Understanding the efficacy of linewidth roughness post-processing

Chris A. Mack

doi:10.1117/12.2085047

Abstract

Lack of progress in reducing linewidth roughness of lithographic features has led to investigations of the use of post-lithography process smoothing techniques. But it remains unclear whether such postprocessing will sufficiently reduce the detrimental effects of feature roughness. Thus, there is a need to understand the efficacy of post-processing on not just roughness reduction, but on the negative device impacts of roughness. This work derives model equations of how roughness impacts lithographic performance, and incorporates smoothing using post-processing. These models clearly show that post-process smoothing works best by increasing the correlation length. Increasing the correlation length is very effective at reducing high-frequency roughness that impacts within-feature variations, but is not very effective at reducing low-frequency roughness that impacts feature-tofeature variations. It seems that post-process smoothing is not a substitute for reducing the initial roughness of resist features.

Citation Download Citation

Chris A. Mack, Chris A. Mack, "Understanding the efficacy of linewidth roughness post-processing", Proc. SPIE 9425, Advances in Patterning Materials and Processes XXXII, 94250J (20 March 2015); doi: 10.1117/12.2085047; https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2085047

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