Method and apparatus for improved and efficient spacer assisted lithography-etch-lithography etch (SALELE) processes that utilize a spin-on-material layer, where the spin-on-material layer fills gaps between spacers to protect line-end to line-end spaces created by a cut shape. The method and structures also include a final resist layer with varying critical dimensions (CDs). The use of the spin-on-material enables back end of line (BEOL) metal designs with continuous line-end to line-end spacing above a minimum that can be patterned with a cut mask and spacer only process.

A composition for forming an organic film, including: a compound represented by the following general formula (1); and an organic solvent, wherein in the general formula (1), X represents any one group of X1 to X3 represented by the following general formulae (2), (3), and (5), and two or more kinds of X are optionally used in combination, wherein in the general formula (3), W represents a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom; “n1” represents 0 or 1; “n2” represents an integer of 1 to 3; and R.sub.1 independently represents any one of groups represented by the following general formula (4), and wherein in the general formula (5), R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and R.sub.3 represents any one of the following groups.

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An optical device manufacturing method and an optical device manufacturing apparatus using local etching are characterized in that in a wafer process of manufacturing a waveguide type optical device including a light-propagating core and a cladding, a nozzle which locally performs etching processing is used for movement, and a slanted end surface at an arbitrary angle, an end surface having a curved shape, or a core having a varying film thickness is formed in an arbitrary position on the wafer. A slanted end surface is formed at an optical waveguide end using local etching, for example, a 45° reflective mirror, a light-condensing nonplanar reflective mirror, or a film thickness controlled core is implemented, and high-efficiency optical connection is realized.

A novel salt having an amide bond in its anion structure is provided. A chemically amplified resist composition comprising the salt has advantages including minimal defects and improved values of sensitivity, LWR, MEF and CDU, when processed by lithography using high-energy radiation such as KrF excimer laser, ArF excimer laser, EB or EUV.

A set of tracking devices can be placed within a geographic area as part of a scavenger hunt. A user with a mobile device can traverse the area, and when the user moves within a threshold proximity or communicative range of a tracking device, the mobile device can receive a communication from the tracking device identifying the tracking device. In response to determining that the tracking device is part of the set of tracking devices and thus part of the scavenger hunt, the mobile device can modify a tracking device interface displaying a representation of the tracking device to indicate that the tracking device has been found. In response to each tracking device being found, the mobile device can modify the tracking device interface to indicate that the scavenger hunt has been completed.

A pattern forming material according to an embodiment is a pattern forming material comprising a polymer composed of a plurality of monomer units bonded to each other. Each of the monomer units includes an ester structure having a first carbonyl group and at least one second carbonyl group bonded to the ester structure. A second carbonyl group farthest from a main chain of the polymer constituting the pattern forming material among second carbonyl groups is in a linear chain state.

A chemical supply structure includes a bar-shaped body having a plurality of chemical reservoirs in which a plurality of chemicals is individually stored such that the body partially crosses an underlying substrate, a bar-shaped nozzle protruded from a bottom surface of the body and injecting injection chemicals onto the substrate, a plurality of the chemicals being mixed into the injection chemicals, and a hydrophobic unit arranged on the bottom surface of the body and on a side surface of the nozzle such that a mixed solution mixed with the injection chemicals is prevented from adhering to the bottom surface and the side surface by controlling a contact angle of the mixed solution with respect to the bottom surface and the side surface.

An example flow cell includes a multi-layer stack including a transparent base support; a patterned sacrificial layer over the transparent base support; and a transparent layer over the patterned sacrificial layer. The flow cell further includes first and second functionalized layers over different portions of the transparent layer, wherein at least one of the first and second functionalized layers aligns with a pattern of the patterned sacrificial layer; and first and second primer sets respectively attached to the first and second functionalized layer.

A magnetic recording write head includes a spin torque oscillator (STO) between a seed layer disposed on a write pole and trailing shield. The seed layer has a cross-track width greater than the width of the STO and a depth in a direction orthogonal to the disk-facing surface of the write pole greater than the depth of the STO. A first insulating refill layer is formed on the sides of the seed layer and STO, and a second insulating refill layer in contact with the first refill layer has a thermal conductivity greater than that of the first refill layer. When current is passing through the STO, the seed layer spreads the current to reduce heating of the write pole and STO, and the bilayer refill material facilitates the transfer of heat away from the write pole and STO.

A method for etching a light absorbing material permits directly writing a pattern of etching of silicon nitride and other light absorbing materials, without the need of a lithographic mask, and allows the creation of etched features of less than one micron in size. The method can be used for etching deposited silicon nitride films, freestanding silicon nitride membranes, and other light absorbing materials, with control over the thickness achieved by optical feedback. The etching is promoted by solvents including electron donor species, such as chloride ions. The method provides the ability to etch silicon nitride and other light absorbing materials, with fine spatial and etch rate control, in mild conditions, including in a biocompatible environment. The method can be used to create nanopores and nanopore arrays.