A method for a lithography exposing process includes placing a reticle over a reticle stage, generating a light beam by irradiating a droplet by a laser, projecting a first portion of the light beam over a plurality of light permeable protrusions formed on a reflection layer and directing, by the protrusions and the reflection layer, the first portion of the light beam to the reticle.

Described herein are photonic communication platforms that can overcome the memory bottleneck problem, thereby enabling scaling of memory capacity and bandwidth well beyond what is possible with conventional computing systems. Some embodiments provide photonic communication platforms that involve use of photonic modules. Each photonic module includes programmable photonic circuits for placing the module in optical communication with other modules based on the needs of a particular application. The architecture developed by the inventors relies on the use of common photomask sets (or at least one common photomask) to fabricate multiple photonic modules in a single wafer. Photonic modules in multiple wafers can be linked together into a communication platform using optical or electronic means.

A method of generating chip-specific identification code marks on semiconductor chips includes patterning a resist layer over a semiconductor wafer by laser direct image exposure, the patterning including writing chip-specific identification codes into the resist layer over chip areas of the semiconductor wafer. The patterned resist layer is then developed.

A composition for forming a resist underlayer film includes: a solvent; and a polymer containing a unit structure (A) represented by formula (1). The composition is reduced in the amount of sublimated substances that contaminate a device, is improved in the in-plane uniform coatability of a film to be coated thereon, exhibits satisfactory resistance to a chemical solution used in a resist under layer film, and can exhibit other satisfactory properties.

There is provided a manufacturing method for a cured substance, which makes it possible to obtain a cured substance having excellent breaking elongation, a manufacturing method for a laminate, including the manufacturing method for a cured substance, a manufacturing method for a semiconductor device, including the manufacturing method for a cured substance or the manufacturing method for a laminate, and there is provided a treatment liquid that is used in the manufacturing method for a cured substance.

The manufacturing method for a cured substance includes a film forming step of applying a resin composition containing a precursor of a cyclization resin onto a base material to form a film, a treatment step of bringing a treatment liquid into contact with the film, and a heating step of heating the film after the treatment step, in which the treatment liquid contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a basic compound having an amide group and a base generator having an amide group.

According to an embodiment, a wafer (W) includes a layer (EL) to be etched, an organic film (OL), an antireflection film (AL), and a mask (MK1), and a method (MT) according to an embodiment includes a step of performing an etching process on the antireflection film (AL) by using the mask (MK1) with plasma generated in a processing container (12), in the processing container (12) of a plasma processing apparatus (10) in which the wafer (W) is accommodated, and the step includes steps ST3a to ST4 of conformally forming a protective film (SX) on the surface of the mask (MK1), and steps ST6a to ST7 of etching the antireflection film (AL) by removing the antireflection film (AL) for each atomic layer by using the mask (MK1) on which the protective film (SX) is formed.

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes removing a light-sensitive material from a workpiece utilizing polarized electromagnetic radiation and annealing features on the workpiece utilizing electromagnetic radiation polarized in a different direction than the polarized electromagnetic radiation utilized to remove the light-sensitive material. In some embodiments, the electromagnetic radiation used to anneal the features on the workpiece is not polarized. In some described embodiments, light-sensitive material removed from the workpiece is exhausted from the chamber in which the light-sensitive removal process is carried out before it can deposit on surfaces of the chamber.

Provided is an underlayer compound, which improves the resolution and sensitivity of a photoresist layer, restrains the collapse of a photoresist pattern and has improved etching resistance. The underlayer compound includes an alternating copolymer including a repeating unit represented by Formula 1, or an alkylated tin oxide nanocluster having a counter anion.

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for structuring a semiconductor substrate. In one embodiment, a method of substrate structuring includes applying a resist layer to a substrate optionally disposed on a carrier. The resist layer is patterned using ultraviolet radiation or laser ablation. The patterned portions of the resist layer are then transferred onto the substrate by micro-blasting to form desired features in the substrate while unexposed or un-ablated portions of the resist layer shield the rest of the substrate. The substrate is then exposed to an etch process and a de-bonding process to remove the resist layer and release the carrier.

A resist underlayer film forming composition contains a reaction product of an aromatic compound (A) having 6 to 60 carbon atoms and a compound represented by formula (B), and a solvent. (In the formula, X represent an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; Y represents a single bond, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; X and Y may combine with each other to form a ring; and each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms or an aromatic group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms; provided that R.sub.2 is present only in cases where X is a nitrogen atom, and R.sub.4 is present only in cases where Y is a nitrogen atom.)

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