X-ray metrology system with broadband laser produced plasma illuminator

Abstract

Methods and systems for x-ray based semiconductor metrology utilizing a broadband, soft X-ray illumination source are described herein. A laser produced plasma (LPP) light source generates high brightness, broadband, soft x-ray illumination. The LPP light source directs a highly focused, short duration laser source to a non-metallic droplet target in a liquid or solid state. In one example, a droplet generator dispenses a sequence of nominally 50 micron droplets of feed material at a rate between 50 and 400 kilohertz. In one aspect, the duration of each pulse of excitation light is less than one nanosecond. In some embodiments, the duration of each pulse of excitation light is less than 0.5 nanoseconds. In some embodiments, the LPP light source includes a gas separation system that separates unspent feed material from other gases in the plasma chamber and provides the separated feed material back to the droplet generator.

Claims

1. A laser produced plasma light source, comprising: a plasma chamber having at least one wall operable in part to contain a flow of buffer gas within the plasma chamber; a droplet generator that dispenses a sequence of droplets of a non-metallic feed material in a solid or liquid state into the plasma chamber; and a pulsed laser that generates a pulse of excitation light directed to a droplet of the feed material in the plasma chamber, the pulse of excitation light having a duration of less than one nanosecond, wherein the interaction of the pulse of excitation light with the droplet of the feed material causes the droplet to ionize to form a plasma that emits an illumination light, wherein the illumination light comprises broadband light in a spectral region from about 1 nanometer to about 20 nanometers, wherein the illumination light is useable to illuminate a specimen under measurement.

2. The laser produced plasma light source of claim 1, further comprising: a gas recycling system configured to separate an amount of the feed material from the buffer gas and provide the amount of feed material to the droplet generator.

3. The laser produced plasma light source of claim 2, the gas recycling system comprising: at least one cryogenic chamber to separate the amount of feed material from a portion of the buffer gas; and a distillation column to separate the amount of feed material from a residual portion of the buffer gas.

4. The laser produced plasma light source of claim 3, wherein the portion of the buffer gas is provided to the plasma chamber.

5. The laser produced plasma light source of claim 1, wherein the buffer gas is helium or hydrogen.

6. The laser produced plasma light source of claim 1, wherein a distance from a window of the plasma chamber and the plasma is at least 10 centimeters.

7. The laser produced plasma light source of claim 1, wherein each of the sequence of droplets of the feed material is less than 200 micrometers in diameter.

8. The laser produced plasma light source of claim 1, wherein the feed material is any of Xenon, Krypton, Argon, Neon, and Nitrogen.

9. The laser produced plasma light source of claim 1, wherein a brightness of the plasma is greater than 10.sup.14 photons/(sec).Math.(mm2).Math.(mrad2).

10. The laser produced plasma light source of claim 1, wherein the spot size of the plasma is less than 10 micrometers.

11. The laser produced plasma light source of claim 1, further comprising: a collector that gathers an amount of the illumination light emitted by the plasma and directs the amount of illumination light through a window of the plasma chamber.

12. A metrology system comprising: a laser produced plasma light source comprising: a plasma chamber having at least one wall operable in part to contain a flow of buffer gas within the plasma chamber; a droplet generator that dispenses a sequence of droplets of a non-metallic feed material in a solid or liquid state into the plasma chamber; a pulsed laser that generates a pulse of excitation light directed to a droplet of the feed material in the plasma chamber, the pulse of excitation light having a duration of less than one nanosecond, wherein the interaction of the pulse of excitation light with the droplet of the feed material causes the droplet to ionize to form a plasma that emits an illumination light, wherein the illumination light comprises broadband light in a spectral region from about 1 nanometer to about 20 nanometers; a collector that gathers the illumination light emitted by the plasma and directs the illumination light toward a specimen under measurement; a x-ray detector that detects an amount of light from the specimen in response to the illumination light incident on the specimen; and a computing system configured to determine a value of a parameter of interest associated with a model of the specimen based on the detected amount of light.

13. The metrology system of claim 12, wherein the metrology system is configured as any of a reflective small angle x-ray scatterometry system, a coherent diffraction imaging system, and an imaging system.

14. The metrology system of claim 12, further comprising: an objective that gathers and magnifies a collected light emitted from the specimen in response to the illumination light incident to the specimen and directs the collected light to the detector.

15. The metrology system of claim 14, wherein the objective directs the illumination light to the specimen, and wherein the illumination light and the collected light occupy spatially separated regions in a pupil plane of the objective.

16. The metrology system of claim 14, wherein the objective directs the illumination light to the specimen, and wherein the illumination light and the collected light occupy spatially overlapping regions in a pupil plane of the objective.

17. The metrology system of claim 14, further comprising: at least one illumination optical element that directs the illumination light from the collector to the specimen, wherein a pupil plane of the objective includes only the collected light.

18. The metrology system of claim 12, wherein a spot size of the plasma is less than 10 micrometers.

19. A method comprising: dispensing a sequence of droplets of a non-metallic feed material in a solid or liquid state into a plasma chamber, the plasma chamber having at least one wall operable in part to contain a flow of buffer gas within the plasma chamber; generating a pulse of excitation light directed to a droplet of the feed material in the plasma chamber, the pulse of excitation light having a duration of less than one nanosecond, wherein the interaction of the pulse of excitation light with the droplet of the feed material causes the droplet to ionize to form a plasma that emits an illumination light, wherein the illumination light comprises broadband light in a spectral region from about 1 nanometer to about 20 nanometers, and wherein the illumination light is useable to illuminate a specimen under measurement; detecting an amount of light from the specimen in response to the illumination light; and determining a value of at least one parameter of interest of the specimen under measurement based at on the amount of detected light.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: separating an amount of the feed material from the buffer gas; and providing the amount of feed material to the plasma chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram illustrative of a metrology system including a laser produced plasma (LPP) light source in at least on novel aspect.

(2) FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram illustrative of a gas separation system in one embodiment.

(3) FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram illustrative of an exemplary model building and analysis engine.

(4) FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of generating broadband, soft x-ray illumination light to a semiconductor specimen under measurement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) Reference will now be made in detail to background examples and some embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

(6) Methods and systems for x-ray based semiconductor metrology utilizing a broadband, soft X-ray illumination source are described herein. More specifically, a laser produced plasma (LPP) light source generates high brightness (i.e., greater than 10.sup.13 photons/(sec.Math.mm.sup.2.Math.mrad.sup.2)), broadband, soft x-ray illumination (i.e., including wavelengths in a range of 1 nanometer to 20 nanometers). To achieve such high brightness, the LPP light source directs a highly focused, short duration laser source to a non-metallic droplet target in a liquid or solid state. The interaction of the focused laser pulse with the droplet target ignites a plasma. Radiation from the plasma is collected by collection optics and is directed to a specimen under measurement.

(7) FIG. 1 depicts an x-ray based metrology system 100 including a laser produced plasma (LPP) light source 110 in at least one novel aspect. LPP light source 110 includes a plasma chamber 153, droplet generator 111, and a pulsed laser illumination source 113. Plasma chamber 153 includes one or more walls that contain a flow of buffer gas 123 within the plasma chamber. Droplet generator 111 dispenses a sequence of droplets of a non-metallic feed material 112 into plasma chamber 153.

(8) In one aspect, the droplets generated by droplet generator 111 are in a solid or liquid state in plasma chamber 153. In some embodiments, the non-metallic feed material is Xenon, Krypton, Argon, Neon, Nitrogen, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, each droplet of non-metallic feed material 112 is less than 200 micrometers in diameter. In a preferred embodiment, each droplet of non-metallic feed material 112 is less than 40 micrometers in diameter. In some embodiments, droplet generator 111 is a high frequency fluid dispenser based on commercially available ink jet technology. In one example, droplet generator 111 dispenses a sequence of nominally 50 micron droplets of feed material 112 at a rate between 50 and 400 kilohertz.

(9) Pulsed laser 113 generates a sequence of pulses of excitation light. Each pulse of excitation light is directed to a droplet of feed material 112. The excitation light is focused by illumination optics 114 onto the droplets over a very small spot size. In some embodiments, the excitation light is focused onto the droplets with a spot size of less than 100 micrometers. In some embodiments, the excitation light is focused onto the droplets with a spot size of less than 10 micrometers. In a preferred embodiment, the excitation light is focused onto the droplets with a spot size of less than 5 micrometers. As the spot size of the excitation light decreases, the spot size of the induced plasma decreases. In a preferred embodiment, the spot size of plasma 115 is less than 10 micrometers. In some embodiments, pulsed laser 113 is a Ytterbium (Yb) based solid state laser. In some other embodiments, pulsed laser 113 is a Neodymium (Nb) based solid state laser.

(10) In a further aspect, the duration of each pulse of excitation light is less than one nanosecond. In some embodiments, the duration of each pulse of excitation light is less than 0.5 nanoseconds.

(11) The interaction of a pulse of excitation light with one or more droplets of the feed material causes the droplet(s) to ionize to form a plasma 115 that emits an illumination light 124 with very high brightness. In a preferred embodiment, the brightness of plasma 115 is greater than 10.sup.14 photons/(sec).Math.(mm2).Math.(mrad2). The illumination light comprises broadband light in a spectral region from about 1 nanometer to about 20 nanometers.

(12) The illumination light 124 is collected by collector 118 and focused onto specimen 150 under measurement. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, collector 118 gathers illumination light 124 emitted by plasma 115 and directs illumination light 124 through window 117. In some embodiments, window 117 is an x-ray filter configured to be transparent to x-ray radiation within a range of wavelengths of interest (e.g., between 1 nanometer and 20 nanometers), and substantially absorb radiation outside of the range of wavelengths of interest.

(13) Collector 120 may be any suitable shape to gather illumination light generated from plasma 115. Suitable examples include elliptical collectors and collectors with multiple surface contours. Exemplary techniques for collecting light emitted from a plasma are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,705,331, issued Apr. 27, 2010, to KLA-Tencor Technologies Corp., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

(14) In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, illumination light 124 exits plasma chamber 153 via window 117 and is redirected toward specimen 150 by mirror 125. In addition, illumination optics 126 are employed to further shape illumination light 124 incident on specimen 150 over measurement area 129. Illumination optics 126 may include a hollow optical homogenizer or a reflective light tube to efficiently transmit illumination light to a specimen. In some other embodiments, an illumination and collection objective may be employed. In these embodiments, illumination optics 126 transmit illumination light to the objective.

(15) The illumination of specimen 150 over measurement area 129 causes light to be scattered from specimen 150. Scattered light 128 is detected by detector 127. Detector 127 generates signals 151 indicative of the scattered light incident on the active area(s) of detector 127. Detector 127 communicates signals 151 to computing system 130 for analysis. Computing system 130 determines properties of the specimen 150 based at least in part on the acquired signals 151.

(16) In another further aspect, computing system 130 is configured to generate a structural model (e.g., geometric model, material model, or combined geometric and material model) of a measured structure of a specimen, generate a x-ray scatterometry response model that includes at least one geometric parameter from the structural model, and resolve at least one specimen parameter value by performing a fitting analysis of x-ray scatterometry measurement data with the x-ray scatterometry response model. The analysis engine is used to compare the simulated x-ray scatterometry signals with measured data thereby allowing the determination of geometric as well as material properties such as electron density of the sample. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, computing system 130 is configured as a model building and analysis engine configured to implement model building and analysis functionality as described herein.

(17) FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrative of an exemplary model building and analysis engine 101 implemented by computing system 130. As depicted in FIG. 7, model building and analysis engine 101 includes a structural model building module 102 that generates a structural model 103 of a measured structure of a specimen. In some embodiments, structural model 103 also includes material properties of the specimen. The structural model 103 is received as input to x-ray scatterometry response function building module 104. X-ray scatterometry response function building module 104 generates a full beam x-ray scatterometry response function model 105 based at least in part on the structural model 103. In some examples, the x-ray scatterometry response function model 105 is based on x-ray form factors,

(18) $\begin{array}{cc}F\stackrel{}{\left(q\right)}=\stackrel{}{\left(r\right)}{e}^{-i\stackrel{}{q}.Math.\stackrel{}{r}}d\stackrel{}{r}& \left(1\right)\end{array}$
where F is the form factor, q is the scattering vector, and (r) is the electron density of the specimen in spherical coordinates as described in equation (1). The x-ray scattering intensity is then given by equation (2).
I({right arrow over (q)})=F*F.(2)
X-ray scatterometry response function model 105 is received as input to fitting analysis module 106. The fitting analysis module 106 compares the modeled x-ray scatterometry response with the corresponding measured data to determine geometric as well as material properties of the specimen.

(19) In some examples, the fitting of modeled data to experimental data is achieved by minimizing a chi-squared value. For example, for x-ray scatterometry measurements, a chi-squared value can be defined as

(20) $\begin{array}{cc}{}_{\mathrm{SAXS}}^2=\frac{1}{N_{\mathrm{SAXS}}}\underset{j}{\overset{N_{\mathrm{SAXS}}}{.Math.}}\frac{{\left(s_j^{\mathrm{SAXS}\mathrm{model}}\left(v_1,\mathrm{.Math.},v_L\right)-s_j^{\mathrm{SAXS}\mathrm{experiment}}\right)}^2}{{}_{\mathrm{SAXS},j}^2}& \left(3\right)\end{array}$
where, S.sub.j.sup.SAXS experiment is the measured x-ray scatterometry signals 151 in the channel j, where the index j describes a set of system parameters such as diffraction order, energy, angular coordinate, etc. S.sub.j.sup.SAXS model (v.sub.1, . . . , v.sub.L) is the modeled x-ray scatterometry signal S.sub.j for the channel j, evaluated for a set of structure (target) parameters v.sub.1, . . . , v.sub.L, where these parameters describe geometric (CD, sidewall angle, overlay, etc.) and material (electron density, etc.). .sub.SAXS,j is the uncertainty associated with the jth channel. N.sub.SAXS is the total number of channels in the x-ray metrology. L is the number of parameters characterizing the metrology target.

(21) Equation (3) assumes that the uncertainties associated with different channels are uncorrelated. In examples where the uncertainties associated with the different channels are correlated, a covariance between the uncertainties, can be calculated. In these examples a chi-squared value for full beam x-ray scatterometry measurements can be expressed as

(22) $\begin{array}{cc}{}_{\mathrm{SAXS}}^2=\frac{1}{N_{\mathrm{SAXS}}}{\left({\stackrel{.fwdarw.}{S}}_j^{\mathrm{SAXS}.Math.\mathrm{model}}\left(v_1,\mathrm{.Math.},v_M\right)-{\stackrel{.fwdarw.}{S}}_j^{\mathrm{SAXS}.Math.\mathrm{experiment}}\right)}^T{V}_{\mathrm{SAXS}}^{-1}\left({\stackrel{.fwdarw.}{S}}_j^{\mathrm{SAXS}.Math.\mathrm{model}}\left(v_1,\mathrm{.Math.},v_M\right)-{\stackrel{.fwdarw.}{S}}_j^{\mathrm{SAXS}.Math.\mathrm{experiment}}\right)& \left(4\right)\end{array}$

(23) where, V.sub.SAXS is the covariance matrix of the SAXS channel uncertainties, and T denotes the transpose.

(24) In some examples, fitting analysis module 106 resolves at least one specimen parameter value 152 by performing a fitting analysis on x-ray scatterometry measurement data 151 with the x-ray scatterometry response model 105. In some examples, .sub.SAXS.sup.2 is optimized. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the determined values 152 are stored in memory 190.

(25) As described hereinbefore, the fitting of x-ray scatterometry data is achieved by minimization of chi-squared values. However, in general, the fitting of full beam x-ray scatterometry data may be achieved by other functions.

(26) The fitting of x-ray scatterometry metrology data is advantageous for any type of x-ray scatterometry technology that provides sensitivity to geometric and/or material parameters of interest. Specimen parameters can be deterministic (e.g., CD, SWA, overlay, etc.) or statistical (e.g., rms height of sidewall roughness, roughness correlation length, etc.) as long as proper models describing x-ray scatterometry beam interaction with the specimen are used.

(27) In general, computing system 130 is configured to access model parameters in real-time, employing Real Time Critical Dimensioning (RTCD), or it may access libraries of pre-computed models for determining a value of at least one specimen parameter value associated with the specimen 150. In general, some form of CD-engine may be used to evaluate the difference between assigned CD parameters of a specimen and CD parameters associated with the measured specimen. Exemplary methods and systems for computing specimen parameter values are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,826,071, issued on Nov. 2, 2010, to KLA-Tencor Corp., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

(28) In some examples, model building and analysis engine 101 improves the accuracy of measured parameters by any combination of feed sideways analysis, feed forward analysis, and parallel analysis. Feed sideways analysis refers to taking multiple data sets on different areas of the same specimen and passing common parameters determined from the first dataset onto the second dataset for analysis. Feed forward analysis refers to taking data sets on different specimens and passing common parameters forward to subsequent analyses using a stepwise copy exact parameter feed forward approach. Parallel analysis refers to the parallel or concurrent application of a non-linear fitting methodology to multiple datasets where at least one common parameter is coupled during the fitting.

(29) Multiple tool and structure analysis refers to a feed forward, feed sideways, or parallel analysis based on regression, a look-up table (i.e., library matching), or another fitting procedure of multiple datasets. Exemplary methods and systems for multiple tool and structure analysis is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,478,019, issued on Jan. 13, 2009, to KLA-Tencor Corp., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

(30) In one further aspect, metrology tool 100 includes a computing system (e.g., computing system 130) configured to implement beam control functionality as described herein. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, computing system 130 is configured as a beam controller operable to control any of the illumination properties such as intensity, divergence, spot size, polarization, spectrum, and positioning of the incident illumination beam 124.

(31) As illustrated in FIG. 1, computing system 130 is communicatively coupled to detector 127. Computing system 130 is configured to receive measurement data 151 from detector 127. In one example, measurement data 151 includes an indication of the measured response of the specimen (i.e., intensities of the diffraction orders). Based on the distribution of the measured response on the surface of detector 127, the location and area of incidence of illumination beam 124 on specimen 150 is determined by computing system 130. In one example, pattern recognition techniques are applied by computing system 130 to determine the location and area of incidence of illumination beam 124 on specimen 150 based on measurement data 151. In some examples, computing system 130 communicates a command signal (not shown) to illumination optics 126 to select the desired illumination wavelength and redirect and reshape illumination beam 124 such that incident illumination beam 124 arrives at the desired location and angular orientation with respect to specimen 150. In some other examples, computing system 130 communicates a command signal 137 to wafer positioning system 140 to position and orient specimen 150 such that incident illumination beam 124 arrives at the desired location and angular orientation with respect to specimen 150. In some other examples, computing system 130 communicates command signals 135 and 136 to LPP light source 110 to select the desired illumination wavelength and redirect and reshape illumination beam 124 such that incident illumination beam 124 arrives at the desired location and angular orientation with respect to specimen 150.

(32) In some embodiments, it is desirable to perform measurements at different orientations. This increases the precision and accuracy of measured parameters and reduces correlations among parameters by extending the number and diversity of data sets available for analysis to include a variety of large-angle, out of plane orientations. Measuring specimen parameters with a deeper, more diverse data set also reduces correlations among parameters and improves measurement accuracy. For example, in a normal orientation, x-ray scatterometry is able to resolve the critical dimension of a feature, but is largely insensitive to sidewall angle and height of a feature. However, by collecting measurement data over a broad range of out of plane angular positions, the sidewall angle and height of a feature can be resolved.

(33) As illustrated in FIG. 1, metrology tool 100 includes a specimen positioning system 140 configured to both align specimen 150 and orient specimen 150 over a large range of out of plane angular orientations with respect the scatterometer. In other words, specimen positioning system 140 is configured to rotate specimen 150 over a large angular range about one or more axes of rotation aligned in-plane with the surface of specimen 150. In some embodiments, specimen positioning system 140 is configured to rotate specimen 150 within a range of at least 90 degrees about one or more axes of rotation aligned in-plane with the surface of specimen 150. In some embodiments, specimen positioning system is configured to rotate specimen 150 within a range of at least 60 degrees about one or more axes of rotation aligned in-plane with the surface of specimen 150. In some other embodiments, specimen positioning system 140 is configured to rotate specimen 150 within a range of at least one degree about one or more axes of rotation aligned in-plane with the surface of specimen 101. In this manner, angle resolved measurements of specimen 150 are collected by metrology system 100 over any number of locations on the surface of specimen 150. In one example, computing system 130 communicates command signals 137 to motion controller 145 of specimen positioning system 140 that indicate the desired position of specimen 150. In response, motion controller 145 generates command signals to the various actuators of specimen positioning system 140 to achieve the desired positioning of specimen 150.

(34) By way of non-limiting example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, specimen positioning system 140 includes an edge grip chuck 141 to fixedly attach specimen 150 to specimen positioning system 140. A rotational actuator 142 is configured to rotate edge grip chuck 141 and the attached specimen 150 with respect to a perimeter frame 143. In the depicted embodiment, rotational actuator 142 is configured to rotate specimen 150 about the x-axis of the coordinate system 146 illustrated in FIG. 1. As depicted in FIG. 1, a rotation of specimen 150 about the z-axis is an in plane rotation of specimen 150. Rotations about the x-axis and the y-axis (not shown) are out of plane rotations of specimen 150 that effectively tilt the surface of the specimen with respect to the metrology elements of metrology system 100. Although it is not illustrated, a second rotational actuator is configured to rotate specimen 150 about the y-axis. A linear actuator 144 is configured to translate perimeter frame 143 in the x-direction. Another linear actuator (not shown) is configured to translate perimeter frame 143 in the y-direction. In this manner, every location on the surface of specimen 150 is available for measurement over a range of out of plane angular positions. For example, in one embodiment, a location of specimen 150 is measured over several angular increments within a range of 45 degrees to +45 degrees with respect to the normal orientation of specimen 150.

(35) In general, specimen positioning system 140 may include any suitable combination of mechanical elements to achieve the desired linear and angular positioning performance, including, but not limited to goniometer stages, hexapod stages, angular stages, and linear stages.

(36) In a further aspect, plasma chamber 153 is filled with a buffer gas 123. Optical elements such as laser illumination window 116, collector 118, and x-ray filter 117 are sensitive to material deposition from plasma 115. Buffer gas 123 absorbs very little of the soft X-ray radiation generated by the plasma, but thermalizes fast ions generated by plasma 115. In this manner buffer gas 123 protects illumination window 116, collector 118, and x-ray filter 117 from contamination by material generated by the plasma 115. In some embodiments, the buffer gas 123 is helium, hydrogen, or a combination thereof. Both helium and hydrogen are transparent to soft x-ray radiation at wavelengths of interest (i.e., wavelengths between 1 nanometer and 20 nanometers). In a preferred embodiment, helium is employed as the buffer gas because it is inert, and thus inherently safer than hydrogen. In some embodiments, the distance between plasma 115 and the optical elements of plasma chamber 153 (e.g., windows 116 and 117 and collector 118) is at least ten centimeters. In preferred embodiments, the flow of buffer gas 123 through plasma chamber 153 is maintained at relatively low pressure (e.g., between 0.1 and 100 torr).

(37) In another further aspect, LPP light source 110 includes a gas separation system 120 that separates feed material (e.g., Xenon) from the buffer gas (e.g., Helium) and provides the separated feed material back to the droplet generator. As depicted in FIG. 1, gas separation system 120 receives a flow 119 of buffer gas from plasma chamber 153. Flow 119 includes both buffer gas 123 and non-metallic feed material 112 in a gaseous state (i.e., after heating by plasma 115). Gas separation system 120 separates the non-metallic feed material 112 from buffer gas 123. The recovered non-metallic feed material 121 is transported to droplet generator 111 to be reused. In addition, the recovered buffer gas 122 is transported back into plasma chamber 123.

(38) FIG. 2 depicts a simplified illustration of gas separation system 120 in one embodiment. As depicted in FIG. 2, gas separation system 120 includes a cryogenic chamber 160 and a distillation column 170. Valves 161 and 162 control the flow of gas into and out of cryogenic chamber 160. Computing system 130 controls the state of valves 161 and 162 via command signals 138 and 139, respectively. In one example, computing system 130 communicates command signal 138 that causes valve 161 to open and allow unseparated gas from gas flow 119 to fill cryogenic chamber 160. The unseparated gas is chilled until the non-metallic feed material freezes and separates from the buffer gas, which remains in gaseous form. The separated buffer gas 164 is evacuated from the cryogenic chamber 160. After the separated buffer gas 164 is evacuated, the separated feed material 163 is heated to a gaseous state within cryogenic chamber 160. The separated feed material 163 is then evacuated from the cryogenic chamber 160 into distillation column 170. Computing system 130 communicates command signal 139 that causes valve 162 to open and allow separated feed material 163 cryogenic chamber 160 to distillation column 170. The separated feed material 163 is again chilled within distillation column 170. Distillation column 170 maintains a temperature gradient from the top of the column (e.g., warmer) to the bottom of the column (e.g., cooler). As the separated feed material 163 is cooled, it condenses into a liquid state and settles at the bottom of distillation column 170. The condensed feed material 121 is drained from distillation column 170 and transported to droplet generator 111. In addition, residual buffer gas 171 is recovered from distillation column 170. In the depicted embodiment, separated buffer gas 164 and residual buffer gas 171 are transported to a refinement system 165 to further increase the purity of the recovered buffer gas before transport to plasma chamber 153. In general, refinement system 165 is optional. In some embodiments, the separated buffer gas 164 and the residual buffer gas 171 are sufficiently pure and no additional processing is needed before reintroduction into plasma chamber 153. In some other embodiments, the buffer gas is not reused; rather the recovered buffer gas 164 and the residual buffer gas 171 are discarded and not reintroduced into plasma chamber 153.

(39) In general, gas separation system 120 may include multiple cryogenic chambers. Additional valves may be employed to control gas flows through each cryogenic chamber. For example, while on cryogenic chamber is chilling down an incoming gas flow, another cryogenic chamber may heat the frozen feed material to transport the feed material to distillation column 170.

(40) As depicted in FIG. 1, system 100 includes a single laser focused directly on a droplet to generate plasma 115. However, system 100 may include more than one laser with each laser configured differently or the same. For example, the lasers may be configured to generate light having different characteristics that can be directed to a droplet at the same or different times. In another example, the lasers may be configured to direct light to a droplet from the same or different directions. Exemplary techniques for directing excitation light to a target are described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,705,331, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

(41) FIG. 1 depicts a reflective small angle x-ray scatterometry (SAXS) system in one embodiment. However, other x-ray based metrology systems employing a LPP light source as described herein may be contemplated within the scope of this patent document. In some examples, a coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) based metrology system includes a LPP light source as described herein. In other examples, a LPP light source may be employed as part of an imaging x-ray metrology system.

(42) In some embodiments, an imaging objective directs collected light to a detector. In some embodiments, illumination light generated by light source 110 is transmitted by illumination optics 126 to an objective. In some embodiments the illumination optics 126 and the imaging objective may be comprised of primarily the same elements and be substantially the same. In some other embodiments, illumination light generated by light source 110 is transmitted by illumination optic 126 directly to specimen 150 without first being directed through the elements of the imaging objective. In response to the illumination light incident on specimen 150, light from specimen 150 is collected, magnified, and directed to a detector by an imaging objective.

(43) In some embodiments, an imaging objective designed with an adequate field of view is employed. The light path through the objective should preferably include a minimum number of interactions with reflective surfaces to minimize absorption losses associated with each interaction. Exemplary designs for an objective with all reflective components using a four mirror, four pass design are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,351,980, issued Apr. 1, 2008, to KLA-Tencor Technologies Corp., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, exemplary designs for an objective with all reflective components using a four mirror, six pass design is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0188738 A1, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

(44) Illumination direction affects how a structure on a wafer is resolved by a metrology system such as metrology system 100. In some embodiments, optical configurations discussed may have non-uniform optical properties in one of more of the reflective elements that are specifically optimized for illumination purposes. For example, coatings may be optimized to increase the coating durability due to the high exposure energy in the illumination path.

(45) FIG. 7 illustrates a method 200 suitable for generating broadband, soft x-ray illumination light for x-ray based metrology in accordance with at least one inventive aspect. It is recognized that data processing elements of method 200 may be carried out via a pre-programmed algorithm stored as part of program instructions 134 and executed by one or more processors of computing system 130. While the following description is presented in the context of system 100 depicted in FIG. 1, it is recognized herein that the particular structural aspects of system 100 do not represent limitations and should be interpreted as illustrative only.

(46) In block 201, a sequence of droplets of a non-metallic feed material in a solid or liquid state is dispensed into a plasma chamber. The plasma chamber includes at least one wall to contain a flow of buffer gas within the plasma chamber.

(47) In block 202, a pulse of excitation light is generated and directed to a droplet of the feed material in the plasma chamber. The pulse of excitation light has a duration of less than one nanosecond. The interaction of the pulse of excitation light with the droplet of the feed material causes the droplet to ionize to form a plasma that emits an illumination light. The illumination light comprises broadband light in a spectral region from about 1 nanometer to about 20 nanometers and is useable to illuminate a specimen under measurement.

(48) In block 203, in response to the illumination light an amount of light is detected from the specimen.

(49) In block 204, a value of at least one parameter of interest of the specimen under measurement is determined based at on the amount of detected light.

(50) It should be recognized that the various steps described throughout the present disclosure may be carried out by a single computer system 130 or, alternatively, a multiple computer system 130. Moreover, different subsystems of the system 100, such as the specimen positioning system 140, gas separation system 120, droplet generator 111, laser 113, and detector 127, may include a computer system suitable for carrying out at least a portion of the steps described herein. Therefore, the aforementioned description should not be interpreted as a limitation on the present invention but merely an illustration. Further, the one or more computing systems 130 may be configured to perform any other step(s) of any of the method embodiments described herein.

(51) In addition, the computer system 130 may be communicatively coupled to the specimen positioning system 140, gas separation system 120, droplet generator 111, laser 113, and detector 127 in any manner known in the art. For example, the one or more computing systems 130 may be coupled to computing systems associated with the specimen positioning system 140, gas separation system 120, droplet generator 111, laser 113, and detector 127, respectively. In another example, any of the specimen positioning system 140, gas separation system 120, droplet generator 111, laser 113, and detector 127, may be controlled directly by a single computer system coupled to computer system 130.

(52) The computer system 130 of the system 100 may be configured to receive and/or acquire data or information from the subsystems of the system (e.g., specimen positioning system 140, gas separation system 120, droplet generator 111, laser 113, and detector 127, and the like) by a transmission medium that may include wireline and/or wireless portions. In this manner, the transmission medium may serve as a data link between the computer system 130 and other subsystems of the system 100.

(53) Computer system 130 of the system 100 may be configured to receive and/or acquire data or information (e.g., modeling inputs, modeling results, etc.) from other systems by a transmission medium that may include wireline and/or wireless portions. In this manner, the transmission medium may serve as a data link between the computer system 130 and other systems (e.g., memory on-board system 100, external memory, or external systems). For example, the computing system 130 may be configured to receive measurement data (e.g., signals 151) from a storage medium (i.e., memory 132) via a data link. For instance, measurement results obtained using detector 127 may be stored in a permanent or semi-permanent memory device (e.g., memory 132). In this regard, the measurement results may be imported from on-board memory or from an external memory system. Moreover, the computer system 130 may send data to other systems via a transmission medium. For instance, parameter values 152 determined by computer system 130 may be stored in a permanent or semi-permanent memory device (e.g., memory 190). In this regard, measurement results may be exported to another system.

(54) Computing system 130 may include, but is not limited to, a personal computer system, mainframe computer system, workstation, image computer, parallel processor, or any other device known in the art. In general, the term computing system may be broadly defined to encompass any device having one or more processors, which execute instructions from a memory medium.

(55) Program instructions 134 implementing methods such as those described herein may be transmitted over a transmission medium such as a wire, cable, or wireless transmission link. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, program instructions stored in memory 132 are transmitted to processor 131 over bus 133. Program instructions 134 are stored in a computer readable medium (e.g., memory 132). Exemplary computer-readable media include read-only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic or optical disk, or a magnetic tape.

(56) Metrology techniques as described herein may be used to determine characteristics of semiconductor structures. Exemplary structures include, but are not limited to, FinFETs, low-dimensional structures such as nanowires or graphene, sub 10 nm structures, thin films, lithographic structures, through silicon vias (TSVs), memory structures such as DRAM, DRAM 4F2, FLASH and high aspect ratio memory structures, such as 3D-NAND structures. Exemplary structural characteristics include, but are not limited to, geometric parameters such as line edge roughness, line width roughness, pore size, pore density, side wall angle, profile, film thickness, critical dimension, pitch, and material parameters such as electron density, crystalline grain structure, morphology, orientation, stress, strain, elemental identification, and material composition.

(57) In some embodiments, the techniques described herein may be implemented as part of a fabrication process tool. Examples of fabrication process tools include, but are not limited to, lithographic exposure tools, film deposition tools, implant tools, and etch tools. In this manner, the results of the temperature measurements are used to control a fabrication process.

(58) Various embodiments are described herein for a semiconductor processing system (e.g., an inspection system, a metrology system, or a lithography system) that may be used for processing a specimen. The term specimen is used herein to refer to a wafer, a reticle, or any other sample that may be processed (e.g., printed or inspected for defects) by means known in the art.

(59) As used herein, the term specimen generally refers to a wafer. However, it is to be understood that the methods and systems described herein may be used to provide illumination of any other specimen known in the art.

(60) As used herein, the term wafer generally refers to substrates formed of a semiconductor or non-semiconductor material. Examples include, but are not limited to, monocrystalline silicon, gallium arsenide, and indium phosphide. Such substrates may be commonly found and/or processed in semiconductor fabrication facilities. In some cases, a wafer may include only the substrate (i.e., bare wafer). Alternatively, a wafer may include one or more layers of different materials formed upon a substrate. One or more layers formed on a wafer may be patterned or unpatterned. For example, a wafer may include a plurality of dies having repeatable pattern features.

(61) A reticle may be a reticle at any stage of a reticle fabrication process, or a completed reticle that may or may not be released for use in a semiconductor fabrication facility. A reticle, or a mask, is generally defined as a substantially transparent substrate having substantially opaque regions formed thereon and configured in a pattern. The substrate may include, for example, a glass material such as quartz. A reticle may be disposed above a resist-covered wafer during an exposure step of a lithography process such that the pattern on the reticle may be transferred to the resist.

(62) One or more layers formed on a wafer may be patterned or unpatterned. For example, a wafer may include a plurality of dies, each having repeatable pattern features. Formation and processing of such layers of material may ultimately result in completed devices. Many different types of devices may be formed on a wafer, and the term wafer as used herein is intended to encompass a wafer on which any type of device known in the art is being fabricated.

(63) In one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

(64) Although certain specific embodiments are described above for instructional purposes, the teachings of this patent document have general applicability and are not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations, and combinations of various features of the described embodiments can be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.