Abstract:
An optical element, especially a normal-incidence collector mirror, for radiation in the EUV and/or soft X-ray region of wavelengths is described. The element has a substrate, a multilayer coating with an optically active region, and a capacitor, having a first and a second capacitor electrode. At least one layer of the multilayer coating serves as the first capacitor electrode. At least one dielectric layer is provided between the two capacitor electrodes. Also described is an optical system with at least one optical element, having a first electrode arranged in the vicinity of the optical element.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/439,854, filed on May 24, 2006, which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/683,879, filed on May 24, 2005 in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention concerns an optical element for radiation in the EUV and/or soft X-ray region of wavelengths with a substrate and with a multilayer coating deposited on the substrate with an outer surface turned toward the incident radiation, having an optically active region. The invention also pertains to a normal-incidence collector mirror and to an optical system with at least one such optical element. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    One of the main problems of lithography with EUV radiation or soft X-rays (wavelengths between, e.g., 1 and 20 nm) is the contamination of the optical elements on a molecular level, especially that of the multilayer mirrors used in lithography devices, such as are known, for example, from DE 100 16 008. This surface degradation leads to reflectivity losses and imaging errors. There are basically two prevailing processes. One process consists of oxidation of the surface, during which the surface becomes irreversibly destroyed. The other process consists in the build-up of carbon. This second process is reversible. 
         [0004]    The degradation of the surface can be caused, among other things, by ions or electrons striking the surface of the optical element. The ions are produced by photoionization of the residual gas atmosphere or the gases introduced for cleaning purposes by the EUV radiation and the soft X-rays. The electrons usually involve secondary electrons escaping under exposure to the radiation. 
         [0005]    The problem of surface degradation by charged particles is further intensified when electrical fields are applied in the region of the optical elements by means of electrodes or grids for monitoring and/or cleaning purposes. A more intense degradation occurs under the resulting bombardment with ions or electrons (depending on the orientation of the electric field). 
         [0006]    The problem of surface degradation is furthermore intensified when the optical element is used with pulsed EUV radiation or soft X-rays. During each pulse of radiation, the mirror surface takes on positive charge, since secondary electrons are induced. In particular, when electric fields are applied in the region of the optical elements, the optical elements will be adversely influenced. Furthermore, the steepness of the edges of the EUV pulses, which lies on the order of magnitude of 10 to 100 ns, can lead to electromagnetic effects, which can have a detrimental impact on the overall layout in which the optical element is being used. 
         [0007]    It is suspected that the charge carriers in nongrounded optical elements on account of the electrical potential created by their escaping from the surface will fall back onto the surface of the optical element. 
         [0008]    From JP 2003124111 A, an optical element with a multilayer coating is known. The secondary electrons arising during the radiation exposure, with an energy of 100 eV, can strike against neighboring optical elements and affect them. In order to intercept these secondary electrons, this known optical element can be grounded, or a potential difference can be imposed between the optical element and the wall of the housing, the wall being connected to the positive pole of a voltage source, and one layer of the multilayer is connected to the negative pole. 
         [0009]    However, it has been found that, in addition to the photoelectrons in the range of 100 eV, lower-energy secondary electrons also occur in the region of 10 eV, making up the larger portion of the secondary electrons, and they cannot be caught quickly enough with such an electrode arrangement. 
         [0010]    Another problem lies in that, when the multilayer coating is grounded in the traditional way, the escaping secondary electrons cannot be replaced fast enough, which may result in an increasing positive charging of the optical element. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    It is therefore the goal of the invention to provide an optical element or an optical system with at least one optical element with which, on the one hand, lowerenergy secondary electrons are caught, and on the other hand the positive charging of the optical element is prevented. 
         [0012]    This goal is accomplished with an optical element according to the claims. The optical element has a capacitor, containing a first and a second capacitor electrode, wherein at least one layer of the multilayer coating is hooked up as the first capacitor electrode and the second capacitor electrode is preferably arranged outside the optically active region on the outer surface of the multilayer coating, and at least one dielectric layer is provided between the second capacitor electrode and the outer surface. 
         [0013]    The capacitor is part of the optical element or it is integrated in the optical element. This capacitive element arranged directly on the optical element has the advantage that the at least one layer of the multilayer coating can be supplied with electrons in a short time when the multilayer coating is positively charged by the escaping of the secondary electrons. 
         [0014]    The multilayer coating, for example, can consist of a stack of Mo—Si layers, of which at least one layer, which can also be the outer layer, is hooked up as the first capacitor electrode. The multilayer coating can be closed off, e.g., by a protective layer against the vacuum, consisting of one or more materials of the group of Ce, Be, SiO, SiC, SiO 2 , Si 2 N 4 , C, Y, MoSi 2 , B, Y 2 O 3 , MoS 2 , B 4 C, BN, Ru x Siy, Zr, Nb, MoC, ZrO 2 , Ru x Moy, Rh x Moy, Rh x Siy. 
         [0015]    Additional multilayer coatings can be constructed as follows: 
         [0000]      Mo—B4C—Si 
         [0000]      Mo—Mo x Si y -Si 
         [0016]    The dielectric layer can consist, for example, of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , or Ta 2 O 5 . 
         [0017]    Preferably, the second capacitor electrode consists of C, Ge, Co, W, Ta, Mo, Ni, Cr, V, Ti, Ir, Ru, Au, Pt and/or Rh and/or their compounds, mixtures and/or alloys. Especially preferred are Au, Pt, Ru and Rh. 
         [0018]    The at least one dielectric layer and the second capacitor electrode arranged thereon can be shaped in the form of a ring. One such capacitor ring encloses the optically active region of the outer surface of the multilayer coating. Preferred thicknesses and widths of such a capacitor ring on the outer surface of the multilayer coating are: thickness 0.1-50 pm, width 0.1-50 mm. 
         [0019]    The capacitance C of the capacitor is preferably S 500 nF, especially 150-400 nF, particularly 250-350 nF. 
         [0020]    The time constant of the capacitor is preferably 10 ps, especially 0.1 to 10 μs, especially 0.5-1.5, especially 1 μs. 
         [0021]    Especially when the optical element is used with pulsed radiation, a capacitor is preferred with a time constant that ensures that a discharging of the optical element can occur between two pulses. Therefore, for radiation pulses in the Megahertz range, time constants &lt;1 μs work well. 
         [0022]    At least one lead wire is provided to the capacitor electrodes, preferably consisting of a so-called “flex foil”. These so-called “flex foils” are characterized in being 0.5-5 cm in width, preferably 1 cm in width, and they have a thickness of 0.05-0.5 mm, preferably 0.1 mm. The “flex foils” make use of the skin effect. At high frequencies, the ohmic resistance remains constant. Very low time constants can be achieved. 
         [0023]    The lead wire preferably has an inductance &lt;5 μH. Especially when using pulsed radiation, it has proven to be beneficial for the lead wire to have a low inductance, which leads to a faster response function of the capacitor, so that the fastest possible discharge can occur. 
         [0024]    The lead wire preferably has an ohmic resistance &lt;100 mΩ. It has been found beneficial for the lead wire to have a low resistance overall, because the replenishment of the electrons can then occur as fast as possible. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the optical element has a voltage source that is hooked up preferably between the capacitor electrodes. 
         [0026]    Preferably at least one capacitor electrode is connected to a switching device, by which the capacitor electrode can be placed at ground, positive potential, or negative potential. By means of the switching device, the capacitor can be set at any desired potential, which is especially advantageous when the optical element is combined with additional electrodes for the intercepting of positively charged ions or higher-energy secondary electrons. 
         [0027]    Preferably the switching device is connected to a control unit, which may have a time switch. In this way, it is possible to perform switching at regular time intervals. 
         [0028]    Between the capacitor electrode and the switching device, at least one measuring device can be arranged. This can be, for example, a current measuring device, in order to measure the current of the captured secondary electrons, or a voltage measuring device. 
         [0029]    One or more optical elements according to the invention can be assembled into an optical system, suitable, for example, for illuminating or projecting, especially of structures being mapped. The optical systems can be used to make lithography machines. With the help of such lithography machines, components can be produced by lithography, using at least one optical element or optical system and EUV radiation or soft X-rays to map structures onto a substrate. 
         [0030]    The optical system is characterized by at least one optical element with capacitor and by at least one electrode, which is arranged in the vicinity of the optical element. Thanks to the first electrode arranged in the vicinity of the optical element, it is possible to intercept rather high-energy secondary electrodes, e.g., those with 100 eV, or also positively charged ions, depending on the established potential. 
         [0031]    The first electrode is preferably a plate, ring or grid arranged in the vicinity of the optical element. 
         [0032]    There can also be provided a second electrode, which is preferably arranged at a further spatial distance from the optical element than the first electrode. Thanks to the combination of at least two electrodes, i.e., at least a first and at least a second electrode, the volume in which a strong electric field exists will be reduced. This also reduces the probability of unwanted effects occurring by virtue of the electric field. 
         [0033]    Preferably, the second electrode is a housing surrounding the optical element and the first electrode is a grid, plate or ring arranged in the vicinity of the optical element. 
         [0034]    The first and/or second electrode also possess lead wires in the form of “flex foils”. The first and/or second electrode can each be connected to a switching device, by which the electrodes can be placed at ground, positive potential or negative potential. The switching devices can be connected to a control unit. At least one measuring device can be provided between the respective electrode and the switching device. 
         [0035]    The optical element(s) are, as mentioned at the outset, mirrors, for example, with a multilayer coating. This includes, in particular, “normal-incidence” collector mirrors, such as those described in WO 2005/031748 AI, whose content is taken up fully in the present application. Such collector mirrors likewise have a multilayer coating to improve the reflection properties. Since they are arranged, of course, especially close to the radiation source, they are also exposed to a correspondingly large risk of contamination. Therefore, the capacitor arrangement of the invention is especially preferable for use with such collector mirrors as well. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]    Sample embodiments of the invention shall be explained more closely hereafter by means of the drawings. These show: 
           [0037]      FIG. 1 , a perspective representation of the optical element, 
           [0038]      FIG. 2 , a vertical cross section through the optical element shown in  FIG. 1  along line A-A, together with a first electrode; 
           [0039]      FIG. 3 , an optical system in schematic representation and 
           [0040]      FIG. 4 , the layout of a lithography system with a black-light collector system, having two normal-incidence collector mirrors according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]      FIG. 1  shows an optical element  1 , having a substrate  2 , on which is placed a multilayer coating in the form of a multilayer pack  3 . On this multilayer pack  3  is provided a protective layer (cap layer)  4 , forming the outer surface of the optical element. 
         [0042]    On the surface  5  of the protective layer  4  is arranged a capacitor ring  10 , consisting of a dielectric layer  11  and an electrically conducting layer  12 . This capacitor ring  10  encloses the optically active surface  6 , which is defined by the beam geometry, as it is characterized by the schematically represented incident rays  7  and reflected rays  8 . The annular margin region between optically active surface  6  and the capacitor ring  10  is the optically inactive surface  9 . 
         [0043]    The multilayer pack  3  with the protective layer  4  forms the first capacitor electrode  25 . The electrically conducting layer  12  forms the second capacitor electrode  26 . Along with the dielectric layer  11 , this forms the capacitor  20 . 
         [0044]    The first capacitor electrode  25  has a first contact element  21 , which in the embodiment shown here extends through the multilayer pack  3  and the protective layer  4 . The second capacitor electrode  26  has a second contact element  23 , which is arranged inside the electrically conducting layer  12 . These contact elements  21 ,  23  are connected via lead wires  22 ,  24  to a voltage source  28 , these lead wires consisting of so-called flex foils. Here, the first contact element  21  is connected to the negative pole and the second contact element  23  to the positive pole of the voltage source  28 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  shows a section through the optical element  1  per  FIG. 1  along line A-A, showing a grid  40  in addition above the optical element  1 , which is connected to a voltage source (not shown) by a lead wire  42 , again in the form of a flex foil. 
         [0046]    Photons (Y i , Y 2 ) strike the surface of the protective layer  4  one after the other, generating secondary electrons. The impact of the first photon y, can create both electrons e′, with low energy (around 10 eV) and high-energy electrons e′ 2  (around 100 eV). These high-energy electrons e′ 2 , if the grid  40  lies at appropriately positive potential, will be captured by this grid and carried away by the lead wire  42 . The low-energy electrons e′ 1  are attracted due to the fact that the second capacitor electrode, which is at positive potential relative to the first capacitor electrode  26 . Due to the creation of the secondary electrons e′ 1  and e′ 2 , the first capacitor electrode  25 , especially the protective layer  4 , becomes positively charged. The electrons needed to equalize the charge are brought up in very short time via the capacitor  20 , so that the original voltage bias is restored, and thus the next photon Y 2  will encounter the same potentials on both capacitor electrodes  25 ,  26 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic representation of an optical system. The first capacitor electrode  25  of the optical element  1  is connected by the lead wire  22  to a switch  30   b , and a measuring device  35   b  is arranged between the optical element  1  and the switch  30   b . The second capacitor electrode  26  is connected by the lead wire  24  to the switch  30   a , and a measuring device  35   a  is likewise arranged in the lead wire  24 . 
         [0048]    Also the first electrode  40  is connected in the same way to a switch  30   c  and a measuring device  35   c . A second electrode  50  in the form of the housing wall  51 , only schematically indicated, is connected by a lead wire  52  to the switch  30   d , and a measuring device  35   d  is provided in the lead wire  52 . All lead wires consist of “flex foils”. 
         [0049]    Each switch makes it possible to set the system at ground, or a negative or positive potential, using the switching elements  31   a, b, c, d . The different potentials are imposed on the leads  32   a - d ,  33   a - d  and  34   a - d.    
         [0050]    All switches  30   a - d  are connected by corresponding lead wires  61 - 64  to a control device  60 . This makes possible a quick switching and, thus, a quick changing of potential on the individual components. 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  shows the typical layout of an EUV lithography system for microlithography, having a black light collector system  102 . 
         [0052]    The schematically simplified representation of the black light collector system  102  shows a first normal-incidence collector mirror CI according to the invention, which thanks to its concave, e.g., parabolic or elliptical configuration, takes up light from the light source  100  and reflects it onto the second normal-incidence collector mirror C 2  according to the invention, which again can have a hyperbolic or ellipsoidal configuration. This second normal-incidence collector mirror C 2  is arranged centered on the first normal-incidence collector mirror CI so that a symmetrical collector system is produced, which projects the light source  100  onto a magnified intermediate image Z. For the radiation exiting from the second normal-incidence collector mirror C 2 , a passageway  108  is made in the first normal-incidence collector mirror CI. Accordingly, light from the light source  100  is taken up by the first normal-incidence collector mirror CI with a first aperture angle and beamed to the second normal-incidence collector mirror C 2  with a second aperture angle. The pencil of rays leaving the second normal-incidence collector mirror C 2  is in turn associated with a third aperture angle. By aperture angle is meant, in the present application, the angle between the marginal ray of a pencil of rays with the maximum beam angle to the optical axis. The aperture angles at the same time define the optically active region of the collector mirrors CI and C 2 . Under the vacuum conditions prevailing during EUV irradiation, the numerical aperture then results from the sine of the aperture angle. 
         [0053]    The collector mirror CI is constructed from a multilayer coating, like the optical element  1  from  FIG. 1 . As in that case, a capacitor ring  110  is located on a protective layer (not shown), consisting in turn of a dielectric layer  111  and an electrically conducting region  112 . This capacitor ring  110  encloses the optically active surface of the collector, so that it is arranged completely outside of the first and second aperture angle, as is indicated by the schematically represented incident and reflected rays. 
         [0054]    In similar fashion, the second normal-incidence collector mirror C 2  is also provided with a multilayer coating and a capacitor ring arranged on its protective layer. For reasons of scale, neither of these is discernible in the figure. Once again, the capacitor ring of the collector C 2  surrounds the optical surface defined by the beam geometry, so that neither the second nor the third aperture angle is affected by it. 
         [0055]    Furthermore,  FIG. 4  shows optical components of an illumination system in the light path proceeding from a light source  100  to an illuminated plane, known as the field plane  113 , as well as the projection lens  126  of a projection illumination system. 
         [0056]    The forming of an intermediate image Z of the light source  100  is advantageous, since it allows the light source  100  and the collector system  102  to be contained in a compartment atmospherically removed from the downstream system. Such a compartment is sketched in  FIG. 4  and designated as  101 . Furthermore, thanks to the forming of the intermediate image Z of the light source  100 , it is possible to include a diaphragm  114  in the beam path, interacting with a grating type spectral filter, for example, for a spectral filtering of the illumination. 
         [0057]    Furthermore,  FIG. 4  shows the optical components of the illumination system that are arranged downstream from the invented collector system  102  in the light path from the light source  100  to the illuminated field plane  113 , as well as the projection lens  126 . Specifically,  FIG. 4  shows: a reticle or mask  104  is positioned in the field plane  113  of a projection illumination system and projected by means of a reducing optics  126  onto its image plane  130 , in which there is typically located a wafer  106  provided with a photosensitive material.  FIG. 4  shows, for example, a projection lens consisting of six individual mirrors  128 . 1  to  128 . 6 , as follows for example from U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,552, whose full content is taken up in the present application. Moreover, there is sketched an ideally telecentric illumination of the image plane  130 , i.e., the principal ray of a pencil of rays, proceeding from a field point of the field plane  113 , intersects the image plane  130  perpendicularly. Moreover, the projection lens  126  has an entry pupil, which generally coincides with the exit pupil of the illumination system. 
         [0058]      FIG. 4  shows, moreover, the typical layout of an EUV illumination system, which is designed as a double-facetted lighting system per U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,793 B1, the content of this document being taken up fully into the present application. Such a system comprises a first optical element with first screen elements  103 , also known as a field facet mirror  103 . Coming next in the ray path is a second optical element with second screen elements  106 , usually called a pupil facet mirror  106 . 
         [0059]    Field and pupil facet mirror  103 ,  105  serve to illuminate a field in the field plane  113 , and also to form the illumination in the exit pupil of the illumination system. The action of each field honeycomb is such that it forms an image of the light source  100 , and the plurality of field facets forms a plurality of so-called secondary light sources. The secondary light sources are formed in or near the plane in which the pupil facet mirror  105  is arranged. Since, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the secondary light sources come to lie in the region of the pupil facet mirror  105 , the field facets themselves can have an optical effect, for example, a collecting optical effect. The optical elements further downstream will project these secondary light sources as a tertiary light source into the exit pupil of the illumination system. 
         [0060]    Moreover, each field honeycomb will be projected into the field plane  113  by the facets of the pupil facet mirror  105  and the further downstream optical elements of the second optical component  107 , which in the example of  FIG. 4  consist of the three optical elements of the first reflective optical element  119 , the second reflective optical element  121  and the grazing-incidence mirror  123 . The images of the field facets which are superimposed here serve to illuminate a mask  104  in the field plane  113 , and typically rectangular or arc-shaped field facets will produce an illumination in the field plane  113  in the form of a segment of an annular field. In general, the microlithography system is designed as a scanning system, so that the mask  104  in the field plane  113  and a wafer  106  in the image plane  130  move in synchronization to accomplish an illumination or an exposure. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  optical element 
           2  substrate 
           3  multilayer pack 
           4  cap layer 
           5  surface of the cap layer 
           6  optically active surface 
           7  incident beam 
           8  reflected beam 
           9  optically inactive surface 
           10  capacitor ring 
           11  dielectric layer 
           12  electrically conducting layer 
           20  capacitor 
           21  first contact element 
           22  lead wire 
           23  second contact element 
           24  lead wire 
           25  first capacitor electrode 
           26  second capacitor electrode 
           30   a - d  switching device 
           31   a - d  switch 
           32   a - d  positive potential lead 
           33   a - d  negative potential lead 
           34   a - d  mass lead 
           35   a - d  measuring device 
           40  grid 
           42  lead wire 
           50  second electrode 
           51  housing wall 
           52  lead wire 
           60  control device 
           61  connection wire 
           62  connection wire 
           63  connection wire 
           64  connection wire 
           100  light source 
           101  compartment for containing the light source  100  and the collector system  102   
           102  collector system 
           103  first optical element with first screen elements (field facet mirror) 
           104  mask carrying the structure 
           105  second optical element with first screen elements (pupil facet mirror) 
           106  wafer provided with a photosensitive material 
           107  second optical component 
           108  passageway in the first normal-incidence mirror 
           110  capacitor ring 
           111  dielectric layer 
           112  electrically conducting layer 
           113  field plane 
           114  diaphragm 
           119  first reflective optical element 
           121  second reflective optical element 
           123  grazing-incidence mirror 
           126  projection lens 
           128 . 1 ,  128 . 2 ,  128 . 3 ,  128 . 4 ,  128 . 5 ,  128 . 6  mirrors of the projection lens 
           130  image plane 
         CI first normal-incidence collector mirror 
         C 2  second normal-incidence collector mirror