A method for optical inspection includes illuminating a patterned polymer layer on a semiconductor wafer with optical radiation over a range of infrared wavelengths, measuring spectral properties of the optical radiation reflected from multiple points on the patterned polymer layer over the range of infrared wavelengths, and based on the measured spectral properties, computing a complex refractive index of the patterned polymer layer.

A film forming method includes: a first measurement process of measuring a substrate on which a pattern including recesses is formed using infrared spectroscopy; a film formation process of forming a film on the substrate after the first measurement process; a second measurement process of measuring the substrate using infrared spectroscopy after the film formation process; and an extraction process of extracting difference data between measurement data obtained in the first measurement process and measurement data obtained in the second measurement process.

Methods and apparatus for the in-situ measurement of metrology parameters are disclosed herein. Some embodiments of the disclosure further provide for the real-time adjustment of process parameters based on the measure metrology parameters. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide for a multi-stage processing chamber top plate with one or more sensors between process stations.

A structure of thermal stress release of photo-excited thermal infrared emitter includes a substrate, a VCSEL unit, a frame, and a layered structure. The VCSEL unit has a small emission angle disposed on a portion of the substrate. The frame is disposed on the substrate, and has an interior side wall inclinedly extended upwardly to form a cavity in which the portion of the substrate is to be exposed. The layered structure is above the VCSEL unit and includes a first light-transparent passivation layer, a light absorbing and thermal infrared emitting layer, and a second light-transparent passivation layer formed in sequence for chemical protection. The light absorbing and thermal infrared emitting absorbs light emitted from the VCSEL unit to generate infrared radiation, and has a layout geometry of reticulated mosaic size such that thermal expansion mismatch and induced stress are minimized without accumulation due to small reticulated mosaic size.

A system includes a light source, a Fourier transform infrared reflectometer (FTIR) spectrometer, and broadband reflectometer optics. The system is configured to measure polarized light and unpolarized reflectivities in a wavelength range from 2 μm to 20 μm. The light source can be a laser-driven light source. The spectroscopic reflectometer can include a single channel or two channels.

Provided is a method for measuring interstitial oxygen concentration in a silicon wafer easily and sensitively using FT-IR. The invention provides a method for measuring an extremely low oxygen concentration of <1.0×10.sup.16 atoms/cm.sup.3 in a single-crystal silicon wafer, the method comprising: step 1 of forming a SiO.sub.2 film, nitride film or PE film on each of a measurement wafer, interstitial-oxygen-free reference wafer and standard wafer with known interstitial oxygen concentration; step 2 of measuring IR spectra of the three wafers; step 3 of determining a difference transmission spectrum from the IR spectrum of measurement wafer and that of reference wafer and determining the intensity of an absorption peak corresponding to interstitial oxygen; and step 4 of comparing the peak intensity of the interstitial oxygen and that of standard wafer and calculating the interstitial oxygen concentration in measurement wafer from ratio to the interstitial oxygen concentration of standard wafer.

A laser system includes a nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal, wherein the NLO crystal is annealed within a selected temperature range. The NLO crystal is passivated with at least one of hydrogen, deuterium, a hydrogen-containing compound or a deuterium-containing compound to a selected passivation level. The system further includes at least one light source, wherein at least one light source is configured to generate light of a selected wavelength and at least one light source is configured to transmit light through the NLO crystal. The system further includes a crystal housing unit configured to house the NLO crystal.

A hybrid probe includes a probe body including a wiring and extending in a first direction; and a probe tip coupled to the probe body and including a first antenna, a second antenna, and an isolation layer. The hybrid probe may operate in a reflection mode using the first antenna and the second antenna, and operate in a transmission mode using the second antenna.

Provided is a method for measuring interstitial oxygen concentration in a silicon wafer easily and sensitively using FT-IR. The invention provides a method for measuring an extremely low oxygen concentration of <1.0×10.sup.16 atoms/cm.sup.3 in a single-crystal silicon wafer, the method comprising: step 1 of forming a SiO.sub.2 film, nitride film or PE film on each of a measurement wafer, interstitial-oxygen-free reference wafer and standard wafer with known interstitial oxygen concentration; step 2 of measuring IR spectra of the three wafers; step 3 of determining a difference transmission spectrum from the IR spectrum of measurement wafer and that of reference wafer and determining the intensity of an absorption peak corresponding to interstitial oxygen; and step 4 of comparing the peak intensity of the interstitial oxygen and that of standard wafer and calculating the interstitial oxygen concentration in measurement wafer from ratio to the interstitial oxygen concentration of standard wafer.

A calibration method includes: acquiring eight error models obtained after a preliminary calibration of a Terahertz frequency band system; based on the eight error models, determining a first mathematical model according to a first S parameter related to a first calibration piece, the first mathematical model comprising parallel crosstalk terms between probes, and determining a second mathematical model according to a second S parameter related to a second calibration piece, the second mathematical model comprising series crosstalk terms between the probes; determining a third mathematical model according to a third S parameter related to a measured piece; and solving and obtaining a Z parameter of the measured piece based on the first mathematical model, the second mathematical model and the third mathematical model, and acquiring an S parameter of the measured piece according to the Z parameter of the measured piece.