Patent ID: 6373871
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
Ellipsometer at least comprisinglight source means (L1, L2) which during operation provide a first light beam (g1) having a first angular frequency (&ohgr;1) and a second light beam (g2) having a second angular frequency (&ohgr;2), a neutral beam splitter N having a front face for receiving and at least partially transmitting a measurement beam (gâ€²m2), which, during operation, is produced by scanning a sample (S; OD1; OD2) with the second light beam (g2), and a rear face for receiving the first light beam (g1), wherein, during operation, the measurement beam (gâ€²m2) interferes with the first light beam (g1) at the rear face and an interference beam is thus formed, a unit (W1) for receiving the interference beam, separating the orthogonal components of the interference beam and providing two alternating voltages (V1, V2) corresponding thereto, characterized in that the light source means comprise a first laser source (L1) for only producing first light beam (g1) and a separate laser source (L2) for only producing second light beam (g2) and in that the ellipsometer is also provided with a control circuit (C) having at least one input for receiving information with regard to either the first and second angular frequencies (&ohgr;2, &ohgr;1) or the difference between the first and second angular frequencies and at least one output, coupled at least to one of the two laser sources, for controlling the difference between the first and second angular frequencies (&ohgr;2, &ohgr;1).