surface.
Abstract:
An electron beam inspecting apparatus is a map projection type and comprises a primary electro-optical system which molds an electron beam emitted from an electron gun into a rectangular form and irradiates the surface of a sample to be inspected with the molded electron beam, a secondary electro-optical system which converges secondary electrons emitted from the sample, a detector which converts the converged secondary electrons into an optical image via a fluorescent plate to focus them to a line sensor, and a controller which controls the charge transfer time to transfer a line image captured by a pixel array provided in the line sensor by interlocking with the transfer speed of stage which moves the sample.
Abstract:
A small-sized fast atom beam source which is capable of neutralizing ions at a high rate and of emitting a fast atom beam efficiently and with excellent directivity, wherein, a gas is introduced into the area between a plate-shaped cathode having multiplicity of atom emitting holes and a plate-shaped anode disposed to face opposite to the cathode to induce gas discharge by a DC high-voltage power supply, thereby forming a plasma, and ions that are produced by the plasma are accelerated toward the cathode and neutralized in and near the atom emitting holes, which have length larger than the diameter therof, thereby emitting a fast atom beam at a high rate of neutralizaion.
Abstract:
An electron beam device for applying a primary electron beam onto a sample, and detecting a secondary electron beam produced from a sample surface by the irradiation to evaluate the sample surface, characterized in that the cathode of an electron gun for emitting primary electron beam have a plurality of emitters disposed at intervals on one circle centered on the optical axis of a primary electron optical system and emitting a primary electron beam, and the plurality of emitters are disposed so that points projected on a line parallel to the scanning direction of the primary electron beam are arranged at equal intervals.
Abstract:
A fast atomic beam (FAB) source is capable of generating fast atomic beams having characteristics of a high beam density, a precise directionality, and a wide range of controlled out put energy levels. The FAB source is comprised of a discharge tube, an inductively coupled plasma generator for generating gas plasma in the discharge tube from introduced gas therein, positive and negative electrodes for accelerating ions to control the beam for a variety of energy levels. The negative electrode has a beam control opening for generating a FAB, wherein directionability, neutralization factor, and other FAB characteristics are controlled.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus are presented for producing a three-dimensional ultra-fine micro-fabricated structures of the order of mu m and less for use in advanced optical communication systems and quantum effect devices. The basic components are an energy beam source, a mask member and a specimen stage. Because the mask member is an independent component, various combinations of relative movements of the mask member with respect to the beam axis and/or workpiece can be made with high precision to produce curved or slanted surfaces on a workpiece, thereby producing a multiple lines or array of convex or concave micro-lenses. Other examples of fine-structures include deposition of thin films on a multiple line pattern or in an array pattern. Because of the flexibility of fabrication method and material of fabrication, labyrinth seals having curved surface with grooved structure can be used as friction reduction means for bearing components. The fine groove dimensions of the order of nm is possible. Energy beams can be any of fast atomic beams, ion beams, electron beam, laser beams, radiation beams, X-ray beams and radical particle beams. Parallel beams are often used, but when a focused beam is used, a technique of reduced projection imaging can be utilized to produce a fine-structure of the order of nm.
Abstract:
A fast atom beam source which is capable of efficiently emitting a fast atom beam with low energy and high particle flux. A plate-shaped electrode (21) has a multiplicity of atom emitting holes (7). A pair of electrodes (22 and 28) are disposed in series to face opposite to the plate-shaped electrode so as to form an electric discharge part. A power supply (24) applies an AC voltage between the pair of electrodes. A power supply (29) applies a DC voltage between the plate-shaped electrode and one of the pair of electrodes that is closer to the plate-shaped electrode. A gas inlet part (4) introduces a gas (5) to induce electric discharge in the space between the plate-shaped electrode and the pair of electrodes.
Abstract:
A beam charge exchanging apparatus for exchanging the charges of charged particles in a fast particle beam emitted from a source of the fast particle beam is disclosed. The apparatus comprises; a gas container for charge exchange placed in a vacuum atmosphere; holes provided in the container for passing the fast particle beam through the container; a source of gas; means for introducing the gas in the container as a high speed gas fluid; the fast particle beam is collided with the high speed gas fluid in the container for exchanging charges therebetween and turning the fast particle beam to a neutral particle beam. The apparatus further may include means for detecting the quantity of neutral particles resulting from the charge exchange by measuring the quantity of ionized gas generated in the high speed gas fluid as an electric current.