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: Embodiments herein describe methods, devices, and systems for reducing an electric field at a clamp-reticle interface using an enhanced electrostatic clamp. In particular, the electrostatic clamp includes a clamp body, an electrode layer disposed on a top surface of the clamp body, and a plurality of burls that project from a bottom surface of the clamp body, wherein the electrode layer comprises a plurality of cutouts at predetermined locations that vertically correspond to locations of the plurality of burls at the bottom surface of the clamp body.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus including a substrate stage for supporting a structure in a compartment, the compartment having a compartment surface facing a top surface of the substrate in at least one operational configuration; and a soft coating on the compartment surface for capturing particles. A heat shield or component thereof for a lithographic apparatus, the heat shield or component thereof including a soft coating on at least one surface for capturing particles and a lithographic apparatus including such a heat shield.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a membrane assembly for EUV lithography, the method including: providing a stack including: at least one membrane layer supported by a planar substrate, wherein the planar substrate has an inner region and a border region around the inner region; and a first sacrificial layer between the planar substrate and the membrane layer; selectively removing the inner region of the planar substrate such that the membrane assembly has: a membrane formed from the at least one membrane layer, and a border holding the membrane, the border having the border region of the planar substrate and the first sacrificial layer situated between the border region and the membrane layer, wherein the selectively removing the inner region of the planar substrate includes using an etchant which has a similar etch rate for the membrane layer and its oxide and a substantially different etch rate for the first sacrificial layer.

Abstract: A patterning device for a lithographic apparatus arranged to project a pattern from the patterning device onto a substrate, the patterning device comprising: an imaging area having opposing first sides extending parallel to a scanning direction of the lithographic apparatus and opposing second sides extending perpendicularly to the scanning direction, and at least one sensing mark located adjacent to at least one second side of the imaging area; wherein the at least one sensing mark is located a predetermined distance in the scanning direction away from the at least one second side of the imaging area and extends a width in the scanning direction such that the at least one sensing mark, when projected onto the substrate, fits within a scribe line on the substrate.

Abstract: A plate for use in an imaging system to determine at least two optical properties of an illumination beam of the imaging system, the imaging system configured to illuminate an illumination region with the illumination beam, the plate including a plurality of markers, wherein a first subset of the plurality of markers includes a first type of markers for determining a first optical property of the illumination beam, and a second subset of the plurality of markers includes a second type of markers for determining a second optical property of the illumination beam, wherein the plurality of markers are located within a marker region of the plate and the marker region generally corresponds to the illumination region.

Abstract: The invention provides a position measurement system to measure a position of an object in a movement direction relative to a reference, said position measurement system comprising: —a diffraction grating, and —an interferometer, wherein the interferometer is configured to direct a measurement beam to the diffraction grating in a measuring direction that is orthogonal to the movement direction of the object, and wherein the diffraction grating is oriented relative to the interferometer such that the measurement beam is substantially at a Littrow angle of the diffraction grating so that a diffracted beam to be received by the interferometer is substantially parallel to the measuring direction.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprising: a clamping surface for supporting a substrate, wherein a property of the clamping surface is defined by at least one clamping surface parameter, and wherein the property of the clamping surface has been selected to exhibit low wear; a clamping apparatus for actuating a clamping operation between the clamping surface and the substrate, wherein the clamping operation is defined at least in part by at least one interface characteristic between the clamping surface and the substrate; and a processing station, operable to apply an adjustment to a first property of the substrate to optimize at least one interface characteristic of a particular clamping operation in dependence on the clamping surface parameter and at least one substrate surface parameter which defines a second property of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a component for use in a lithographic apparatus, the apparatus including at least one cleaning module or a plurality of cleaning modules, wherein the at least one cleaning module or the plurality of cleaning modules include a plurality of cleaning mechanisms, and wherein the plurality of cleaning mechanisms include: at least one preparing mechanism for reducing adhesion of the particles to the component and at least one removing mechanism for removing particles from the component, or a plurality of removing mechanisms for removing particles from the component.

Abstract: A system includes a support table having one or more protrusions and a pressure device. The one or more protrusions contact and support a substrate such that the substrate is suspended with respect to the support table. Sagging of the substrate when supported by the support table is based on a material and/or dimensions of the substrate. The pressure adjusts a pressure on a side of the substrate such that the sagging is reduced.

Abstract: A contamination reduction system for reducing contamination of a patterning system in a plasma environment, comprising: a support arranged to hold a patterning system in a radiation beam; a shutter configured to shield a portion of the radiation beam from the patterning system; and an electrode positioned between the shutter and the support, the electrode connected to a voltage source and configured to generate an electric field between the electrode and the patterning system held by the support.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for removing heat from a reticle. An example method can include generating, by a cooling controller, a cooling control signal based on timing data for a projection of a patterned radiation beam formed by illuminating an exposed area on a reticle supported by a reticle table, absorption data for the exposed area, and a target heat transfer rate. The cooling control signal can instruct a reticle cooling apparatus to actuate actuators to modify a distance between the reticle and a roof of the reticle cooling apparatus. The method can further include modifying, by the actuators based on the cooling control signal, the distance between the reticle and the roof to modify a heat transfer rate associated with a removal of heat from the reticle towards the target heat transfer rate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a membrane assembly for EUV lithography, the method including: providing a stack including: at least one membrane layer supported by a planar substrate, wherein the planar substrate has an inner region and a border region around the inner region; and a first sacrificial layer between the planar substrate and the membrane layer; selectively removing the inner region of the planar substrate such that the membrane assembly has: a membrane formed from the at least one membrane layer, and a border holding the membrane, the border having the border region of the planar substrate and the first sacrificial layer situated between the border region and the membrane layer, wherein the selectively removing the inner region of the planar substrate includes using an etchant which has a similar etch rate for the membrane layer and its oxide and a substantially different etch rate for the first sacrificial layer.

Abstract: A pellicle suitable for use with a patterning device for a lithographic apparatus. The pellicle comprising at least one breakage region which is configured to preferentially break, during normal use in a lithographic apparatus, prior to breakage of remaining regions of the pellicle. At least one breakage region comprises a region of the pellicle which has a reduced thickness when compared to surrounding regions of the pellicle.

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: A substrate holder for holding a substrate comprising a frame and a surface clamping device arranged on an underside of the frame configured to electrostatically attract an upper surface of the substrate from above the substrate. The substrate holder can be used to contactlessly hold and deform the substrate and thereby control a shape of the substrate. The substrate holder is suitable for use in a semiconductor processing apparatus and can operate in a vacuum or near-vacuum environment, such as in an EUV lithographic apparatus.

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: 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: An apparatus for determining a condition associated with a pellicle for use in a lithographic apparatus, the apparatus including a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to measure a property associated with the pellicle, the property being indicative of the pellicle condition.

Abstract: A reticle conditioning system includes: a support structure to support a reticle; a gas supply module to provide a flow of gas adjacent to the reticle; and a biasing module to control an electrical potential of the reticle. The biasing module includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a voltage supply. The first and second electrodes are each spaced apart from and facing the reticle, when the reticle is supported by the support structure, so as to at least partially overlap with the reticle. The voltage supply is arranged to maintain the first electrode at a positive voltage, and the second electrode at a negative voltage, these voltages being such that the voltage of the reticle is negative. The second electrode is disposed such that, when the reticle is supported by the support structure, it does not overlap an image forming portion of the reticle.