The present invention relates to a radiation collector, and in particular such a collector that is adapted to collect radiation having a wavelength of about 13.5 nm (nanometre).
In order to obtain electronic circuits with a level of integration greater than is currently produced, it is envisaged to use lithographic techniques which are based on radiation of very short wavelength, called extreme ultraviolet (EUV). Typically, the EUV wavelength that is considered hereinafter is 13.5 nm.
Among the sources of such radiation that have been developed, those of the discharge produced plasma (DPP) type give a higher energy efficiency and smaller overall dimensions. However, their implementation encounters certain difficulties, among which there may be mentioned:
For these reasons, it is necessary to use a collector of the EUV radiation that is produced by a DPP source, and said collector must be arranged between the mitigation device and the device utilizing the EUV radiation. The following characteristics are then required for such a collector:
An object of the present invention is therefore to propose a radiation collector that meets the above characteristics, in a manner that is improved relative to the existing collectors.
To this end, the invention proposes a radiation collector that is adapted to collect a portion of a radiation produced by a source, and to concentrate the collected portion of radiation in a spot formed by a convergent output beam produced by the collector. The collector comprises a primary mirror and a secondary mirror, each being rotationally symmetrical about an optical axis of the collector, and arranged to reflect the collected portion of the radiation firstly by the primary mirror and then by the secondary mirror.
The primary mirror is concave and has a first generatrix, in a meridian plane of the device containing the optical axis of the collector, which is in the range [0.8×R(α); 1.2×R(×)], where R and α are polar coordinates within the meridian plane, R being a radial coordinate measured from a point of the optical axis at which the source of radiation is intended to be placed and α being an angular coordinate measured from the optical axis, and R(α) being calculated according to the following equation (1):
R(α)=R0·exp[−α·tan(i)] (1)
In this equation, a is expressed in radians, R0 is a constant length, and i is a constant angle not equal to +/−90° (degrees).
The secondary mirror has a second generatrix in the meridian plane, which is adapted so that this secondary mirror produces the convergent output beam on a side of the collector opposite to the source of radiation, from the collected portion of the radiation that is reflected by the primary mirror.
The second generatrix of the secondary mirror within the meridian plane is constituted by points that are located in the domain [0.8×X(α); 1.2×X(α)]×[0.8×Y(α); 1.2×Y(α)], X and Y being Cartesian coordinates having as their origin the point of placement of the radiation source and X corresponding to the optical axis of the collector, X(α) and Y(α) being calculated according to the following equations (2) and (3):
In these equations:
α is the angular polar coordinate of equation (1), which is used for parametrization of the Cartesian coordinates of the second generatrix,
R(α) is calculated according to equation (1),
f is the distance between the point of placement of the radiation source and the concentration spot of the collected portion of the radiation, measured along the optical axis, and
L is the length of an optical path between the point of placement of the radiation source and the concentration spot of the collected portion of the radiation, measured along a ray that is originating from the radiation source and reflected by the primary mirror and then by the secondary mirror.
Thus, a collector according to the invention only comprises two mirrors. It is therefore less complex and less expensive than known collectors that have more mirrors.
Moreover, all the radiation that is collected is reflected by the primary mirror and then by the secondary mirror, each of which is continuous. In this way, the radiation collected is not divided as a function of a plurality of separate mirrors acting in parallel and having identical roles. For this reason, the radiation collected is distributed more uniformly in the concentration spot that is produced by the collector.
The output beam containing the collected radiation is produced by the collector on a side that is opposite to that of the source. In other words, the radiation that is collected passes through the collector. In this way, the collector can easily be arranged between the source of radiation and a device utilizing this radiation, according to an alignment parallel to the optical axis of the collector.
For the same reason, a collector according to the invention is particularly suitable for a source of radiation whose back portion, on the side opposite to the radiation produced, is not unencumbered.
Moreover, for a collector according to the invention, the source of radiation is intended to be placed at a distance from the collector, in particular from the latter's primary mirror. Thus, a mitigation device can be interposed between the source of radiation and the collector.
For these reasons, a collector according to the invention is particularly suitable for being combined with a source of EUV radiation of the DPP type. For such a use of the collector in particular, the primary and secondary mirrors may be adapted to reflect EUV radiation, in particular radiation with a wavelength of 13.5 nm.
At the same time, a collector according to the invention can easily be arranged relative to a device utilizing the radiation, so that the concentration spot of the radiation collected is positioned at an optical entrance of the device utilizing the radiation.
In equation (1) of the generatrix of the primary mirror, i is a parameter of the collector that corresponds to the angle of incidence of the radiation from the source on said mirror, when the source is suitably positioned at the entrance of the collector. Throughout the following description, the angle of incidence of a ray that is reflected by any mirror is measured relative to a direction perpendicular to the surface of said mirror at the point of reflection of the ray. The angle of incidence of a ray originating from the source is therefore constant on the primary mirror, regardless of the reflection point on said mirror. The following advantages result from this property of the primary mirror:
These advantages become even greater as the generatrix of the primary mirror corresponds more accurately to equation (1). Thus, the strip of the meridian plane that contains the first generatrix may advantageously be narrower. In particular, this strip may be reduced to [0.95×R(α); 1.05×R(α)], or even preferably reduced to [0.98×R(α); 1.02×R(α)], or still better to [0.995×R(α); 1.005×R(α)],
Preferably, angle i may be between 20° and 60°, in particular in order to limit a total length of the collector parallel to its optical axis.
Generally, angle i may advantageously be fixed at a value not equal to the Brewster angle for the primary mirror and for the radiation that is produced by the source. For example, angle i may be outside of the range [35°; 45°]. Thus, a higher reflection coefficient can be obtained for the primary mirror. A greater quantity of radiation is then directed into the concentration spot. Nevertheless, for particular implementations of the radiation that is collected, the Brewster value may be selected for angle i.
The length R0 may have any value. However, values between 70 cm (centimetre) and 2 m (metre) are particularly suitable with respect to the available DPP sources, as well as with respect to existing devices utilizing the radiation collected.
The secondary mirror may be adapted so that each point thereof on which a ray of the collected portion of the radiation is reflected receives this ray with an angle of incidence that is greater than 60°. In these conditions, the reflection coefficient of the secondary mirror can be high. In particular it can be above 50%.
The combination, according to the invention, of a primary mirror that is intended to operate with a single first value of the angle of incidence of the rays on this primary mirror, and that is optimized for this first value, with a secondary mirror that is intended to operate with high second values of the angle of incidence on this secondary mirror, results in a high overall efficiency of reflection of the collector.
Owing to the shape of the second generatrix of the secondary mirror, the portion that is collected of the radiation produced by the source is concentrated within a reduced spot at the exit of the collector.
In particular, this spot is even smaller when each point of the second generatrix is in the domain [0.95×X(α); 1.05×X(α)]×[0.95×Y(α); 1.05×Y(α)], within the meridian plane. Even more preferably, each point of the second generatrix may be in the domain [0.98×X(α); 1.02×X(α)]×[0.98×Y(α); 1.02×Y(α)] within the meridian plane, or still better in the domain [0.995×X(α); 1.005×X(α)]×[0.995×Y(α); 1.005×Y(α)] within this meridian plane.
Preferably, the distance f is comprised between 10 cm and 2 m, or even between 20 cm and 1.0 m, so that the collector and the DPP source can be installed easily on a module utilizing the radiation within a production line for integrated electronic circuits.
Also preferably, the length L is between 10 cm and 3 m.
In order to improve the invention, the secondary mirror has an aperture on a side that is opposite to the point of placement of the radiation source. In this case, the collector may further comprise at least one additional mirror that is rotationally symmetrical about the optical axis of the collector. Such additional mirror may be arranged to collect an additional portion of the radiation that is produced by the source by reflecting it. To this end, it optically conjugates the point of placement of the radiation source with a central point of the concentration spot of the portion of radiation that is collected by the primary and secondary mirrors. The additional portion of the radiation that is collected by the additional mirror then passes through the aperture of the secondary mirror, and is surrounded by the portion of the radiation that is collected by the primary and secondary mirrors, in planes perpendicular to the optical axis of the collector.
The additional mirror of the improvement may be a single ellipsoidal mirror.
Alternatively, the improvement may consist in adding two additional mirrors to the collector, further to the primary and secondary mirrors. These two additional mirrors may be a concave ellipsoidal mirror and a convex hyperboloidal mirror, which are arranged so that the additional portion of the radiation that is collected is reflected firstly by the ellipsoidal mirror and then by the hyperboloidal mirror. Moreover, the ellipsoidal mirror and the hyperboloidal mirror together form an optical doublet which optically conjugates the point of placement of the radiation source with the central point of the concentration spot of the radiation collected by the primary and secondary mirrors.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of non-limitative example embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings in which:
a-2d are diagrams of generatrices of mirrors, respectively for four different collectors according to the invention; and
In
The source 11 produces the radiation from a volume of plasma 11a which is small, most often less than 1 mm3. It is arranged so that this volume of plasma is superposed on a focal point O of the collector 10. In these conditions, the radiation that is produced by the source 11 is concentrated by collector 10 in a convergent output beam, denoted F. This beam F forms a radiation concentration spot which has the reference 100, and which corresponds to the point along axis X-X at which beam F has a minimum cross-section. Device 14 has an optical entrance window, and it is arranged so that the spot 100 is positioned in this window.
When mirror 1 has a generatrix that complies with equation (1) in any meridian plane about axis X-X, a ray that originates from the focal point O is reflected on mirror 1 with an angle of incidence i that is constant, whatever the point P1 of reflection on mirror 1. This remarkable property of mirror 1 that is introduced by the invention permits precise adjustment of a level of reflection of mirror 1 when it is used in these conditions. Indeed, in general, a reflection coefficient of a mirror is adjusted by means of a set of thin layers that are deposited on its surface. This set of layers is determined as a function of the wavelength of the radiation and as a function of the angle of incidence during reflection. The constant value of angle i along the surface of mirror 1 therefore makes it possible to determine and produce a stack of layers that produces the desired reflection coefficient on the whole surface of mirror 1. The design and manner of production of such a stack of layers is assumed to be known by a person skilled in the art, and is not repeated here. For example, the stack of layers may comprise at least forty layers, which are alternatively based on molybdenum or based on silicon. Optionally, mirror 1 may be produced in several parts, depending on its dimensions relative to the tools that are used for its manufacturing.
A ray originating from the volume of plasma 11a and that is reflected by mirror 1 is then reflected by mirror 2 towards spot 100. It is assumed that mirror 2 has a generatrix that complies with equation (2) in each meridian plane. The angle of incidence of the radiation on mirror 2 is not constant between points of this mirror that vary. In the figure, P2 denotes the point of mirror 2 at which a ray coming from point P1 on mirror 1 is reflected, and i2 denotes the angle of incidence corresponding to point P2. However, the angle of incidence i2 is greater than the Brewster angle whatever the point of mirror 2, and is close to the grazing incidence for a large part of the mirror. In this way, the efficiency of reflection of mirror 2 is increased. Mirror 2 is suitably surface-processed to obtain such reflection. In particular, it may also comprise a stack of layers that is reflective for the radiation in question. Optionally, mirror 2 may be constituted by several successive slices along axis X-X, each in the shape of a crown. In this case, the stack of layers may be configured differently for each crown, in relation to a mean value of the angle of incidence i2 of the radiation on this crown.
a-2d are graphs constructed in any meridian plane of the collector 10, which correspond to the respective generatrices of mirrors 1 and 2. The abscissa in the meridian plane is the optical axis X-X of the collector, and the ordinate Y is perpendicular to the axis X-X. The two axes intersect at the focal point O of the collector, which is therefore the origin of the Cartesian coordinates X and Y. They are each marked in millimetres (mm). The radial distance R and the angle α, measured from the focal point O and the axis X-X, define polar coordinates in the meridian plane. The respective generatrices of mirrors 1 and 2 that are shown on these graphs correspond to equations (1) and (2), for the values of the parameters i, R0, f and L that are given in the following Table 1:
L is the length of the optical path between the focal point O and point I at which the rays intersect the axis X-X after passing through collector 10. When mirrors 1 and 2 comply with equations (1) and (2), respectively, collector 10 is stigmatic between points O and I. In this case, the length L of the optical path between the focal point O and point I is constant, at least to first order, for different rays that are reflected by the two mirrors within the meridian plane. However, it is not necessary for the collector to be stigmatic. Then, from the collected radiation originating from the focal point O, a concentration spot of this radiation is produced, which has a non-zero minimum diameter at a given point on the axis X-X.
The length of each mirror 1, 2, parallel to the axis X-X, may vary in relation to the following criteria, the list hereafter not being limitating:
For example, aperture E1 of mirror 1 is located in a plane that passes through the focal point O for the collectors in
Preferably, the entry aperture E1 of the primary mirror 1, on the same side as the point of placement of the radiation source, i.e. on the same side as the focal point O, has a diameter D that is greater than 200 mm (
The aperture S1 of mirror 1 on the same side as the exit of the collector, for the collectors in
The aperture S2 of mirror 2 on the same side as the exit of the collector may be fixed in relation to the overall dimensions of filter 13, relative to the distance between mirror 2 and point I. Optionally, mirror 2 may be closed in the form of a point on the same side as the exit of the collector, when it is extended to the axis X-X (
Advantageously, the exit beam F of the collector, which is convergent and forms the concentration spot 100, may have a cone semi-angle θ/2 that is less than 15°, preferably less than 10°. By way of example, the semi-angle θ/2 is equal to 10° for the collectors in
Using a collector according to the invention, with two mirrors as described up to now, the radiation that comes from the focal point O and is concentrated in spot 100 may correspond to a proportion that is greater than 20%, or even of the order of 25%, of the total radiation originating from the focal point O, in terms of intensity. In other words, the collection proportion of the radiation is above 20%, or even above 25%.
An improvement of the invention that makes it possible to increase the proportion of radiation collected by about 5% will now be described. According to
Mirror 3 is concave ellipsoidal and mirror 4 is convex hyperboloidal. They are arranged so as to collect an additional portion of the radiation that is produced by the source at the focal point O, by reflecting this additional portion of radiation firstly on mirror 3 and then on mirror 4. Moreover, they form a doublet which optically conjugates the focal point O and the centre I of the concentration spot 100 of the portion of the radiation that is collected by mirrors 1 and 2.
In order to implement this improvement, the secondary mirror 2 must be open on the same side as the exit of the collector, opposite the focal point O. The additional portion of the radiation that is collected by mirrors 3 and 4 then passes through this aperture, and is surrounded by the portion of the radiation that is collected by mirrors 1 and 2, in planes perpendicular to the axis X-X.
In all the embodiments of a collector according to the invention that have just been described, mirror 1 may in further have a function of suppression of a portion of the radiation that is produced by the source, and that would not be desired in the concentration spot 100. To this end, mirror 1 may be absorbing for radiation that has a wavelength greater than that of the collected portion of the radiation that is concentrated in spot 100. In this case, the collector may additionally comprise a cooling system that is arranged for cooling mirror 1, in order to remove the energy of the radiation that is absorbed by this mirror.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0853731 | Jun 2008 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/FR2009/051058 | 6/4/2009 | WO | 00 | 12/3/2010 |