Abstract: A dark field metrology device includes an objective lens arrangement and a zeroth order block to block zeroth order radiation. The objective lens arrangement directs illumination onto a specimen to be measured and collects scattered radiation from the specimen, the scattered radiation including zeroth order radiation and higher order diffracted radiation. The dark field metrology device is operable to perform an illumination scan to scan illumination over at least two different subsets of the maximum range of illumination angles; and simultaneously perform a detection scan which scans the zeroth order block and/or the scattered radiation with respect to each other over a corresponding subset of the maximum range of detection angles during at least part of the illumination scan.

Abstract: The system includes a radiation source, a diffractive element, an optical system, a detector, and a processor. The radiation source generates radiation. The diffractive element diffracts the radiation to generate a first beam and a second beam. The first beam includes a first non-zero diffraction order and the second beam includes a second non-zero diffraction order that is different from the first non-zero diffraction order. The optical system receives a first scattered beam and a second scattered radiation beam from a target structure and directs the first scattered beam and the second scattered beam towards a detector. The detector generates a detection signal. The processor analyzes the detection signal to determine a target structure property based on at least the detection signal. The first beam is attenuated with respect to the second beam or the first scattered beam is purposely attenuated with respect to the second scattered beam.

Abstract: A sensor is disclosed, wherein a transducer generates acoustic waves, which are received by a lens assembly. The lens assembly transmits and directs at least a part of the acoustic waves to a target. The lens assembly then receives at least a part of acoustic waves, after interaction with the target. The sensor further comprises an optical detector that comprises at least one optically reflective member located at a surface of the lens assembly, which surface is arranged opposite to a surface of the lens assembly which faces a focal plane of the lens assembly, wherein the at least one optically reflective member is mechanically displaced in response to the acoustic waves, which are received and transmitted by the lens assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of metrology comprising using measurement illumination to measure a target, said measurement illumination comprising a plurality of illumination conditions. The method comprises performing a first measurement capture with a first subset of said plurality of illumination conditions, e.g., each comprising a positive weighting, to obtain a first parameter value and performing a second measurement capture with a second subset of said plurality of illumination conditions, e.g., each comprising a negative weighting, to obtain a second parameter value. An optimized parameter value is determined as a weighted combination of at least the first parameter value and the second parameter value.

Abstract: A method includes irradiating a target structure with sequential illumination shots, directing scattered beams from the target structure towards an imaging detector, generating a detection signal using the imaging detector, and determining a property of the target structure based on at least the detection signal. An integration time for each illumination shot of the sequential illumination shots is selected so to reduce a low frequency error.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of metrology. The method comprises measuring at least one surrounding observable parameter relating to a surrounding signal contribution to a metrology signal which comprises a contribution to said metrology signal which is not attributable to at least one target being measured and determining a correction from said surrounding signal observable parameter. The correction is used to correct first measurement data relating to measurement of one or more targets using measurement radiation forming a measurement spot on one or more of said one or more targets which is larger than one of said targets.

Abstract: A metrology system (400) includes a multi-source radiation system. The multi-source radiation system includes a waveguide device (502) and the multi-source radiation system is configured to generate one or more beams of radiation. The metrology system (400) further includes a coherence adjuster (500) including a multimode waveguide device (504). The multimode waveguide device (504) includes an input configured to receive the one or more beams of radiation from the multi-source radiation system (514) and an output (518) configured to output a coherence adjusted beam of radiation for irradiating a target (418). The metrology system (400) further includes an actuator (506) coupled to the waveguide device (502) and configured to actuate the waveguide device (502) so as to change an impingement characteristic of the one or more beams of radiation at the input of the multimode waveguide device (504).

Abstract: A micromirror array comprises a substrate, a plurality of mirrors for reflecting incident light and, for each mirror of the plurality of mirrors, at least one multilayer piezoelectric actuator for displacing the mirror, wherein the at least one multilayer piezoelectric actuator is connected to the substrate, and wherein the at least one multilayer piezoelectric actuator comprises a plurality of piezoelectric layers of piezoelectric material interleaved with a plurality of electrode layers to form a stack of layers. Also disclosed is a method of forming such a micromirror array. The micromirror array may be used in a programmable illuminator. The programmable illuminator may be used in a lithographic apparatus and/or in an inspection and/or metrology apparatus.

Abstract: A method for a metrology process, the method includes obtaining first measurement data relating to a first set of measurement conditions and determining a first measurement recipe based on the first measurement data. At least one performance indicator is determined from one or more components of the first measurement data obtained from a component analysis or statistical decomposition. Alternatively, at least one performance indicator is determined from a comparison of one or more first measurement values relating to the first measurement recipe and one or more second measurement values relating to a second measurement recipe, where second measurement recipe is different to the first measurement data and relates a second set of measurement conditions, the second set of measurement conditions being different to the first set of measurement conditions.

Abstract: A micromirror array comprises a substrate, a plurality of mirrors for reflecting incident light and, for each mirror of the plurality of mirrors, at least one piezoelectric actuator for displacing the mirror, wherein the at least one piezoelectric actuator is connected to the substrate. The micromirror array further comprises one or more pillars connecting the mirror to the at least one piezoelectric actuator. Also disclosed is a method of forming such a micromirror array. The micromirror array may be used in a programmable illuminator. The programmable illuminator may be used in a lithographic apparatus and/or in an inspection and/or metrology apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metrology system comprising: a pre-alignment metrology tool operable to measure a plurality of targets on a substrate to obtain measurement data; and a processing unit. The processing unit is operable to: process said measurement data to determine for each target at least one position distribution which describes variation of said position value over at least part of said target; and determine a measurement correction from said at least one position distribution which corrects for within-target variation in each of said targets, said measurement correction for correcting measurements performed by an alignment sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a stage position or correction therefor in a lithographic process. The method comprises obtaining transmission data describing the transmission of alignment radiation onto the substrate; obtaining position data relating to a stage position of said stage and/or a sensor position of said sensor. A weighting is determined for the position data based on said transmission data. The position based on said transmission data, position data and weighting.

Abstract: Disclosed is an illumination arrangement for spectrally shaping a broadband illumination beam to obtain a spectrally shaped illumination beam. The illumination arrangement comprises a beam dispersing element for dispersing the broadband illumination beam and a spatial light modulator for spatially modulating the broadband illumination beam subsequent to being dispersed. The illumination arrangement further comprises at least one of a beam expanding element for expanding said broadband illumination beam in at least one direction, located between an input of the illumination arrangement and the spatial light modulator; and a lens array, each lens of which for directing a respective wavelength band of the broadband illumination beam subsequent to being dispersed onto a respective region of the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A metrology system includes a radiation source, first, second, and third optical systems, and a processor. The first optical system splits the radiation into first and second beams of radiation and impart one or more phase differences between the first and second beams. The second optical system directs the first and second beams toward a target structure to produce first and second scattered beams of radiation. The third optical system interferes the first and second scattered beams at an imaging detector. The imaging detector generates a detection signal based on the interfered first and second scattered beams. The metrology system modulates one or more phase differences of the first and second scattered beams based on the imparted one or more phase differences. The processor analyzes the detection signal to determine a property of the target structure based on at least the modulated one or more phase differences.

Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate and associated patterning device. The substrate comprises at least one target arrangement suitable for metrology of a lithographic process, the target arrangement comprising at least one pair of similar target regions which are arranged such that the target arrangement is, or at least the target regions for measurement in a single direction together are, centrosymmetric. A metrology method is also disclosed for measuring the substrate. A metrology method is also disclosed comprising which comprises measuring such a target arrangement and determining a value for a parameter of interest from the scattered radiation, while correcting for distortion of the metrology apparatus used.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a position of a mark on a substrate, the apparatus comprising: an illumination system configured to condition at least one radiation beam to form a plurality of illumination spots spatially distributed in series such that during scanning of the substrate the plurality of illumination spots are incident on the mark sequentially, and a projection system configured to project radiation diffracted by the mark from the substrate, the diffracted radiation being produced by diffraction of the plurality of illumination spots by the mark; wherein the projection system is further configured to modulate the diffracted radiation and project the modulated radiation onto a detecting system configured to produce signals corresponding to each of the plurality of illumination spots, the signals being combined to determine the position of the mark.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of metrology such as alignment metrology. The method comprises obtaining pupil plane measurement dataset at a pupil plane relating to scattered radiation resultant from a measurement of a structure. The method comprises determining a measurement value or correction therefor using the pupil plane measurement dataset and a sensor term relating to sensor optics used to perform said measurement.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a stage position or correction therefor in a lithographic process. The method comprises obtaining transmission data describing the transmission of alignment radiation onto the substrate; obtaining position data relating to a stage position of said stage and/or a sensor position of said sensor. A weighting is determined for the position data based on said transmission data. The position based on said transmission data, position data and weighting.

Abstract: A micromirror array includes a substrate, a plurality of mirrors for reflecting incident radiation, and for each mirror of the plurality of mirrors, a respective post connecting the substrate to the respective mirror. The micromirror array further includes, for each mirror of the plurality of mirrors, one or more electrostatic actuators connected to the substrate for applying force to the respective post to displace the respective post relative to the substrate, thereby displacing the respective mirror. Also disclosed is a method of forming such a micromirror array. The micromirror array may be used in a programmable illuminator. The programmable illuminator may be used in a lithographic apparatus and/or in an inspection apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is an illumination system for delivering incoherent radiation to a metrology sensor system. Also disclosed is an associated metrology system and method. The illumination system comprises a spatial filter system for selective spatial filtering of a beam of said incoherent radiation outside of a module housing of the metrology sensor system. At least one optical guide is provided for guiding the spatially filtered beam of incoherent radiation to the metrology sensor system, the at least one optical guide being such that the radiation guided has a substantially similar output angle as input angle.