Abstract: Disclosed is a method for measuring a target located on a substrate beneath at least one layer. The method comprises exciting said at least one layer with pump radiation comprising at least one pump wavelength, so as to generate an acoustic wave within said at least one layer which reflects of said target thereby generating an acoustic replica of said target at a surface of said substrate and illuminating said acoustic replica with probe radiation comprising at least one probe wavelength and capturing the resultant scattered probe radiation, scattered from the acoustic replica. One or both of said exciting step and said illuminating step comprises generating Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPPs) on residual topography of said at least one layer resultant from said target.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining a correction for a measurement of a target and an associated apparatus. The measurement is subject to a target-dependent correction parameter which has a dependence the target and/or a stack on which the target is comprised. The method comprises obtaining first measurement data relating to a measurement of a fiducial target, said first measurement data comprising at least a first and second set of intensity parameter values: and second measurement data relating to a measurement of the fiducial target, the second measurement data comprising a third set of intensity parameter values. A target-invariant correction parameter is determined from said first measurement data and second measurement data. the target-invariant correction parameter being a component of the target-dependent correction parameter which is not dependent on the target and/or a stack: and the correction is determined from said target-in-variant correction parameter.

Abstract: An improved method of performing a self-diagnosis of a charged particle inspection system is disclosed. An improved method comprises triggering a self-diagnosis based on output data of the charged particle inspection system; in response to the triggering of the self-diagnosis, receiving diagnostic data of a sub-system of the charged particle inspection system; identifying an issue associated with the output data based on the diagnostic data of the sub-system; and generating a control signal to adjust an operation parameter of the sub-system according to the identified issue.

Abstract: A method of protecting a component of a lithographic apparatus, the method including the steps of: providing a protective cover which is shaped to protect at least part of said component, the protective cover having a contact surface which is arranged to adhere to a first surface of at least part of said lithographic apparatus or said component; and bringing the protective cover into proximity with the component so as to cause the contact surface to adhere to the lithographic apparatus or said component and remain adhered without the application of external force. It is also provided a patterning device for use in a lithographic apparatus and a lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for manufacturing an electrostatic clamp. An example method can include forming a dielectric layer that includes a plurality of burls for supporting an object. The example method can further include forming an electrostatic layer that includes one or more electrodes. The example method can further include generating, using the electrostatic layer, an electrostatic force to electrostatically clamp the object to the plurality of burls in response to an application of one or more voltages to the one or more electrodes. In some aspects, a first magnitude of the electrostatic force in a first region of the dielectric layer can be different than a second magnitude of the electrostatic force in a second region of the dielectric layer. For example, the first magnitude and the second magnitude can be part of a linear, non-linear, or stepped (e.g., multi-level) electrostatic force gradient.

Abstract: A positioning system for moving or positioning a moveable object, the system including: a dynamic support system including a reaction mass, a first support, a first spring system to support the reaction mass from the first support, a second support, a second spring system to support the first support from the second support, and a damping system to provide damping to the dynamic support system; and an actuator for generating a driving force between the moveable object and the reaction mass for moving or position the object, wherein a first eigenfrequency and a second eigenfrequency of the dynamic support system are substantially the same.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stage apparatus comprising: an object table configured to hold a substrate, the object table comprising an electrode configured to be charged by a power source and an electrical connection configured to electrically connect the electrode to the power source, and an electric field shield configured to shield at least a part of the electrical connection.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for transferring fluid to a stage in a charged particle beam system are disclosed. In some embodiments, a stage may be configured to secure a wafer, a chamber may be configured to house the stage; and a tube may be provided within the chamber to transfer fluid between the stage and outside of the chamber. The tube may include a first tubular layer of first material, wherein the first material is a flexible polymer; and a second tubular layer of second material, wherein the second material is configured to reduce permeation of fluid or gas through the tube. In some embodiments, a system may include a degasser system outside of the chamber, where the degasser system may be configured to remove gases from the transfer fluid before the transfer fluid enters the tube.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for correcting the detected positions of alignment marks disposed on a substrate and aligning the substrate using the corrected data to ensure accurate exposure of one or more patterns on the substrate. An example method can include receiving measurement data indicative of an interference between light diffracted from a plurality of alignment marks disposed on a substrate or reflected from the substrate. The example method can further include determining substrate deformation data based on the measurement data. The example method can further include determining alignment mark deformation data based on the measurement data. The alignment mark deformation data can include alignment mark deformation spectral pattern data, alignment mark deformation amplitude data, and alignment mark deformation offset data.

Abstract: An assembly and method for separating first radiation and second radiation in the far field, wherein the first radiation and the second radiation have non-overlapping wavelengths, The assembly comprises a capillary structure, wherein the first radiation and the second radiation propagate coaxially along at least a portion of the capillary structure, and an optical structure configured to control the spatial distribution of the first radiation outside of the capillary structure, through interference, such that the intensity of the first radiation in the far field is reduced along an optical axis of the second radiation.

Abstract: A method of inferring a value for at least one local uniformity metric relating to a product structure, the method including: obtaining intensity data including an intensity image relating to at least one diffraction order obtained from a measurement on a target; obtaining at least one intensity distribution from the intensity image; determining, from the at least one intensity distribution, an intensity indicator expressing a variation of either intensity over the at least one diffraction order, or a difference in intensity between two complimentary diffraction orders over the intensity image; and inferring the value for the at least one local uniformity metric from the intensity indicator.

Abstract: A laser system comprising: a laser operable to generate a laser beam; an optical system comprising a first optical element and a second optical element; and an output through which the laser beam exits the laser system; the laser, optical system and output arranged such that the laser beam travels to the first optical element, the second optical element and the output sequentially; wherein the first optical element has a first focal length, the second optical element has a second focal length equal to the first focal length, and the second optical element is spaced from the first optical element by a distance of two times the first focal length.

Abstract: Disclosed is a connector for connecting one fluid handling device (52) such as a conduit to another fluid handling device (70) such as another conduit in which the faces of fittings (54) attached to glands (50) in the connector are given complementary mating configurations (58, 60, 82) so they can mesh that lack circular symmetry so that the faces do not rotate with respect to one another when the faces are subjected to torque when a connection is being made.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a target material includes a reservoir system, a priming system, and a transport system that extends from the priming system to the reservoir system. The reservoir system includes a reservoir in fluid communication with a nozzle supply system. The priming system includes a priming chamber defining a primary cavity; and a removable carrier configured to be received in the primary cavity. The removable carrier defines a secondary cavity configured to receive a solid matter that includes the target material. The transport system is configured to provide a fluid flow path between the priming system and the reservoir system.

Abstract: A method for improved sequencing of light delivery in a lithographic process includes determining a sequence of intensities of light to be delivered that includes an interval within the sequence of intensities where substantially no light is delivered to the substrate and delivering light to a substrate by a light source utilizing a digital mirror device (DMD) according to the sequence of intensities.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprising an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam and a uniformity correction system configured to adjust an intensity profile of the radiation beam. The lithographic apparatus comprises a control system configured to control the uniformity correction system at least partially based on a thermal status criterion that is indicative of a thermal state of a part of the lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: A method of determining a relationship between a stochastic variation of a characteristic of an aerial image or a resist image and one or more design variables, the method including: measuring values of the characteristic from a plurality of aerial images and/or resist images for each of a plurality of sets of values of the design variables; determining a value of the stochastic variation, for each of the plurality of sets of values of the design variables, from a distribution of the values of the characteristic for that set of values of the design variables; and determining the relationship by fitting one or more parameters from the values of the stochastic variation and the plurality of sets of values of the design variables.

Abstract: A contamination trap for use in a debris mitigation system of a radiation source, the contamination trap comprising a plurality of vanes configured to trap fuel debris emitted from a plasma formation region of the radiation source; wherein at least one vane or each vane of the plurality of vanes comprises a material comprising a thermal conductivity above 30 W m?1 K?1.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting process information (e.g., phase data) using a given input (e.g., intensity) to a parameterized model are described. A latent space of a given input is determined based on dimensional data in a latent space of the parameterized model for a given input to the parameterized model. Further, an optimum latent space is determined by constraining the latent space with prior information (e.g., wavelength) that enables converging to a solution that causes more accurate predictions of the process information. The optimum latent space is used to predict the process information. The given input may be a measured amplitude (e.g., intensity) associated with the complex electric field image. The predicted process information can be complex electric field image having amplitude data and phase data. The parameterized model comprises variational encoder-decoder architecture.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing beams for using deflector control to control charging on a sample surface of charged particle beam systems. In some embodiments, a controller including circuitry configured to scan a plurality of nodes of the sample to charge the plurality of nodes; adjust a scan rate of a beam such that a quantity of charge deposited on each node of the plurality of nodes varies with respect to at least one other node; generate a plurality of images; and compare the plurality of images to enable detection of a defect associated with any of the plurality of nodes of the sample.