Patent ID: 6512586
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for determining at least one characteristic of a sample comprising a substrate, the sample further comprising at least one region that is implanted during an ion implant process, comprising steps of:placing a mask over a free surface of the of the substrate, the mask having a top surface and a bottom surface that is placed adjacent to the free surface of the substrate, the bottom surface of the mask comprising a plurality of features forming at least one grating; directing optical pump pulses through the mask to the free surface of the substrate, individual ones of the pump pulses being followed by at least one optical probe pulse, said pump pulses being spatially distributed by said at least one grating for generating a spatially distributed density of electrons and holes within the sample, said spatially distributed density of electrons and holes causing a change in optical constants of the sample; detecting a reflected or transmitted portion of said probe pulses, said probe pulses also being spatially distributed by said at least one grating; measuring a change in at least one characteristic of at least one of reflected or transmitted probe pulses due to the change in optical constants; and determining at least one characteristic of the ion implanted region from the measured change in the at least one characteristic of the probe pulses.