OPTICAL SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR FOR A MICROLITHOGRAPHIC PROJECTION EXPOSURE APPARATUS

Abstract

A microlithographic projection exposure apparatus optical 22 system includes a first reflective surface and at least one second reflective surface, each in the optical beam path. The first reflective surface is movable for the correction of an aberration that occurs during the operation of the optical system. The optical system is configured in so that, during the travel movement of the first reflective surface, the relative position of the first reflective surface and of the second reflective surface is maintainable in a stable manner. Either the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface directly succeed one another in the optical beam path, or there are only reflective optical elements between the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface.

Claims

1. An optical system having an optical beam path, the optical system comprising: a first mirror body supporting a first reflective surface; and a second mirror body supporting a second reflective surface, wherein: the first mirror body is different from the second mirror body; the first reflective surface is in the optical beam path; the first reflective surface configured to move to an aberration that occurring during operation of the optical system; the second reflective surface is in the optical beam path; the optical system is configured so that, during movement of the first reflective surface, a relative position of the first and second reflective surfaces is maintained in a stable manner; and along the optical path, one of the following holds: there are no reflective surfaces between the first and second reflective surfaces; and only reflective optical elements are between the first and second reflective surfaces.

2. The optical system of claim 1, further comprising a control loop to control a common position of the first and second reflective surfaces relative a reference position.

3. The optical system of claim 1, further comprising a control loop to control a position of the first reflective surface relative a reference position.

4. The optical system of claim 1, further comprising a control loop to control the position of the first and second reflective surfaces relative to each other.

5. The optical system of claim 4, wherein the optical system is configured so that the control by the control loop is based sensor signals of a sensor configured to measure the relative position of the first and second reflective surfaces.

6. The optical system of claim 1, further comprising: a first control loop configured to control a common position of the first and second reflective surfaces relative a reference position; and a second control loop to control the position of the first and second reflective surfaces relative to each other.

7. The optical system of claim 6, wherein the optical system is configured so that the control by the second control loop is based sensor signals of a sensor configured to measure the relative position of the first and second reflective surfaces.

8. The optical system of claim 1, further comprising: a first control loop to control a position of the first reflective surface relative a reference position; and a second control loop to control the position of the first and second reflective surfaces relative to each other.

9. The optical system of claim 8, wherein: the optical system is configured so that the control by the first control loop is based on sensor signals of a first sensor; the optical system is configured so that the control by the second control loop is based on sensor signals of a second sensor; and the first sensor has a lower sensitivity and a greater measurement range than the second sensor.

10. The optical system of claim 9, wherein the optical system is configured so that the control by the second control loop is based sensor signals of a sensor configured to measure the relative position of the first and second reflective surfaces.

11. The optical system of claim 1, wherein, along the optical path, there are no reflective surfaces between the first and second reflective surfaces.

12. The optical system of claim 1, wherein, along the optical path, only reflective optical elements are between the first and second reflective surfaces.

13. The optical system of claim 1, wherein, during operation of the optical system, electromagnetic radiation is reflected at the first reflective surface at angles of at least 55? relative to a normal to the first reflective surface.

14. The optical system of claim 13, wherein, during operation of the optical system, electromagnetic radiation is reflected at the second reflective surface at angles of at least 55? relative to a normal to the first reflective surface.

15. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the first reflective surface is aspherical.

16. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the first reflective surface is configured to be moveable during the operation of the optical system.

17. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the optical system has an operating wavelength of less than 30 nm.

18. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the optical system is selected from the group consisting of an illumination device of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus illumination device, and a projection lens of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus.

19. An apparatus, comprising: an illumination device; and a projection lens configured, wherein: the illumination device is configured to illuminate a mask in an object plane of the projection lens; to image illuminated structures of the mask onto a light-sensitive layer situated in an image plane of the projection lens; the apparatus comprises an optical system according to claim 1; and the apparatus is a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus.

20. A method of using an optical system which comprises first and second reflective surfaces in an optical beam path of the optical system, the method comprising: moving the first reflective surface to correct of an aberration; when moving the first reflective surface, keeping stable the relative position of the first and second reflective surfaces; using a first control loop to control the position of the first reflective surface relative to relative to a reference position; and using a second control loop to control the relative position of the first and second reflective surfaces, wherein: the first and second reflective surfaces directly succeed one another in the optical beam path; and one of the following holds: the first and second reflective surfaces directly succeed one another in the optical beam path; and only reflective optical elements are between the first and second reflective surfaces along the optical beam path.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The disclosure is explained in greater detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a projection exposure apparatus designed for operation in the EUV;

[0037] FIGS. 2A-2C, 3 and 4 show schematic illustrations for elucidating the basic principle and the mode of action of the present disclosure;

[0038] FIGS. 5A-5D show schematic illustrations for elucidating further embodiments of the disclosure; and

[0039] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration for elucidating an exemplary embodiment of a projection lens in which the present disclosure can be realized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] FIG. 1 firstly shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary projection exposure apparatus which is designed for operation in the EUV and in which the present disclosure can be realized.

[0041] According to FIG. 1, an illumination device in a projection exposure apparatus 100 designed for EUV includes a field facet mirror 103 and a pupil facet mirror 104. The light from a light source unit including a plasma light source 101 and a collector mirror 102 is directed onto the field facet mirror 103. A first telescope mirror 105 and a second telescope mirror 106 are arranged in the light path downstream of the pupil facet mirror 104. A deflection mirror 107 is arranged downstream in the light path and directs the radiation impinging on it onto an object field in the object plane of a projection lens 150, which is merely indicated in FIG. 1. A reflective structure-bearing mask 121 on a mask stage 120 is arranged at the location of the object field, the mask being imaged into an image plane with the aid of the projection lens 150, a substrate 161 coated with a light-sensitive layer (photoresist) on a wafer stage 160 being situated in the image plane.

[0042] According to the disclosure, then, in embodiments of the disclosure, the projection exposure apparatus or the projection lens can be configured in such a way that two reflective surfaces or mirrors are mechanically rigidly coupled to one another, in particular are realized on one and the same mirror body, as described below with reference to FIGS. 2B-2C and FIG. 3, in order to be able to carry out a rotational movementeffected for the purpose of correction of aberrationsof the reflective surfaces about a predefined axis of rotation, without this being accompanied by an undesired image movement on the wafer plane.

[0043] In further embodiments, even in the case of two reflective surfaces or mirrors configured in a manner spatially separated from one another, via the realization of two control loops, described in even greater detail below with reference to FIG. 4, of which control loops one controls or minimizes the relative movement of the two reflective surfaces and the other controls a common rotational movement of the reflective surfaces that serves once again for the correction of aberrations, it is possible to obtain no undesired image shift on the wafer plane in conjunction with a low outlay in terms of control engineering.

[0044] Firstly, however, the concept underlying the disclosure will be described below with reference to the schematic depictions in FIGS. 2A-2C and FIGS. 3-4.

[0045] The schematic depictions in FIGS. 2A-2C serve firstly for clarifying the functional principle of a retroreflector, this principle being known as such:

[0046] In contrast to a simple plane mirror 210 (FIG. 2A), which, upon tilting relative to the direction of an incident light beam, exhibits a sensitive reaction of the direction of the respectively reflected light beam, with a retroreflector 220 having two reflective surfaces 220a, 220b arranged at a fixed angle (90? in the example) relative to one another in accordance with FIG. 2B, what can be achieved is that the direction of the beam reflected at the second reflective surface is maintained independently of the direction of incidence upon impinging on the first reflective surface 220a.

[0047] This maintenance of the direction of the light beam reflected at the second reflective surface is not restricted to a right-angled arrangement of the two reflective surfaces (i.e. a resulting 180? reflection), but rather is also fulfilled in arrangements having a different (constant) angle between two surfaces which successively reflect the respective light beam. Consequently, even during a movement of the mirror body 230 having the two reflective surfaces 230a, 230b, the mirror body being illustrated in FIG. 2C, the direction of the respective emerging light beam (i.e. reflected at the second reflective surface 230b) for one and the same direction of incidence of the light beam before the latter impinges on the first reflective surface 230a is maintained or remains constant.

[0048] On the basis of the above considerations, the disclosure then includes the concept, in particular, of realizing two reflective surfaces within the projection lens such that their relative position with respect to one another remains unchanged during the lithography process. This can be achieved in particular (but without the disclosure being restricted thereto) by the two reflective surfaces being mechanically rigidly coupled to one another or being realized monolithically on one and the same mirror body, as described below with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows, for the realization of the concept described above, the configuration of a mirror body 310 having two reflective surfaces 311, 312, at whichas indicated schematically in FIG. 3a light beam impinging during operation experiences in each case two successive reflections (wherein, as described above, the position of the image generated in a downstream image plane or the wafer plane of the projection lens having the mirror remains unchanged independently of a movement of the mirror body 310).

[0050] FIG. 3 likewise illustrates a control loop in which the position of the mirror body 310 having the two reflective surfaces 311, 312 is measured relative to a frame 305 via a position sensor 320 and is set to the desired value (corresponding to a setpoint position value 301) via a controller 340 via an actuator 330. Position sensor 320, actuator 330 and controller 340 act only in one degree of freedom in the basic schematic diagram in FIG. 3, namely with regard to a rotational movement about an axis of rotation running perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. In the technical realization, typically a plurality of degrees of freedom can be manipulated simultaneously.

[0051] In further embodiments, it is also possible to provide a plurality of position sensors 320 for measuring a plurality of degrees of freedom.

[0052] The circumstance that the image position ultimately generated on the wafer plane is maintained independently of a movement of the mirror body 310 carried out for the purpose of correction of aberrations has the consequence that the position sensor 320 (or the position sensors) involves/involve a comparatively low measurement accuracy, which in particular is significantly lower in comparison with the measurement accuracy of an analogously used position sensor which would have to ensure the stability of the image position in the case of the movement of a single reflective surface.

[0053] In other words, for the functionality of the position sensor 320 it suffices to carry out a comparatively coarse position measurement with regard to the positioning of the mirror body 310 for influencing aberrations, wherein although this position measurement should have a large measurement range (of e.g. 50 ?m) designed according to the positioning for influencing aberrations, it nonetheless involves a measurement accuracy lower by a plurality of orders of magnitude in comparison with a position sensor that ensures image stability upon reflection at only one moved reflective surface.

[0054] As a result, this leads to a considerable reduction of the outlay in terms of sensor technology and control engineering, as a result of which in turn the desired properties of the structure-dynamic design of the mirror body 310, of the actuator 330 and of the frame 305 in the set-up in accordance with FIG. 3 are reduced.

[0055] As already mentioned, the disclosure is not restricted to the realization of two successive reflections or reflective surfaces on one and the same mirror body or to an otherwise realized rigid mechanical connection of the relevant reflective surfaces. Rather, in further embodiments, the relative position of two separate mirror bodies each having a reflective surface, which mirror bodies are not rigidly connected to one another, can also be correspondingly controlled in a suitable control loop. In this case, too, major advantages are afforded with regard to the outlay in terms of sensor technology and control engineering, as will be explained in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 4.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows two separate mirror bodies 410a, 410b, each having a reflective surface 411 and 412, respectively, the mirror bodies not being mechanically rigidly connected to one another. The relative position of the two mirror bodies 410a, 410b with respect to one another is determined via a relative sensor 425. Although the relative sensor 425 involves a comparatively high measurement accuracy (since a relative movement between the two mirror bodies 410a, 410b or the reflective surfaces 411, 412 with respect to one another would lead directly to a significant image movement), in return the relative sensor does not involve a large measurement range (since the reflective surfaces 411, 412 are intended to remain positioned continuously at the same angle with respect to one another).

[0057] On the basis of the measurement signals of the relative position sensor 425, in a control loop with controller 445, the relative position of the two mirror bodies 410a, 410b or of the two reflective surfaces 411, 412 is controlled using a relative controller 445 and using actuators 431, 432 assigned to the respective mirror bodies 410a, 410b. The actuators 431, 432 here are driven in each case such thatfor instance in the case of an undesired movement of the mirror bodies 410a, 410b away from one anothera force is applied with which the mirror bodies 410a, 410b are moved towards one another again.

[0058] If the force exerted by the first actuator 431 is designated by f.sub.1, the force exerted by the second actuator 432 is designated by f.sub.2, the manipulated variable or force of the common control loop is designated by f.sub.c and the manipulated variable of the differential control loop is designed by f.sub.d, then it holds true that:

f.sub.1=f.sub.c+f.sub.d(1)

f.sub.2=f.sub.c?f.sub.d(2)

[0059] In addition to this control loop with controller 445 (responsible for the relative position between the two mirror bodies 410a, 410b), in accordance with FIG. 4 a superordinate control loop with controller 440 is realized, which controls the common or average position of the two mirror bodies 410a and 410b relative to an outer frame 405. 401 designates a setpoint position value. In this case, it holds true that:

q.sub.c=q.sub.1+?*q.sub.d(3)

wherein q.sub.1 denotes the position of the first mirror body 410a, q.sub.c denotes the common position of the two mirror bodies 410a and 410b, and q.sub.d denotes the differential position of the two mirror bodies 410a and 410b.

[0060] The superordinate control loop with controller 440 in turn involves (in this respect analogously to the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 3) a sensor having a large measurement range, but in conjunction with only a low measurement accuracy (since here e.g. a tilting of the mirror bodies 410a, 410b for the purpose of the manipulation of aberrations are determined with a comparatively low accuracy, but over a large measurement range of e.g. 50 ?m).

[0061] The disclosure is not restricted to the concrete arrangement of the actuators as illustrated in FIG. 4. In further embodiments, e.g. it is also possible for one of the actuators to act between the two mirror bodies 410a, 410b, and the other actuator between one of the mirror bodies 410a, 410b and the frame 405.

[0062] As a result, the properties in terms of sensor technology and control engineering which are applicable in each case in the two control loops for the realization of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 (in particular of a sensor having a high measurement accuracy over a comparatively small measurement range, and of a further sensor having a low measurement accuracy over a comparatively large measurement range) can also be fulfilled comparatively simply.

[0063] FIGS. 5A-5D show schematic illustrations for elucidating further embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the same components or components which have the same function are designated with reference numbers increased by 100 with respect to FIG. 4.

[0064] The embodiment of FIG. 5A differs from that of FIG. 4 insofar asinstead of measuring the position of only one mirror body in relation to the outer framethe average positions of both mirror bodies 510a and 510b are determined, and used as a basis for the respective superordinate control loop with controller 540 which controls the average position of the two mirror bodies 510a and 510b relative to the outer frame 505. 501 designates a setpoint position value.

[0065] According to FIG. 5B, as to the control loop with controller 545 in FIG. 5B, measuring of the relative position of mirror bodies 510a and 510b as well as the respective control are analogously to FIG. 4. In contrast to FIG. 4, the position of one mirror body 510b is measured in relation to the outer frame 505 and used as a basis for the control loop with controller 540. This controls the position of mirror body 510b. The position of mirror body 510a is indirectly controlled by controller 545.

[0066] The embodiment of FIG. 5C differs from that of FIG. 4 insofar as the respective positions of each of the mirror bodies 510a and 510b are measured in relation to the outer frame 505. These measured positions are then used for both control loops, i.e. for the control loop with controller 540 controlling the common or average position of the mirror bodies 510a, 510b, and the control loop with controller 545 for controlling the relative position of the reflective surfaces 511 and 512 or mirror bodies 510a, 510b, respectively.

[0067] The embodiment according to FIG. 5D is similar to that of FIG. 4 insofar as what is measured is, on the one hand, the relative position of the two mirror bodies 510a and 510b, and on the other hand, the position of one mirror body 510b in relation to the outer frame 505. However, and different from FIG. 4, the positions of both mirror bodies 510a and 510b are controlled in separate control loops with controllers 550 or 560, respectively.

[0068] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary concrete set-up of a projection lens 600 in which the disclosure can be realized. However, the disclosure is not restricted to realization in a projection lens having the concrete set-up shown in FIG. 6. In further exemplary embodiments, the disclosure can also be realized in projection lenses having a different set-up (e.g. as disclosed in DE 10 2012 202 675 A1) or other optical systems. The projection lens 600 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6 has eight mirrors M1 to M8, of which the mirrors M1, M4, M7 and M8 are embodied as mirrors for normal incidence of the illumination light (with an angle of incidence of less than 45?) and can include a reflection layer stack composed of molybdenum (Mo) and silicon (Si) layers. The mirrors M2, M3, M5 and M6 are embodied as mirrors for grazing incidence of the illumination light (with angles of incidence of greater than 60?) and can have a coating with, for example, a layer composed of molybdenum (Mo) or ruthenium (Ru).

[0069] Merely by way of example, the reflective surfaces kept stable with regard to their relative position according to the disclosure can be the optical effective surfaces of the mirrors M5 and M6 (with combination of two surfaces that are reflective under grazing incidence) or else the optical effective surfaces of the mirrors M3 and M4 (with combination of a surface that is reflective under grazing incidence with a surface that is reflective under substantially normal incidence).

[0070] Even though the disclosure has been described on the basis of specific embodiments, numerous variations and alternative embodiments are evident to the person skilled in the art, e.g. through combination and/or exchange of features of individual embodiments. Accordingly, it goes without saying for the person skilled in the art that such variations and alternative embodiments are concomitantly encompassed by the present disclosure, and the scope of the disclosure is restricted only within the meaning of the appended patent claims and the equivalents thereof.