REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT AND PATENT APPLICATION

Reference is hereby made to U.S. Patent No. 9,588,066 and U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2017/0160081, both of which are owned by the assignee of the present invention, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to patterned X-ray emitting targets and to X- ray sources including patterned X-ray emitting targets as well as to X-ray reflectance scatterometry (XRS) systems, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) systems and X- ray fluorescence (XRF) systems which employ such X-ray emitting targets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of patterned X-ray emitting targets and X-ray sources including patterned X-ray emitting targets as well as X-ray reflectance scatterometry (XRS) systems, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) systems and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) systems which employ such X-ray emitting targets are known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide improved patterned X-ray emitting targets and X-ray sources including patterned X-ray emitting targets as well as X-ray reflectance scatterometry (XRS) systems, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) systems and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) systems which employ such X-ray emitting targets. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of an X-ray target constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention particularly useful for XPS and XRF measurement;

Fig. 2 is a simplified (not to scale) sectional illustration of the X-ray target of Fig. 1 , taken along lines II - II in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a simplified pictorial illustration of an X-ray target constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention particularly useful for XRS and XRD measurement;

Fig. 4 is a simplified (not to scale) sectional illustration of the X-ray target of Fig. 3, taken along lines IV - IV in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a simplified generalized illustration of an X-ray inspection system employing an X-ray target of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a simplified illustration of an XPS or XRF X-ray measurement system employing an X-ray target of an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 7 is a simplified illustration of an XRS or XRD X-ray measurement system employing an X-ray target of an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to Figs. 1 and 2, which are respective simplified pictorial and sectional illustrations of a patterned X-ray target 100 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The patterned X-ray target 100 preferably comprises a patterned X-ray impermeable mask 102, typically formed of gold and having one or more apertures (openings) 104, which define at least one X-ray passage window. Mask 102 is preferably formed of gold having a thickness of approximately 1 pm. It is appreciated that depending on the rate of desired blocking up, mask 102 could be thinner or thicker, such as a thickness of up to 2 pm.

Underlying mask 102 there is preferably provided an active layer 106, such as a layer of aluminum (Al), having a thickness of approximately 2 pm. Alternatively, the active layer 106 may be selected from tungsten (W), Tantalum (Ta), magnesium (Mg), or any other suitable material.

Underlying active layer 106 and bonded thereto, via a plurality of intermediate layers 108, is a diamond substrate 110. The plurality of intermediate layers 108 provide a graded transition between the pure metal of active layer 106 and the carbon diamond crystalline structure of diamond substrate 110. The intermediate layers 108 facilitate a transition between the two dissimilar materials, thus improving the bonding between the two materials. Reference is made to U.S. Patent No. 7,359,487, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, which describes various possible structures and compositions of intermediate layers 108.

Diamond substrate 110 is preferably of a thickness of 0.5 mm and underlies intermediate layers 108.

The properties of the diamond substrate 110 can be modified in a number of ways. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to dope the diamond with boron to increase the electrical conductivity (while also reducing thermal conductivity), for example, in order to dissipate the charge from an electron beam used to excite x-ray emission. In other circumstances, the thermal conductivity can be increased by optimizing impurities, grain size, grain boundaries or surface roughness of the diamond. Underlying diamond substrate 110 and bonded thereto via an additional plurality of intermediate layers 112 is a heatsink 114. The intermediate layers 112 may be selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, nickel, gold, silver, aluminum, copper, any alloy thereof, and any combination thereof.

Alternatively, the diamond substrate 110 may be bonded to the heat sink 114 by soldering, using one or more intermediate solder layers. The solder layer or layers may comprise a low melting temperature material that when heated to soldering temperatures would not cause undue oxidation of the ionizing radiation forming layer. Heat sink 114 preferably comprises a high thermal conductivity material; such as beryllium oxide (BeO), tungsten, silicon carbide, aluminum nitride, copper, aluminum, silver, cemented diamond (ScD) and any combination thereof.

Aperture(s) could be of any desired shape/dimension(s) e.g. spot-like or strip-like (straight, curved, etc.) and define any desired pattern (ID, 2D, periodic, random, etc.). In case of strip-like aperture (trench), mask might block beam of electrons and/or excited X-Rays along one axis (ID) only. Such configuration could be useful e.g. in case grazing angles of X-Ray incidence or when further necessary shaping of X-Ray achieved by directing optics (slits, focusing elements, etc.). Patterned X-ray target 100 and/or beam of electrons could be moved continuously or step-like along one or two axes, e.g. along strip-like aperture.

Reference is now made to Figs. 3 and 4, which are respective simplified pictorial and sectional illustrations of a patterned X-ray target 200 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The patterned X-ray target 200 preferably comprises a patterned X-ray impermeable mask 202, typically formed of gold and having one or more apertures (openings) 204, which define X-ray passage window(s). Mask 202 is preferably of a thickness in the range about 0.1 pm - 0.2 pm. It is appreciated that mask 202 should not be too thick to avoid possible “geometrical” obstruction of some of the grazing angle exit photons.

Underlying mask 202 and bonded thereto, via a plurality of intermediate layers 208, is a diamond substrate 210, typically of thickness 0.5 mm. In this embodiment, the diamond substrate 210 functions as an active layer. The properties of the diamond substrate 210 can be modified in a number of ways. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to dope the diamond with boron to increase the electrical conductivity (while also reducing thermal conductivity), for example, in order to dissipate the charge from an electron beam used to excite x-ray emission. In other circumstances, the thermal conductivity can be increased by optimizing impurities, grain size, grain boundaries or surface roughness of the diamond.

The plurality of intermediate layers 208 provide a graded transition between the carbon diamond crystalline structure of diamond substrate 210 and the pure metal of mask 202. The intermediate layers 208 facilitate a transition between the two dissimilar materials, thus improving the bonding between the two materials. Reference is made to US Patent 7,359,487, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, which describes the structure of intermediate layers 208.

Underlying diamond substrate 210 and bonded thereto, via an additional plurality of intermediate layers 212, is a heatsink 214. The intermediate layers 212 may be selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, nickel, gold, silver, aluminum, copper, any alloy thereof, and any combination thereof.

Alternatively, the diamond substrate 210 may be bonded to the heat sink 214 by soldering, using one or more intermediate solder layers. The solder layer or layers may comprise a low melting temperature material that when heated to soldering temperatures would not cause undue oxidation of the ionizing radiation forming layer. Heat sink 214 preferably comprises a high thermal conductivity material; such as beryllium oxide (BeO), tungsten, silicon carbide, aluminum nitride, copper, aluminum, silver, cemented diamond (ScD) and any combination thereof.

Aperture(s) could be of any desired shape/dimension(s) e.g. spot-like or strip-like (straight, curved, etc.) and define any desired pattern (ID, 2D, periodic, random, etc.). In case of strip-like aperture (trench), mask might block beam of electrons and/or excited X-Ray along one axis (ID) only. Such configuration could be useful e.g. in case grazing angles of X-Ray incidence or when further necessary shaping of X-Ray achieved by directing optics (slit(s), edge(s), focusing elements, etc.).

As seen in Fig. 4, intermediate layers 208 are preferably apertured in registration with one or more apertures 204. Reference is now made to Fig 5, which is a simplified generalized illustration of an X-ray inspection system employing a patterned X-ray target of an embodiment of the present invention.

As seen in Fig. 5, an electron beam 306 is provided by an electron beam gun 310. The electron beam 306 impinges upon the surface of an X-ray target 316, preferably an X-ray target of the type described above and shown in Figs. 1 - 4, and thus produces ionizing radiation 318, preferably x-rays. The ionizing radiation 318 may be employed for any suitable purpose.

In the illustrated embodiment, the ionizing radiation 318 impinges on a monochromator 320, such as a Bragg crystal monochromator, and preferably ionizing radiation 327 reflected from monochromator 320 impinges upon a sample 330 located on a sample holder 332, and more specifically onto a targeted sample surface 334 to be examined. The reflected ionizing radiation 327, such as x-rays, may be reflected and thus scattered by impingement on the sample 330. Additionally or alternatively, such impingement may result in the production of photoelectrons. A suitable detector 340 detects the reflected radiation 342. In one embodiment, the data generated by the detector 340 is communicated to a computer 350 for further processing to generate useful information and/or images.

Reference is now made to Fig 6, which is a simplified illustration of an XPS or XRF X-ray measurement system 700 employing an X-ray target of an embodiment of the present invention.

As seen in Fig. 6, X-ray measurement system 700 includes an electron beam source 702, for generating an electron beam 704. Electron beam 704 bombards an X-ray target 706, preferably an X-ray target of the type described above and shown in Figs. 1 - 4, and thereby generates an X-ray beam 708. A monochromator 709 receives X- ray beam 708 and produces a monochromatic X-ray beam 710. A sample holder 712 may be used to position a sample 713 in a pathway of monochromatic X-ray beam 710.

An XPS detector 714 may be provided for generating an XPS signal 715 resulting from bombardment of sample 714 with monochromatic X-ray beam 710. Alternatively or additionally, an XRF detector 716 may be provided for generating an XRF signal 718, also resulting from bombardment of sample 714 with monochromatic X-ray beam 710. The XRF signal 718 and the XPS signal 715 may be detected simultaneously or nearly simultaneously, representing a single sampling event. The XPS signal 715 and XRF signal 718 result from detection of photo-electrons and fluorescent X-rays, respectively. Additionally, a flux detector 721’ may be provided for determining an estimated flux of monochromatic X-ray beam 710. In one such embodiment, flux detector 721’ is positioned at sample holder 712, as depicted in FIG. 6. In another embodiment, an X-ray flux detector 721 is placed near the monochromator 709 to partially intersect a small fraction of the primary X-rays in X-ray beam 708 in order to monitor the X-ray flux while the sample holder 712 is positioned at an analysis site.

A computing system 728 preferably includes a user interface 720, a computing engine 722 and a memory 724. Computing system 728 may be configured to process the XPS signal 715 output by XPS detector 714 and/or the XRF signal 718 output by XRF detector 716. Computing system 728 may also be configured to monitor the primary X-ray flux as measured by flux detector 721 or 721’. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, computing system 728 is operative for normalizing the XPS signal 715 detected by XPS detector 714, as well as an XRF signal 718 detected by XRF detector 716 in accordance with the X-ray flux measured by flux detector 721 or 721’.

Reference is now made to Fig 7, which is a simplified illustration of an XRS and/or XRD X-ray measurement system 800 employing an X-ray target of an embodiment of the present invention and being operative for providing X-ray reflectance scatterometry.

As seen in Fig.7, X-ray measurement system 800 includes an electron beam source 802, for generating an electron beam 804. Electron beam 804 bombards a X-ray target 806, preferably an X-ray target of the type described above and shown in Figs. 1 - 4, and thereby generates an X-ray beam 808, preferably having an energy of approximately 1 keV or less. A monochromator 810 receives X-ray beam 808 and produces a monochromatic X-ray beam 812. A magnetic electron suppression device 813 is provided between the X-ray target 806 and the monochromator 810.

A sample holder 814 is preferably provided to position a sample 816, preferably having a periodic structure, in a pathway of monochromatic X-ray beam 812. The monochromator 810 is also operative for focusing the X-ray beam 808 to provide focused, monochromatic X-ray beam 812 to the sample holder 814. A detector 818 receives at least a portion of an X-ray beam 819 scattered from sample 816.

In the illustrated embodiment, the X-ray target 806 is designed for generating low energy X-rays and may include, in addition to the carbon in diamond substrate 212, molybdenum (Mo) or Rhodium (Rh) for higher energy XRF.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of various features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which are not in the prior art.