Patent Number: 
Section: description

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Reference to the xe2x80x9creflective surfacexe2x80x9d is understood to include the reflective surface of the EUV reflective mask, including Si/Mo multilayer reflective masks, as well as the reflective surface of the EUV mirror, including Si/Mo multilayer mirrors. The embodiments in accordance with the present invention apply to both EUV reflective masks and mirrors, which are hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9creflective components.xe2x80x9d Embodiments in accordance with the present invention involve providing a charge to the particles and moving them away from the reflective surface by electrostatic elements. FIG. 2 is a side view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. An electron source 30 and one or more electrostatic elements 34 are positioned above the reflective surface 17 of the reflective component 11. The electron source 30 is adapted to shower electrons 31 onto the particles 20 in an area above the reflective surface 17 and on the reflective surface 17 to provide a negative charge to the particles 20. The electrostatic elements 34 are adapted to provide an attractive electrostatic charge, in this embodiment, a positive charge, to attract the negatively charged particles 20 off of and away from the reflective surface 17. Configurations of the electrostatic elements 34 include, but not limited to, solid plates and charged screens. Depending on the specific EUV reflective component 11 configuration, one or more electron sources 30 are required to completely shower the reflective surface 17 with electrons 31. For the sake of simplicity, FIG. 2 only shows one electron source 30. The type of electron source 30 is unimportant, so long as it can operate continuously in the vacuum atmosphere of the EUV system and does not deposit material upon the reflective surface 17. In order to shower the reflective surface 17 with electrons 31, the electron source 30 must be electrically biased, with an electron source voltage 38, sufficiently negative relative to the reflective surface 17 in order to drive the electrons toward the reflective surface 17. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the reflective surface 17 is provided with an electrical bias with a reflective surface voltage source 37 that attracts the electrons 31 from the electron source 30. The electron source 30 provides the particles 20 with an overall negative charge via electron 31 bombardment. Care must be taken so as to not cause damage to the reflective surface 17. Care must also be taken to prevent the charging of the reflective component 11 to an excessive level, which could result in an electrostatic discharge between the reflective component 11 and its surroundings. Incoming EV radiation 32 will generate secondary electrons at the reflective surface 17. However, the ability to electrically bias the electron source 30 provides control to overcome any detrimental effect. In another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the electrostatic mounting chuck 18 is biased with a voltage source 36 to overcome any detrimental effect of the secondary electrons. Once the reflective surface 17 and the particles 20 have been charged with electrons 31, the electron source 30 is turned off in preparation for the electrostatic elements 34 to attract the particles 20. FIG. 3 is a side view of an apparatus to attract particles 20, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The electrostatic elements 34 are adapted to provide a positive electrical bias relative to the reflective surface 17. This positive bias draws the negatively charged particles 20 toward the electrostatic elements 34. As is the case with the electron source 30, one or more electrostatic elements 34 are required, although for simplicity, two are shown. In another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the reflective surface 17 is adapted to be biased negatively, such that, along with the positive bias of the electrostatic elements 34, the negatively charged particles 20 are driven off of the reflective surface 17 and toward the electrostatic elements 34. The electrostatic elements 34 are located directly above the reflective surface 17. In another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the electron source 30 and electrostatic elements 34 are located to the side of the reflective surface 17. Careful placement of the electrostatic elements 34 allows for the particles 20 that are repelled from the reflective surface 17 to be carried out of the vicinity of the reflective surface 17, allowing for disposal. In addition, care must be taken when altering the electrostatic chuck voltage 36 applied to the electrostatic chuck 18 to drive particles 20 off the reflective surface 17. The discharge voltage step must be long enough to ensure the particles 20 are driven off the reflective surface 17 but not so long that the reflective surface 17 shifts on the chuck 18. This is not commonly an issue, since small particles 20 on the reflective surface 17 would react much faster to changes in the electric field than would the much larger reflective component 11. In another embodiment of the present invention, in the event that excessive negative charge builds-up on the surface of the reflective surface 17, an ionized gas such as helium or argon is blown over the reflective surface 17 to dissipate the charge. The embodiments also provide for the removal of particles 20 in the gas phase above the reflective surfaces 17 and also from the reflective surfaces 17. Gas phase species struck by the electrons 31 would also be attracted towards the electrostatic element 34, assuming the ionization process results in a positive ion. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention use an electron source 30 to charge particles 20 found on the reflective surface 17. Once charged, the particles 20 are removed by providing an appropriate electrostatic field by the electrostatic elements 34. The embodiments do not require the flowing of reactive process gasses, which could absorb or distort the reflective surface 17. The embodiments do not require the particles 20 to be polarizable In another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the reflective surface 17 and the electrostatic elements 34 are adapted to have a negative charge to attract and remove positively charged particles 20 from the reflective surface 17. In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, an EUV system is provided having a contamination control apparatus adjacent the EUV reflective mask 10. In another embodiment, one or more EUV mirrors of the EUV system are also provided with a contamination control apparatus adjacent the EUV mirror. A method for the control and removal of particulate contamination in accordance with the present invention, comprises: providing an electric charge to particles on and around the reflective component; and attracting the charged particles to electrostatic elements. In another embodiment, providing an electric charge to particles on and around the reflective component comprises showering the reflective surface and surrounding area with electrons from an electron source. In another embodiment, attracting the particles to electrostatic elements comprises electrically biasing electrostatic elements with a positive charge to attract the negatively charged particles. In another embodiment, attracting the particles to electrostatic elements further comprises electrically biasing the reflective surface to repel the particles away from the reflective surface. In the above embodiments, the electron source does not operate simultaneously with the electrostatic elements as the electrons will be attracted to the electrostatic elements without charging the particles. The methods above illustrate a single particle charge/discharge cycle. The charge/discharge cycling could be performed before, during and/or after wafer processing. The optimal voltage settings and cycle times would be dependent on the exact configuration of the EUV system and reflective surface. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.