Feasibility study of the approach to Flare, Shadowing, Optical and Process corrections for EUVL OPC

The switch from 193i to EUV Photolithography will bring some fundamental changes in exposure. The flare levels of an EUV machine are significantly higher compared with standard 193i machines. Moreover shadow effects on the reticle are not equivalent to 193i. It is inevitable that these fundamentals require modifications in the Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) flow. In this paper in collaboration with ASML BRION the critical enabling steps of the Mask Data Preparation (MDP) for EUVL, Flare, Shadowing and Optical and Process Corrections (OPC), are investigated. We measured the needs of the EUV MDP flow against the capabilities of a state-of-the art OPC flow built for 193i. Adaptations are being made to implement features which are currently not available in a 193i based flow. We present a feasibility study of the Model Based approach to the EUV OPC on a wide selection of features. Also we demonstrate simulations and verification of the EUV modeling capabilities of the TachyonTM with various levels and ranges of flare and prove the applicability of the reviewed approach to the process development for the 27nm EUV node.. We also evaluated the accuracy of the EUV OPC modeling and expected OPC corrections on the reviewed selection of clips as a substantial part of the overall CDU budget. Finally an overall EUV OPC flow as a manufacturable solution based on the Tachyon's predictions and ASML's knowledge of Photolithography was discussed.