DETECTION AND PRINTABILITY OF SHIFTER DEFECTS IN PHASE-SHIFTING MASKS

Because of the high printability of shifter defects in phase-shifting masks, it is worthwhile to characterize the inspection and printing of the shifter defects. The detectability and printability of shifter defects as a function of size and location have been investigated by experiments and simulation. A test mask with various programmed shifter defects was inspected by means of a die-to-die inspection system and printed in positive resist with an i-line stepper. Corner defects are difficult to detect and have low printability. A defect located in small features has high printability. We have also investigated the detectability and printability of the phase angle defects which have phase angles other than 180-degrees. Defects with 120-degrees to 180-degrees phase angles have high printability. Defects with phase angles below 90-degrees are not printed.