Jordan Valley Semiconductors Ltd.

Bruker Technologies Ltd.

Bruker Jv Israel Ltd.

Paul Anthony Ryan

Matthew Wormington

John Leonard Wall

Boris Yokhin

David Berman

Alexander Krokhmal

Mark James Vermeulen

John Spence

Adam Ginsburg

David Jacques

Richard Bytheway

A method for X-ray measurement includes generating and directing an X-ray beam to a sample including at least first and second layers stacked on one another, the X-ray beam incident on a sample location at which the first and second layers include respective first and second high aspect ratio (HAR) structures. X-ray scatter profiles are measured, that are emitted from the sample location in response to the X-ray beam as a function of tilt angle between the sample and the X-ray beam. A shift is estimated, between the first and second layers and a characteristic tilt of the first and second layers, based on the X-ray scatter profiles measured as a function of the tilt angle.

Transmission X-ray critical dimension (T-XCD) characterization of shift and tilt of stacks of high-aspect-ratio (HAR) structures

An apparatus for X-ray topography includes a source assembly, a detector assembly, a scanning assembly and a processor. The source assembly is configured to direct multiple X-ray beams so as to irradiate multiple respective regions on a sample, wherein the regions partially overlap one another along a first axis of the sample and are offset relative to one another along a second axis of the sample that is orthogonal to the first axis. The detector assembly is configured to detect the X-ray beams diffracted from the sample and to produce respective electrical signals in response to the detected X-ray beams. The scanning assembly is configured to move the sample relative to the source assembly and the detector assembly along the second axis. The processor is configured to identify defects in the sample by processing the electrical signals, which are produced by the detector assembly while the sample is moved.

Using multiple sources/detectors for high-throughput X-ray topography measurement

An X-ray optical device includes a crystal containing a channel, which passes through the crystal and has multiple internal faces. A mount is configured to hold the crystal in a fixed location relative to a source of an X-ray beam and to shift the crystal automatically between two predefined dispositions: a first disposition in which the X-ray beam passes through the channel while diffracting from one or more of the internal faces, and a second disposition in which the X-ray beam passes through the channel without diffraction by the crystal.

X-ray beam conditioning

Apparatus for inspection of a disk, which includes a crystalline material and has first and second sides. The apparatus includes an X-ray source, which is configured to direct a beam of X-rays to impinge on an area of the first side of the disk. An X-ray detector is positioned to receive and form input images of the X-rays that are diffracted from the area of the first side of the disk in a reflective mode. A motion assembly is configured to rotate the disk relative to the X-ray source and detector so that the area scans over a circumferential path in proximity to an edge of the disk. A processor is configured to process the input images formed by the X-ray detector along the circumferential path so as to generate a composite output image indicative of defects along the edge of the disk.

Detection of wafer-edge defects

A method for analysis includes directing a converging beam of X-rays toward a surface of a sample having multiple single-crystal layers, including at least a first layer and a second layer that is formed over and tilted relative to the first layer. The X-rays that are diffracted from each of the first and second layers are sensed simultaneously while resolving the sensed X-rays as a function of angle so as to generate a diffraction spectrum including at least a first diffraction peak due to the first layer and a second diffraction peak due to the second layer. The diffraction spectrum is analyzed so as to identify a characteristic of at least the second layer.

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Darlington, United Kingdom

Paul Anthony Ryan