Abstract: An optical system for detecting defects on a wafer that includes a device for producing a beam and directing the beam onto the wafer surface, producing an illuminated spot on the wafer's surface. The system further includes a detector detecting light, and a mirrored assembly having together with the detector an axis of symmetry about a line perpendicular to the wafer surface. The assembly is configured to receive scattered light from the surface, where the scattered light including a first scattered light part being scattered from the pattern. The assembly is further configured to reflect and focus rotationally symmetrically about the axis of symmetry the scattered light to the detector. The system further includes a device operating with the detector for facilitating detection of a scattered light other than the specified scattered light due to pattern.

Abstract: System for scanning a surface, comprising a light source producing an illuminating light beam; an objective lens assembly, located between the light source and the surface; a plurality of interchangeable telescopes, a selected one of the interchangeable telescopes being located between the light source and the objective lens assembly; and at least one light detector, wherein at least one of the light detectors detects at least a portion of a reflected light beam, reflected from the surface and received from the selected telescope.

Abstract: A cascaded image intensifier device is presented. In one embodiment the device comprises: at least two sections in cascade, each of a first section and a last section out of the at least two sections including a photocathode unit adapted to convert photons to electrons and a screen unit adapted to convert electrons to photons; wherein the first section includes a reducing element adapted to: (i) reduce ion-caused degradation of a photocathode unit of the first section, and (ii) reduce a number of photons exiting from the first section from a first value to a second value; and wherein the last section outputs a number of photons that equals or exceeds the first value. Also disclosed are methods and systems using the disclosed cascaded image intensifier device.

Abstract: A substrate inspection system includes two or more inspection modules supported on a plate. A chamber is supported beneath the plate by a translation system, which is configured to provide horizontal displacement of the chamber under the plate to permit loading and unloading of a substrate to/from the chamber. Thus, when the chamber is in a loading/unloading position it is at least partially uncovered from the plate. The translation system may be further configured to provide vertical displacement of the chamber with respect to the plate so as to position an upper surface of a wall of the chamber in close proximity to a lower surface of the plate when the chamber is in an inspection position. In such a position, the upper surface of the wall of the chamber and the lower surface of the plate may be separated by an air gap.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a region, including irradiating the region via an optical system with a pump beam at a pump wavelength. A probe beam at a probe wavelength irradiates the region so as to generate returning probe beam radiation from the region. The beams are scanned across the region at a scan rate. A detector receives the returning probe radiation, and forms an image of the region that corresponds to a resolution better than pump and probe Abbe limits of the optical system. Roles of the pump and probe beams may be alternated, and a modulation frequency of the pump beam may be changed, to produce more information.

Abstract: A method for recording a pattern includes: (i) determining an illumination scheme in response to the pattern; and (ii) directing, in response to the determination, at least one beam of radiation having a first cross-section towards an saturable absorber such as to allow a portion of said bean to propagate towards a radiation sensitive layer; wherein the portion has a second cross-section that is smaller than the first cross-section.

Abstract: System for scanning a surface, including a light source producing an illuminating light beam; an objective lens assembly, located between the light source and the surface; at least one light detector; an apodizator located between the light source and the objective lens assembly; and a relay lens assembly located between the apodizator and the objective lens assembly, wherein the light source produces an image of the illuminating light beam on the apodizator, the apodizator blocks at least a portion of the illuminating light beam, the relay lens assembly images the blocked illuminating light beam at an entrance pupil of the objective lens assembly, and wherein at least one of said at least one light detector, detects light reflected from said surface.

Abstract: System for scanning a surface, comprising a light source producing an illuminating light beam; an objective lens assembly, located between the light source and the surface; a plurality of interchangeable telescopes, a selected one of the interchangeable telescopes being located between the light source and the objective lens assembly; and at least one light detector, wherein at least one of the light detectors detects at least a portion of a reflected light beam, reflected from the surface and received from the selected telescope.

Abstract: A method for scanning a surface, consisting of focusing an array of optical beams using optics having an axis, so as to illuminate a region of the surface intercepted by the axis, such that each optical beam illuminates a portion of a respective sub-region within the region. The method further includes moving at least one of the array and the surface so as to cause a translation of the surface relative to the axis in a first direction. During the translation in the first direction, each of the optical beams is scanned over the respective sub-region in a second direction, which is different from the first direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for parallel processing of data without the need for cross-communication or synchronization between processing nodes is provided. The system is especially suitable for use in a wafer inspection system for the semiconductor industry. Embodiments include scanning a small area of the wafer, and distributing pixel data among a plurality of processing nodes, each of which accept and process an optimal amount of pixel data independently of the other processing nodes, thereby enabling increased throughput without increasing system complexity.

Abstract: System for scanning a surface, comprising a light source producing an illuminating light beam; an objective lens assembly, located between the light source and the surface; a plurality of interchangeable telescopes, a selected one of the interchangeable telescopes being located between the light source and the objective lens assembly; and at least one light detector, wherein at least one of the light detectors detects at least a portion of a reflected light beam, reflected from the surface and received from the selected telescope.

Abstract: A substrate inspection system includes two or more inspection modules supported on a plate. A chamber is supported beneath the plate by a translation system, which is configured to provide horizontal displacement of the chamber under the plate to permit loading and unloading of a substrate to/from the chamber. Thus, when the chamber is in a loading/unloading position it is at least partially uncovered from the plate. The translation system may be further configured to provide vertical displacement of the chamber with respect to the plate so as to position an upper surface of a wall of the chamber in close proximity to a lower surface of the plate when the chamber is in an inspection position. In such a position, the upper surface of the wall of the chamber and the lower surface of the plate may be separated by an air gap.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating optical radiation includes a laser, which is configured to operate in multiple transverse modes simultaneously so as to generate an input beam, which is characterized by a first speckle contrast. The transverse modes of the input beam are optically mixed so as to generate an output beam have a second speckle contrast, which is substantially less than the first speckle contrast.

Abstract: A method for scanning a surface, consisting of focusing an array of beams using optics having an axis, so as to irradiate a region of the surface intercepted by the axis, such that each beam irradiates a portion of a respective sub-region within the region. The method further includes moving at least one of the array and the surface so as to cause a translation of the surface relative to the axis in a first direction. During the translation in the first direction, each of the beams is scanned over the respective sub-region in a second direction, which is different from the first direction.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit having an amplifier chain comprising an input port and output port with a plurality of interconnected gain stages positioned in between. The output of one interconnected gain stage provides an input to the next stage within the amplifier chain. The output port coupled to the plurality of interconnected gain stages such that the amplifier circuit output is generated from any one or more of the interconnected gain stages.

Abstract: System for scanning a surface, comprising a light source producing an illuminating light beam; an objective lens assembly, located between the light source and the surface; a plurality of interchangeable telescopes, a selected one of the interchangeable telescopes being located between the light source and the objective lens assembly; and at least one light detector, wherein at least one of the light detectors detects at least a portion of a reflected light beam, reflected from the surface and received from the selected telescope.

Abstract: A system for inspecting a specimen, such as a semiconductor wafer that uses a laser light source for providing a beam of light. The beam is applied to a traveling lens acousto-optic device having an active region and responsive to an RF input signal to selectively generate plural traveling lenses in the active region. The traveling lens acousto-optic device is operative to receive the light beam and generate plural flying spot beams, at the respective focus of each of the generated traveling lenses. A light detector unit, having a plurality of detector sections, each detector section having a plurality of light detectors and at least one multi-stage storage device operative to receive in parallel an input from the plurality of light detectors, is used to generate useable scan data. Information stored in each of the storage devices is serially read out concurrently from the multiple stages.

Abstract: System for scanning a surface, comprising a light source producing an illuminating light beam; an objective lens assembly, located between the light source and the surface; a plurality of interchangeable telescopes, a selected one of the interchangeable telescopes being located between the light source and the objective lens assembly; and at least one light detector, wherein at least one of the light detectors detects at least a portion of a reflected light beam, reflected from the surface and received from the selected telescope.

Abstract: A system and method for inspection of a substrate having a first refractive index, the method including the steps of: (i) defining an apodization scheme in response to a characteristic of the layer; (ii) applying an apodizer to apodize a beam of radiation in response to the apodization scheme; (iii) directing the apodized beam of radiation to impinge on the substrate, whereby a plurality of rays are reflected from the substrate; whereas the apodized beam of radiation propagates through an at least partially transparent medium having a third refractive index and an at least partially transparent layer having a second refractive index and is subsequently reflected from the substrate; whereas the second refractive index differs from the first refractive index and from the third refractive index; and (iv) detecting at least some of the plurality of reflected rays.

Abstract: System for scanning a surface, including a light source producing an illuminating light beam; an objective lens assembly, located between the light source and the surface; at least one light detector; an apodizator located between the light source and the objective lens assembly; and a relay lens assembly located between the apodizator and the objective lens assembly, wherein the light source produces an image of the illuminating light beam on the apodizator, the apodizator blocks at least a portion of the illuminating light beam, the relay lens assembly images the blocked illuminating light beam at an entrance pupil of the objective lens assembly, and wherein at least one of said at least one light detector, detects light reflected from said surface.