The Babinet’s principle is a general theorem that holds for electromagnetic waves and is often applied to diffraction of light. Diffraction pattern of a body and that of the complement body are compared and the sum of both radiation patterns must be the same as for an unobstructed beam. In most cases of practical applications light fields are measured by recording the intensity and is limited by a numerical aperture smaller than one. In our contribution we study amplitude and phase behind amplitude structures. We demonstrate using the example of Talbot images what happens in experiments that try to use the Babinet’s principle to understand diffraction patterns for small periodic structures. Of particular interest is the regime close to the structure, the so-called Fresnel diffraction regime. We present results of simulation and measurement to show the impact of a limited numerical aperture
Shaping of light behind masks using different techniques is the milestone of the printing industry. The aerial image distribution or the intensity distribution at the printing distances defines the resolution of the structure after printing. Contrast and phase are the two parameters that play a major role in shaping of light to get the desired intensity pattern. Here, in contrast to many other contributions that focus on intensity, we discuss the phase evolution for different structures. The amplitude or intensity characteristics of the structures in a binary mask at different proximity gaps have been analyzed extensively for many industrial applications. But the phase evolution from the binary mask having OPC structures is not considered so far. The mask we consider here is the normal amplitude binary mask but having high resolution Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) structures for corners. The corner structures represent a two dimensional problem which is difficult to handle with simple rules of phase masks design and therefore of particular interest. The evolution of light from small amplitude structures might lead to high contrast by creating sharp phase changes or phase singularities which are points of zero intensity. We show the phase modulation at different proximity gaps and can visualize the shaping of light according to the phase changes. The analysis is done with an instrument called High Resolution Interference Microscopy (HRIM), a Mach-Zehnder interferometer that gives access to three-dimensional phase and amplitude images. The current paper emphasizes on the phase measurement of different optical proximity correction structures, and especially on corners of a binary mask.
Microstructures can be used to realize repetitive and singular high contrast features at different distances behind a
structure. For practical applications, the amplitude field needs to be considered. To realize defined amplitude features at
long distances behind the surface of reference, the phase of the light field plays a crucial role. The highest contrast can be
reached if phase singularities (or phase jumps) can be used because at the positions of their appearance in space the
intensity becomes zero. In practice, it is important to identify cases where phase singularities can be designed in position
in space. As a first example, we will discuss the case of phase fields produced by Talbot light carpets for wavelength-scale
amplitude gratings. Such systems are used today in lithography to print small repetitive structures. For arbitrary
structures to be printed, different design strategies are necessary. As a second example we will discuss the case of rule
based design phase mask technique to realize high-resolution prints at proximity. In such a case phase singularities are
created at the phase level and can be found still at long distances, which leads to high contrast modulation far behind the
microstructure. An interesting situation appears when a fully optimized diffractive optical structure is used to create
particular amplitude fields at defined proximity distances. We will discuss the appearance of phase singularities behind
the structure in such a case and give details of their behavior at long proximity distances.
We try to find out the details of how light fields behind the structures of photomasks develop in order to determine the best conditions and designs for proximity printing. The parameters that we use approach real situations like structure printing at proximity gaps of 20 to 50 μm and structure sizes down to 2 μm. This is the first time that an experimental analysis of light propagation through a mask is presented in detail, which includes information on intensity and phase. We use high-resolution interference microscopy (HRIM) for the measurement. HRIM is a Mach–Zehnder interferometer, which is capable of recording three-dimensional distributions of intensity and phase with diffraction-limited resolution. Our characterization technique allows plotting the evolution of the desired light field, usually called the aerial image, and therefore gives access to the printable structure until the desired proximity gap. Here, we discuss in detail the evolution of intensity and phase fields of elbow or corner structures at different positions behind a phase mask and interpret the main parameters. Of particular interest are tolerances against proximity gap variation and the theoretical explanation of the resolution in printed structures.
The proximity printing industry is in real need of high resolution results and it can be done using Phase Shift Mask (PSM) or by applying Optical Proximity Correction (OPC). In our research we are trying to find out details of how light fields behind the structures of photo masks develop in order to determine the best conditions and designs for proximity printing. We focus here on parameters that are used in real situation with gaps up to 50 μm and structure sizes down to 2 μm. The light field evolution behind the structures is studied and delivers insight in to precisions and tolerances that need to be respected. It is the first time that an experimental analysis of light propagation through mask is presented in detail, which includes information on intensity and phase. The instrument we use is known as High Resolution Interference Microscopy (HRIM). HRIM is a Mach-Zehnder interferometer which is capable of recording three dimensional distributions of intensity and phase with diffraction limited resolution. Our characterization technique allows plotting the evolution of the desired light field and therefore printable structure till the desired proximity gap. In this paper we discuss in detail the evolution of intensity and phase fields of elbow or corner structure at different position behind a phase mask and interpret the main parameters. Of particular interest are tolerances against proximity gap variation and the resolution in printed structures.
Proximity exposure techniques in lithography are getting more and more popular because of the cost of ownership
advantage of mask aligners compared to projection systems. In this paper a gap between simulation and the final result,
the prints will be closed. We compare high resolution measurements of intensity field behind amplitude masks with
proximity correction structures with simulations gain insight in limitation of proximity lithography. The final goal is to
develop techniques that allow enhancing the resolution by using advanced optical correction structures. The correction
structures are designed with Layout Lab (GenISys GmbH), prints are done and characterized and the results are compared
with measured light intensity distributions. The light intensity distributions behind the mask are recorded using a High
Resolution Interference Microscopy (HRIM). We concentrate on an example study of edge slope improvement and we
explore possibilities of improved parameters like edge slope at different proximity distances. Simulations and
measurements are compared and discussed.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.