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Application of High Pressure/Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy to Photomask Dimensional Metrology
Published
Author(s)
Michael T. Postek, Andras Vladar
Abstract
The application of high pressure or environmental microscopy techniques is not new to scanning electron microscopy. However, application of this methodology to semiconductor metrology is new because of the combined need for implementation of high resolution, high brightness field emission technology in conjunction with large chamber and sample transfer capabilities. This methodology employs a gaseous environment to help neutralize the charge build-up that occurs under irradiation with the electron beam. Although potentially very desirable for the charge neutralization, this methodology has not been seriously employed in photomask or wafer metrology until now. This is a new application of this technology to this area, but it shows great promise in the inspection, imaging and metrology of photomasks in a charge-free operational mode. For accurate metrology, this methodology affords a path that minimizes, if not eliminates, the need for charge modeling.
Proceedings Title
Proceedings of 2003 International Conference on CP683 Characterization and Metrology for ULSI Technology, D.G. Seiler, A.C. Dielbold, T.J. Shaffner, R. McDonald, D. Zollner, R.P. Khosla, and E.M. Secula, Editors
Volume
683
Conference Dates
January 1, 2003
Conference Location
Unknown, USA
Conference Title
2003 International Conference on CP683 Characterization and Metrology for ULSI Technology
Pub Type
Conferences
Keywords
accuracy, ESEM, high-pressure, metrology, photomask, scanning electron microscope, SEM
Postek, M.
and Vladar, A.
(2003),
Application of High Pressure/Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy to Photomask Dimensional Metrology, Proceedings of 2003 International Conference on CP683 Characterization and Metrology for ULSI Technology, D.G. Seiler, A.C. Dielbold, T.J. Shaffner, R. McDonald, D. Zollner, R.P. Khosla, and E.M. Secula, Editors, Unknown, USA
(Accessed April 22, 2025)