Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, Volume. 62, Issue 3, 0314001(2025)

Experimental Study on Highly Effective Broadband Extreme Ultraviolet Light Source by Spatially Confined Plasma

Liang He1,2, Zhenlin Hu1,2, Tianze Wang1,2, Nan Lin1,2、*, and Yuxin Leng1,2
Author Affiliations
  • 1Key Laboratory of Ultra-Intense Laser Science and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
  • 2Department of Precision Optics Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
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    Broadband extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation has shown significant advantages in advanced-node semiconductor metrology. To meet the high-volume manufacturing demands of advanced nodes, the conversion efficiency of a laser-plasma broadband EUV source was studied. First, the wavelength and spectral intensity of the EUV spectrometer were calibrated and used to characterize the total conversion efficiency (CE) from laser to EUV radiation at 10?20 nm. Subsequently, an in-situ second pulse was applied to a solid Sn target using a 1 μm laser, thereby achieving a broadband EUV conversion efficiency of 52.5% in the 10?20 nm range, which is the highest CE reported so far. The main reason for this is that the curved surface formed by the ablation of the first laser pulse caused spatial constraints on the tin plasma. These spatial constraints were induced by the subsequent laser pulse and resulted in a significant increase in EUV emission. This study provides a new approach for generating a broadband EUV light source with high CE, presenting a novel method of semiconductor microchip metrology for advanced technology nodes of the future.

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    Liang He, Zhenlin Hu, Tianze Wang, Nan Lin, Yuxin Leng. Experimental Study on Highly Effective Broadband Extreme Ultraviolet Light Source by Spatially Confined Plasma[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2025, 62(3): 0314001

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    Paper Information

    Category: Lasers and Laser Optics

    Received: Nov. 4, 2024

    Accepted: Dec. 6, 2024

    Published Online: Feb. 10, 2025

    The Author Email: Nan Lin (nanlin@siom.ac.cn)

    DOI:10.3788/LOP242211

    CSTR:32186.14.LOP242211

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