Systems and methods for deflecting plasma-generated ions to prevent the ions from reaching an internal component of an EUV light source

A system is disclosed for protecting an internal EUV light source component from ions generated at a plasma formation site. In one aspect, the system may comprise a plurality of foil plates and an arrangement for generating a magnetic field to deflect ions into one of the foil plate surfaces. In another aspect, an electrostatic grid may be positioned for interaction with ions to reduce ion energy, and a magnetic field may be used to deflect the reduced energy ions onto paths wherein the ions do not strike the internal component. In yet another aspect, a grid may be connected to a circuit tuned to a resonant frequency to reduce ion energy. For example, the resonant frequency may be substantially equal to an inverse of a time difference between the time when electrons reach the grid and a subsequent time when ions reach the grid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to extreme ultraviolet (“EUV”) light sources providing EUV light from a plasma created from a source material and collected and directed to a focus for utilization outside of the EUV light source chamber, e.g., for semiconductor integrated circuit manufacturing photolithography e.g., at wavelengths of around 20 nm and below.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Extreme ultraviolet (“EUV”) light, e.g., electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths of around 20 nm or less, and including light at a wavelength of about 13.5 nm, can be used in photolithography processes to produce extremely small features in substrates, e.g., silicon wafers.

Methods to produce EUV light include, but are not necessarily limited to, converting a material into a plasma state that has an element, e.g., xenon, lithium or tin, with an emission line in the EUV range. In one such method, often termed electric discharge produced plasma (“DPP”), the plasma may be produced by an electrical discharge between a pair of electrodes. In another method, the required plasma can be produced by irradiating a target material, such as a droplet, stream or cluster of material having the required line-emitting element, with a laser beam. This later process is referred to as laser produced plasma (“LPP”).

For each of these processes, the plasma is typically produced in a sealed vessel, e.g., vacuum chamber, and monitored using various types of metrology equipment. In addition to generating EUV radiation, these plasma processes also typically generate undesirable by-products in the plasma chamber which can include heat, high energy ions and scattered debris from the plasma formation, e.g., atoms and/or clumps of source material that is not fully ionized in the plasma formation process.

These plasma formation by-products can potentially damage or reduce the operational efficiency of the various plasma chamber internal components including, but not limited to, collector mirrors including multi-layer mirrors (MLM's) capable of EUV reflection at normal incidence and grazing angle incident mirrors, the surfaces of metrology detectors, windows used to image the plasma formation process, and in the case of LPP, the laser input window. The heat, high energy ions and/or source material debris may be damaging to the optical elements in a number of ways, including heating them, coating them with materials which reduce light transmission, penetrating into them and, e.g., damaging structural integrity and/or optical properties, e.g., the ability of a mirror to reflect light at such short wavelengths, corroding or eroding them, diffusing into them and/or sputtering surface material. In addition, some optical elements, e.g., the laser input window, form a part of the vacuum chamber and are thus placed under a stress when a vacuum is present in the plasma chamber. For these elements, deposits and heat can combine to fracture (i.e., crack) the element resulting in a loss of vacuum and requiring a costly repair.

Accessing contaminated or damaged optical elements in the plasma chamber for the purpose of cleaning or replacing the elements can be expensive, labor intensive and time-consuming. In particular, these systems typically require a rather complicated and time consuming purging and vacuum pump-down of the plasma chamber prior to a re-start after the plasma chamber has been opened. This lengthy process can adversely affect production schedules and decrease the overall efficiency of light sources for which it is typically desirable to operate with little or no downtime.

With the above in mind, applicants disclose systems and methods for deflecting plasma-generated ions to prevent the ions from reaching an internal component of an EUV light source.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system for protecting an internal component of an EUV light source from ions generated at a plasma formation site and initially directed toward the internal component is disclosed. The system may comprise a plurality of foil plates interposed between the internal component and the plasma formation site, with each foil plate having a surface substantially aligned along a respective line extending from the plasma formation site to the internal component. The system may further comprise a means for generating a magnetic field to deflect an ion into one of the foil plate surfaces. The internal component may be an elliptical collector mirror which defines an axis with the plasma formation site lying on the axis, and the magnetic field may be a substantially uniform magnetic field having a magnetic field line oriented substantially normal to the axis at the plasma formation site. A second magnetic field may be established, normal to the first magnetic field and positioned such that the second field has a magnetic field line oriented substantially normal to the axis at a non-zero distance from the plasma formation site.

In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a system for protecting an internal EUV light source component from ions may include an electrostatic grid positioned for interaction with the ions to reduce ion energy; and a magnetic source generating a magnetic field to deflect the reduced energy ions onto paths wherein the ions do not strike the internal component. By way of example, in an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, an elliptically shaped collector mirror can be protected from a 2 KeV ion generated during plasma formation using an electrostatic grid to slow the ions together with permanent magnets to deflect the energy reduced ions away from the collector mirror.

In yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a system for protecting an internal EUV light source component from ions generated at a plasma formation site which emits an electron pulse followed by an ion pulse may include a grid positioned at a distance, d, from the plasma formation site. The grid may be oriented for interaction with the ions and connected to a circuit tuned to a resonant frequency to reduce ion energy. For example, the resonant frequency may be substantially equal to an inverse of a time delay between 1) the time when the electron pulse reaches the grid, and 2) the time when the ion pulse reaches the grid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With initial reference toFIG. 1, there is shown a schematic view of an exemplary production EUV light source, e.g., a laser produced plasma EUV light source20, according to an aspect of the present invention. Although aspects of the present invention are illustrated with reference to a laser produced plasma (LPP), it is to be appreciated that the present invention is equally applicable to other types of light sources which produce a plasma including an electric discharge produced plasma (“DPP”), a representative construction of which is disclosed in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,815,700, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Continuing withFIG. 1, an LPP light source20may contain a pulsed laser system22, e.g., a gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser operating at high power and high pulse repetition rate and may be a MOPA configured laser system, e.g., as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,625,191, 6,549,551, and 6,567,450. The light source20may also include a target delivery system24, e.g., delivering targets in the form of liquid droplets, a liquid stream, solid particles or clusters, solid particles contained within liquid droplets or solid particles contained within a liquid stream. The targets may be delivered by the target delivery system24, e.g., into the interior of a chamber26to a plasma formation site28, otherwise known as an ignition site or the sight of the “fire ball”.

Laser pulses may be delivered from the pulsed laser system22along a laser optical axis through a laser input window57and into the chamber26to the irradiation site, suitably focused, to create an ignition or fire ball that forms a plasma, having certain characteristics which depend on the source material of the target. These characteristics may include the wavelength of the EUV light produced and the type and amount of debris released from the plasma during and/or after ignition.

The light source may also include a collector30, e.g., a reflector, e.g., in the form of a truncated ellipse, with an aperture to allow the laser light to pass through and reach the ignition site28. The collector30may be, e.g., an elliptical mirror that has a first focus at the ignition site28and a second focus at a so-called intermediate point40(also called the intermediate focus40) where the EUV light is output from the light source and input to, e.g., an integrated circuit lithography tool (not shown).

The pulsed system22may include a dual chamber, e.g., a master oscillator-power amplifier (“MOPA”), gas discharge laser system having, e.g., an oscillator laser system44and an amplifier laser system48, with, e.g., a magnetic reactor-switched pulse compression and timing circuit50for the oscillator laser system44and a magnetic reactor-switched pulse compression and timing circuit52for the amplifier laser system48, along with a pulse power timing monitoring system54for the oscillator laser system44and a pulse power timing monitoring system56for the amplifier laser system48. The system20may also include an EUV light source controller system60, which may also include, e.g., a target position detection feedback system62and a firing control system65, along with, e.g., a laser beam positioning system66.

The system20may also include a target position detection system which may include one or more droplet imagers70a,bthat provide an output indicative of the position of a target droplet, e.g., relative to the ignition site and provide this output to the target position detection feedback system, which can, e.g., compute a target position and trajectory, from which a target error can be computed, if not on a droplet by droplet basis then on average. The target error may then be provided as an input to the system controller60, which can, e.g., provide a laser position, direction and timing correction signal, e.g., to the laser beam positioning system66that the laser beam positioning system can use, e.g., to control the laser timing circuit and/or to control the laser position and direction changer68, e.g., to change the focus point of the laser beam to a different ignition point28.

The target delivery control system90, in response to a signal from the system controller60may, e.g., modify the release point of the target droplets as released by a target delivery mechanism to correct for errors in the target droplets arriving at the desired ignition site28. An EUV light source detector (not shown) may also provide feedback to the system controller60that can be, e.g., indicative of the errors in such things as the timing and focus of the laser pulses to properly intercept the target droplets in the right place and time for effective and efficient EUV light production.

As shown schematically inFIG. 1and described in more detail below, an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention may include a system for protecting an EUV light source internal component, which for the embodiment shown inFIG. 1may be a collector mirror30, from ions generated at a plasma formation site and initially directed toward the component, e.g. collector mirror30. As shown, the system may include a shield180, e.g. a foil trap, and one or more magnetic sources, which for the embodiment shown inFIG. 1may be a first pair of spaced-apart energized coils200a,bfor establishing a magnetic field B1, and a second pair of spaced-apart energized coils202a,b(shown inFIG. 2A) for establishing a magnetic field B2(illustrated inFIG. 1). Although the system is shown in a configuration to protect a surface of an EUV light source collector mirror30, it is to be appreciated that the system as described herein can be used to protect other optical elements in the chamber26including, but not limited to, the laser input window57, imaging windows for imagers70a,band/or an input surface of a metrology monitor (not shown).

FIG. 2shows in more detail a foil trap shield180which may be used in the system shown inFIG. 1. Specifically,FIG. 2shows a schematic view of a collector30and shield180as would be seen if looking into the elliptical collector mirror30from a vantage point at the intermediate focus40(SeeFIG. 1). As shown inFIG. 2the elliptical collection mirror30is circular in cross section looking at the mirror and as shown inFIG. 1may define an axis204which includes the focus point28of the elliptical mirror30.

The elliptical mirror may also have an aperture152, e.g., shown to be circular inFIG. 2, to allow entry of the LPP laser beam154, e.g., focused through focusing optics, through the mirror30to the ignition point28desired to be at the focus of the elliptical mirror. The aperture152can also be, e.g., more tailored to the beam profile, e.g., generally rectangular, within the requirements, if any of modifying the beam optical path to make corrections of the focus of the laser beam154on an ignition site, depending upon the type of control system employed.

Also shown inFIGS. 1 and 2is a foil trap debris shield180according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. The debris shield180may be made up of a plurality of thin foil plates, of which exemplary plates182a–chave been labeled, made, e.g., of thin foils of molybdenum. As best seen inFIG. 2, each foil plate182a–cmay extend substantially radially outward from the axis204, and, as shown inFIG. 1, each foil plate of the debris shield180may be interposed between the ignition site28and the collector mirror30. It can be further seen inFIG. 2that a light transmitting channel (exemplary channels184a–chave been labeled) may be established between each pair of adjacent foil plates182a–callowing EUV light to pass through the debris shield180. Although the shield180shown inFIG. 2includes twenty-eight foil plates, it is to be appreciated that more than twenty-eight and as few as one foil plate may be used. Additional foil plates may, in some cases, result in greater debris capture, however the addition of foil plates may also reduce the channel size, and thus, allow less EUV light to pass through the shield180(note: it is desirable to block as little of the EUV light emitted from the plasma as possible).

Cross-referencingFIG. 1withFIG. 2, the functionality of the radially aligned channels182a–cin the debris shield180can be seen. A radial channel is seen inFIG. 1and is illustrative of the rotationally symmetric debris shield180.FIG. 1shows exemplary paths for two EUV light rays190a,bemitted from the ignition site28. As shown, each ray travels from the ignition site28and may pass through a channel182in the debris shield180, which as shown inFIG. 1may, if desired, extend all the way to the collection mirror150reflective surface. Upon striking the surface of the elliptical mirror150, at any angle of incidence, the ray190amay be reflected back within the same channel180as a reflected ray192aand be directed to the intermediate focus40.

FIG. 2illustrates exemplary trajectories for two ions under the influence of the magnetic fields, B1and B2. As shown, ion206aleaves the plasma formation site28on a trajectory toward the collector mirror30and may be deflected by the magnetic field B1into the surface208aof the foil plate184dwhere the ion may be captured. On the other hand, due to the alignment of magnetic field B1, the magnetic field B1, alone, may be insufficient to deflect all ions into the debris shield180. Instead, for some ion trajectories, such as ion206bshown, the effect of the magnetic field B1, may only be to further accelerate the ion into the collector mirror30. However, as shown, the second magnetic field B2, may be aligned to deflect the ion206binto the surface208bof the foil plate184ewhere the ion may be captured. For the embodiment shown, the magnetic field, B1, may be a substantially uniform magnetic field having a magnetic field line oriented substantially normal to the axis204at the plasma formation site28. When used, the second magnetic field B2, may be established, normal to the first magnetic field B1, and positioned such that the second field B2, has a magnetic field line oriented substantially normal to the axis204at a distance from the plasma formation site28, as shown inFIG. 1. In some cases, the second magnetic field B2, may be somewhat weaker than the first magnetic field B1. Numerically, for a collector located approximately 20 cm from the plasma formation site28, calculations suggest that a relatively small magnetic field of less than about 100 Gauss may provide sufficient lateral motion to deflect 2 KeV ions in a debris shield having channel widths of about 2 mm and an aspect ratio of about 50. Such a field can be established over relatively large volumes, for example, using cooled coils. This may be compared with a field strength of about 1 Tesla that may be required to sufficiently deflect all 2 KeV ions, without a debris shield, onto trajectories which do not intercept a collector mirror.

FIG. 1also shows that the system may further comprise a gas source210to introduce gas molecules into the chamber26, e.g. helium or argon, between the plasma formation site28and the collector mirror30. In use, the gas molecules may collide with plasma debris particles (charged or neutral) that are generated at the plasma formation site and directed toward the collector mirror30. These collisions may slow particles and/or deflect the particles into the foil plates182of the debris shield180, protecting the surface of the collector mirror30from debris accumulation.

FIG. 3is a schematic view illustrating another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention in which an electrostatic grid300in combination with one or more magnetic fields, B′, B″ may be used to deflect ions, e.g. ions generated during plasma formation, away from an EUV light source internal component, which for the embodiment shown inFIG. 3is a collector mirror30′ for reflecting EUV light rays192a′–c′to an intermediate focus. Although the system is shown in a configuration to protect a surface of an EUV light source collector mirror30′, it is to be appreciated that the system as described herein can be used to protect other optical elements in the chamber26′ including, but not limited to, the laser input window57′, imaging windows for imagers and/or an input surface of a metrology monitor (not shown).

Structurally, as shown inFIG. 3, the charged grid300may be positioned between a plasma formation site28′ and collector mirror30′ and may function to reduce ion energy (reduce ion speed) as the ions pass through the grid300(see alsoFIG. 4). Also shown, the system may include one or more magnetic sources302a–dto establish one or more magnetic fields B′, B″ between the grid300and collector mirror30′. In some cases, the ions may be slowed sufficiently by the grid such that a moderate magnetic field may be capable of deflecting the slowed ions away from the collector mirror30. Thus, for some implementations, the magnetic sources302a–dmay be energized coil(s), permanent magnet(s) or combinations thereof.

FIG. 3illustrates an exemplary trajectory for an ion304which leaves the plasma formation site28′ on a path directed toward the collector mirror30′. More specifically, the exemplary ion304is initially directed on a trajectory having a non-zero velocity component, v, that is orthogonal to both the magnetic field B′ and the laser axis306(i.e. the ion is traveling out of the plane of the page). As shown, the ion304may pass through the grid300where it is slowed, and then enters a region where the ion interacts with one or more magnetic fields, B′, B″. Under the influence of the magnetic fields, B′ and B″, the ion304is deflected away from the collector mirror30′ in accordance with the well known equation:
F=qv×B
where F is the deflection force, bolded terms represent vector quantities, and q is the ion charge.

FIG. 5illustrates another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention in which a grid300″ may be positioned at a distance, “d”, from a plasma formation site28″. Upon plasma formation, e.g. interaction between a laser pulse and a target, a pulse of electrons400may be emitted from the site28″ traveling at an average velocity ve, followed by a pulse of ions402′ traveling at an average velocity vion, with ve>vion. For a grid300′ at a distance, “d”, from the site28″, the ions402reach the grid300′ after the electrons400and establish a time delay, t, between the electron pulse and the ion pulse at the grid300′.

FIG. 6shows that the grid300′ may be electrically connected to a circuit having a switch404, capacitor406and power supply408. The circuit can maintain a pre-selected voltage on the grid300′, and includes capacitor406that may be coupled through low inductance to the grid300′ and charged up to the desired grid potential. The capacitance of the capacitor406may be selected to tune the circuit to a resonant frequency that may be substantially equal to an inverse of the time delay, t, between the electron pulse and the ion pulse at the grid300′. With this structure, the electric field established by the grid300′ goes through a single cycle at the transit time frequency and the grid300′ may interact with ions402to reduce ion energy. In particular, depending on the grid potential and ion energy, the grid300″ may slow, stop or turn-back the ions402. In one implementation, currents driven in the circuit by the passing, bunched, electrons may be dissipated, and subsequently, the ions404may be slowed by the back EMF of the circuit current. Alternatively, the grid300′ can be driven by an external oscillator with opposite phase such that the energy in the ion pulse is damped out (seeFIG. 6). In this latter case, the switch404may be opened during periods when ions are not present near the grid300′ to reduce shorting between the grid300′ and plasma chamber wall410. A second, grounded grid (not shown) may be positioned near the grid300′ to reduce, and in some cases, eliminate shorting.

Experiments conducted with a grid300′ at an appropriate distance, d, showed Sn ions having an average initial energy of approximately 2.3 KeV were significantly slowed by the grid when the value of the capacitor was in the 0.1 uF range. This corresponds to a resonant frequency of approximately 1 Mhz. In the case where a laser produced plasma is established at the formation site by a pulsed laser source, the circuit may be synchronized with the pulsed laser source. Slowed ions may be deflected away from the internal component by a magnetic field that may be established between the grid and the internal component (SeeFIG. 3). In some cases, the slowed ions can be deflected into a foil trap debris shield (SeeFIGS. 1 and 2).

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the aspects of embodiments of the present invention disclosed above are intended to be preferred embodiments only and not to limit the disclosure of the present invention(s) in any way and particularly not to a specific preferred embodiment alone. Many changes and modification can be made to the disclosed aspects of embodiments of the disclosed invention(s) that will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. The appended claims are intended in scope and meaning to cover not only the disclosed aspects of embodiments of the present invention(s) but also such equivalents and other modifications and changes that would be apparent to those skilled in the art.