There is provided an ion milling apparatus that can enhance reproducibility of ion distribution.

The ion milling apparatus includes an ion source 101, a sample stage 102 on which a sample processed by radiating a non-convergent ion beam from the ion source 101 is placed, a drive unit 107 that moves a measurement member holding section 106 holding an ion beam current measurement member 105 along a track located between the ion source and the sample stage, and an electrode 112 that is disposed near the track, in which a predetermined positive voltage is applied to the electrode 112, the ion beam current measurement member 105 is moved within a radiation range of the ion beam by the drive unit 107, in a state in which the ion beam is output from the ion source 101 under a first radiation condition, and an ion beam current that flows when the ion beam is radiated to the ion beam current measurement member 105 is measured.

An ion collector includes a plurality of segments and a plurality of integrators. The plurality of segments are physically separated from one another and spaced around a substrate support. Each of the segments includes a conductive element that is designed to conduct a current based on ions received from a plasma. Each of the plurality of integrators is coupled to a corresponding conductive element. Each of the plurality of integrators is designed to determine an ion distribution for a corresponding conductive element based, at least in part, on the current conducted at the corresponding conductive element. An example benefit of this embodiment includes the ability to determine how uniform the ion distribution is across a wafer being processed by the plasma.

A reference image is generated based on an illumination condition and element information of a specimen. The reference image includes a figure indicating a characteristic X-ray generation range, a numerical value indicating a characteristic X-ray generation depth, or the like. The reference image changes with a change of an accelerating voltage, a tilt angle, or an element forming the specimen. The reference image may include a figure indicating a landing electron scattering range, a figure indicating a back-scattered electron generation range, or the like.

Apparatus and methods for adjusting beam condition of charged particles are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, the apparatus includes one or more first multipole lenses displaced above an aperture, the one or more first multipole lenses being configured to adjust a beam current of a charged-particle beam passing through the aperture. The apparatus also includes one or more second multipole lenses displaced below the aperture, the one or more second multipole lenses being configured to adjust at least one of a spot size and a spot shape of the beam.

A model-based control method includes: (a) acquiring temperature control data including temperature data of each of a plurality of zones of a temperature control member provided in a processing apparatus, temperature of each of the plurality of zones being individually controllable; (b) for each zone, specifying a temperature of another zone that is weight-averaged by a weighting coefficient determined according to a magnitude of heat transfer with the another zone; (c) for each zone, specifying a parameter of a state-space model of multi-input/single-output using the specified temperature of the another zone and the temperature control data; (d) creating a state-space model of multi-input/multi-output by assigning the specified parameter of the state-space model of multi-input/single-output to each element of the state-space model of multi-input/multi-output; and (e) controlling the temperature of each of the plurality of zones of the temperature control member using the state-space model of multi-input/multi-output.

A system and method for controlling an amount of outgassing caused by implanting ions into a photoresist disposed on a workpiece. The amount of outgassing is based on the species being implanted, the type of photoresist, the energy of the implant, and the amount of dose that has already been implanted, among other effects. By controlling the effective beam current, the amount of outgassing may be maintained below a predetermined threshold. By developing and utilizing the relationship between effective beam current, dose completed and rate of outgassing, the effective beam current may be controlled more precisely to implant the workpiece in the most efficient manner while remaining below the predetermined outgassing threshold.

This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatuses for a two-stage solid state match having a load side and a source side; a first coarse stage and a second precision stage, wherein the first coarse stage is coupled between the second precision stage and the load side, and wherein the second precision stage is coupled between the source side and an input of the first coarse stage; the coarse first stage comprising at least one switched variable reactance element, wherein the coarse first stage is configured to map a load impedance connected to the load side to a first number of intermediate impedances at the input of the first coarse stage; and wherein the second precision stage is configured to map at least one of the intermediate impedances to a second number of input impedances at the source side.

A particle beam system includes: a particle source to generate a beam of charged particles; a first multi-lens array including a first multiplicity of individually adjustable and focusing particle lenses so that at least some of the particles pass through openings in the multi-lens array in the form of a plurality of individual particle beams; a second multi-aperture plate including a multiplicity of second openings downstream of the first multi-lens array so that some of the particles which pass the first multi-lens array impinge on the second multi-aperture plate and some of the particles which pass the first multi-lens array pass through the openings in the second multi-aperture plate; and a controller configured to supply an individually adjustable voltage to the particle lenses of the first multi-lens array and thus individually adjust the focusing of the associated particle lens for each individual particle beam.

An inspection method is provided. The inspection method includes monitoring power of a reflected wave of a power wave supplied from a source power supply for generation of plasma in a plasma processing apparatus, and obtaining a fluctuation amount of a measured value within a period after initiation of the supply of the power wave. The fluctuation amount of the measured value is a fluctuation amount indicating a fluctuation in a peak-to-peak voltage at a lower electrode of the substrate support in the chamber or a fluctuation amount indicating a fluctuation in impedance of a load including the lower electrode.

A method for achieving uniformity in an etch rate is described. The method includes receiving a voltage signal from an output of a match, and determining a positive crossing and a negative crossing of the voltage signal for each cycle of the voltage signal. The negative crossing of each cycle is consecutive to the positive crossing of the cycle. The method further includes dividing a time interval of each cycle of the voltage signal into a plurality of bins. For one or more of the plurality of bins associated with the positive crossing and one or more of the plurality of bins associated with the negative crossing, the method includes adjusting a frequency of a radio frequency generator to achieve the uniformity in the etch rate.