JP2015180903A - Laser device, and exposure device and inspection device comprising the laser device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser device of a concise structure which can control output light at high speed and stably.SOLUTION: A laser device LS includes: a laser light generating unit 1 having a first light source 11 that generates laser light of a first wavelength and a second light source 12 that generates laser light of a second wavelength; an amplification unit 2 that amplifies laser light of the first and second wavelengths output from the laser light generating unit to output first and second amplification light; a wavelength conversion unit 3 having a first wavelength conversion optical element 31 that performs wavelength conversion of first amplification light to first conversion light while allowing second amplification light to pass through, and a second wavelength conversion optical element 32 that generates second conversion light from first conversion light and second amplification light; and a control unit 8 that controls the actuation of the laser light generating unit. The control unit 8 controls the output timing of laser light of the first wavelength and laser light of the second wavelength output from the laser light output unit, to control overlapping of first conversion light and second amplification light in time, and control the output state of second conversion light.

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser device including a laser light generation unit that generates laser light, an amplification unit that amplifies the laser light, and a wavelength conversion unit that converts the wavelength of the amplified laser light. The present invention also relates to a laser system such as an exposure apparatus and an inspection apparatus provided with such a laser apparatus.

  The laser apparatus as described above is used as a light source of a laser system such as a microscope, a shape measuring apparatus, an exposure apparatus, and an inspection apparatus. The output wavelength of the laser device is set according to the application and function of the system to be incorporated. For example, a laser device that outputs deep ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 193 nm, a laser device that records ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 355 nm, and the like are known. ing. The wavelength of the laser light generated by the laser light generation unit, the number of amplifier columns and stages provided in the amplification unit, and the type and combination of wavelength conversion optical elements provided in the wavelength conversion unit are set according to the application and function of the laser system. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In such a laser apparatus, several methods have been proposed to turn on / off output light at high speed. For example, in the first technique, the wavelength conversion optical system includes a plurality of parallel optical paths (for example, the first series and the second series) and serial optical paths on which light emitted from these parallel optical paths is superimposed and incident, A light source and an amplifier are provided corresponding to the parallel optical path. Pulse light emitted from each light source and amplified by an amplifier is incident on the first series and the second series, and the light emission timing of each light source is adjusted. That is, the temporal superposition of the pulsed light passing through the first series and the pulsed light passing through the second series in the wavelength conversion optical element at the final stage of the series path is controlled, thereby controlling the output light on / off. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

  In the second technique, the wavelength conversion optical system is a single serial optical path composed of a plurality of wavelength conversion optical elements, and is configured by a set of light sources and amplifiers. Then, the seed light emitted from the light source is switched between a state where the peak power is high and a state where the peak power is low, thereby changing the wavelength conversion efficiency and controlling the output light on / off.

JP 2004-86193 A International Publication No. 2007/0511010 Pamphlet

  Certainly, in the first technique, all the wavelength conversion optical elements except for the respective light sources, amplifiers, and final stage wavelength conversion optical elements constituting the laser device are always in an operating state or a wavelength conversion state. Therefore, the output light can be controlled on / off stably at high speed. However, this method cannot be applied to a simple system in which light having a wavelength of 355 nm is generated by the third harmonic of a single light source having a wavelength of 1065 nm, for example. In addition, a light source and an amplifier are required according to the number of parallel circuits forming the wavelength conversion optical system, and there is a problem that the configuration of the laser device is complicated.

  In the second technique, the configuration of the laser device is simple, but the power of the laser light incident on the wavelength conversion optical system increases or decreases as the output light is turned on / off. All the conversion optical elements change greatly in the thermal state. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to stably control on / off the output light at high speed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a laser apparatus that can control output light at high speed and stably with a simple configuration. It is another object of the present invention to provide an exposure apparatus, an inspection apparatus, etc. with a simple system configuration.

  A first aspect illustrating the present invention is a laser device. The laser apparatus includes a laser light generation unit including a first light source that generates a pulsed first wavelength laser beam and a second light source that generates a pulsed second wavelength laser beam, and a first wavelength and a second wavelength. Amplifying the first wavelength laser beam by amplifying the first wavelength laser beam and the second wavelength laser beam output from the laser beam generator having an amplifier having a gain in the wavelength band including the wavelength An amplifying unit that outputs second amplified light obtained by amplifying the first amplified light and the second wavelength laser light, and wavelength-converting the first amplified light output from the amplifying unit into first converted light and transmitting the second amplified light And a wavelength conversion unit having a second wavelength conversion optical element that generates second converted light by wavelength conversion from the first converted light and the second amplified light transmitted through the first wavelength converted optical element And a control unit that controls the operation of the laser light generation unit. Then, the control unit controls the relative output timing of the first wavelength laser beam and the second wavelength laser beam output from the laser beam output unit, so that the first converted light and the first converted light in the second wavelength conversion optical element are changed. The output state of the second converted light is controlled by controlling temporal superposition with the two amplified light.

  The first wavelength and the second wavelength are the phase matching between the first converted light and the first amplified light, while the first converted light and the second amplified light satisfy the phase matching condition in the second wavelength conversion optical element. A wavelength that does not satisfy the condition can be set. Further, in the first wavelength conversion optical element, the first wavelength and the second wavelength may be set to wavelengths such that the first amplified light satisfies the phase matching condition while the second amplified light does not satisfy the phase matching condition. it can.

  In addition, the control unit controls on / off of the second converted light by switching between the state in which the first converted light and the second amplified light overlap in time and the state in which the second converted light does not overlap in the second wavelength conversion optical element. Can be configured to. Further, the control unit may be configured to control the power of the second converted light by changing a temporal overlap rate between the first converted light and the second amplified light in the second wavelength conversion optical element. it can.

  A second aspect illustrating the present invention is an exposure apparatus. This exposure apparatus is output from the laser apparatus as described above, a mask support section that holds a photomask on which a predetermined exposure pattern is formed, an exposure object support section that holds an exposure object, and a laser apparatus. An illumination optical system for irradiating a photomask held by a mask support with laser light, and a projection optical system for projecting light transmitted through the photomask onto an exposure target held by an exposure target support Is done.

  A third aspect illustrating the present invention is an inspection apparatus. This inspection apparatus irradiates the test object held by the test object support part with the laser apparatus as described above, the test object support part that holds the test object, and the laser beam output from the laser apparatus. An illumination optical system and a projection optical system that projects light from the test object onto the detector are configured.

  In the laser device according to the first aspect, the amplifying unit includes an amplifier having a gain in light in a wavelength band including the first wavelength and the second wavelength, and the first wavelength laser light output from the laser light generating unit and The second wavelength laser light is amplified by the same amplifier. In addition, the control unit controls the relative output timing of the first wavelength laser beam and the second wavelength laser beam output from the laser beam output unit, so that the first converted light in the second wavelength conversion optical element and The temporal superposition with the second amplified light is controlled to control the output state of the second converted light. That is, this laser device has a single optical path configuration in which an amplifier and a wavelength conversion optical system are connected in series, and a wavelength conversion optical element excluding the first and second light sources, the amplifier, and the second wavelength conversion optical element Is in an operating state, it is thermally stable, and the output light can be controlled on / off stably at high speed by the timing control by the control unit. Therefore, it is possible to provide a laser apparatus that can control the output light with a simple configuration at high speed and stably on / off.

  The exposure apparatus according to the second aspect includes the laser apparatus according to the first aspect. Therefore, an exposure apparatus with a simple system configuration can be provided.

  The inspection apparatus according to the third aspect includes the laser apparatus according to the first aspect. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inspection apparatus with a simple configuration of the entire system.

It is a schematic block diagram of the laser apparatus shown as an example of application of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the pulse in the wavelength conversion part when output light is ON. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the pulse of the 1st conversion light and the 2nd amplification light in the 2nd wavelength conversion optical element when output light is ON. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the pulse in the wavelength conversion part when output light is OFF. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the pulse of the 1st converted light and the 2nd amplified light in the 2nd wavelength conversion optical element when output light is OFF. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the duplication rate of the pulse train of the 1st converted light and the pulse train of the 2nd amplified light in a 2nd wavelength conversion optical element was changed. It is a schematic block diagram of the exposure apparatus shown as a 1st application example of the system provided with the laser apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram of the test | inspection apparatus shown as the 2nd application example of the system provided with the laser apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a laser apparatus LS exemplified as an aspect of the present invention. The laser device LS is output from the laser light generator 1 that generates pulsed laser light (seed light), the amplifier 2 that amplifies the seed light generated by the laser light generator 1, and the amplifier 2 A wavelength conversion unit 3 that converts the wavelength of the amplified light and a control unit 8 that controls the operation of each unit are configured.

  Specific configurations of the laser light generation unit 1, the amplification unit 2, and the wavelength conversion unit 3 include a number of configuration forms as disclosed in the above-described patent documents and the like. In this embodiment, the case where the wavelength of the seed light generated in the laser light generation unit 1 is 1.06 μm band infrared light and the wavelength of the output light output from the wavelength conversion unit 3 is 355 nm ultraviolet light is taken as an example. explain.

The laser light generator 1 has two light sources that have a wavelength band of 1.06 μm and have slightly different oscillation wavelengths. That is, the laser light generator 1 is provided with a first light source 11 that generates seed light having a first wavelength λ ₁ and a second light source 12 that generates seed light having a second wavelength λ ₂ . Here, the wavelength difference Δλ is 10 nm, the first wavelength λ ₁ = 1068 nm, and the second wavelength λ ₂ = 1058 nm.

For both the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 that generate seed light having the above-described wavelength, a DFB (Distributed Feedback) semiconductor laser having an oscillation wavelength of 1.06 μm band can be used. By controlling the operating temperature with the temperature regulator, the oscillation wavelength of the DFB semiconductor laser can be arbitrarily set within a certain range. The DFB semiconductor laser can perform CW oscillation and pulse oscillation by controlling the waveform of the drive current. In this configuration example, the case where the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 are pulse-oscillated at a predetermined repetition rate of about 1 to 10 MHz will be mainly described. The operation of the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 is controlled by the control unit 8. Seed light Ls ₂ of the laser light generating portion 1 of the first wavelength lambda ₁ of the output pulsed seed light Ls ₁ and the second wavelength lambda ₂ are multiplexed by the coupler 16 is incident on the amplifying section 2.

The amplification unit 2 includes a fiber amplifier 21 that amplifies the seed light output from the laser light generation unit 1. The fiber amplifier 21 is a fiber amplifier having a gain for light in a wavelength band of 1.06 μm including the first wavelength λ ₁ and the second wavelength λ ₂ . As such a fiber amplifier, an ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier (YDFA) can be suitably used.

  The fiber amplifier (YDFA) 21 is mainly composed of an amplifying fiber 21a having a core doped with ytterbium (Yb) and a pumping light source 21b for supplying pumping light to the amplifying fiber. The gain of the fiber amplifier 21 is controlled by controlling the power of pumping light that excites the amplification fiber 21a. Specifically, the control unit 8 controls the driving power of the pumping light source 21b.

Since YDFA has a gain in the band of 1000 to 1100 nm, the seed light Ls ₁ having the first wavelength λ ₁ = 1068 nm and the seed light Ls ₂ having the second wavelength λ ₂ = 1058 nm can be amplified. Further, the seed light Ls ₂ of the seed beam Ls ₁ and the second wavelength lambda ₂ of the first wavelength lambda ₁ incident are combined by the coupler 16 to the fiber amplifier 21 are each independently of the wavelength difference Δλ is about 10nm amplified, first amplified light La _1, and the second amplifying light La ₂ the fiber amplifier 21 to the seed light Ls ₂ of the second wavelength is amplified seed beam Ls ₁ of the first wavelength is amplified (amplification 2) Is output from.

For simplicity, the fiber amplifier 21 is shown in a single stage. For example, a plurality of single-clad fiber amplifiers are connected in series, or a single-clad fiber amplifier and a double-clad fiber amplifier are connected in series. The amplification unit 2 can be configured by connecting a plurality of fiber amplifiers in series. The first amplified light La ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ output from the amplification unit 2 enter the wavelength conversion unit 3.

The wavelength converter 3 is provided with a wavelength conversion optical system 30 through which the first amplified light La ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ output from the amplifier ₂ propagate. The wavelength conversion optical system 30 mainly includes a first wavelength conversion optical element 31 and a second wavelength conversion optical element 32, and includes a lens, a wavelength plate, and the like that are not shown. The first amplified light La ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ incident on the wavelength conversion unit 3 are condensed and incident on the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 via the lens.

The first wavelength conversion optical element 31 generates the second harmonic (first converted light Lv ₁ ) of the first amplified light La ₁ by second harmonic generation (SHG), while the second amplified light. La ₂ is a nonlinear optical crystal that passes through without wavelength conversion. As means for realizing such an action, in the present technology, a wavelength difference Δλ between the first amplified light La ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ is used. In other words, in the first wavelength conversion optical element 31, only the first wavelength λ ₁ and the first amplified light La ₁ satisfy the phase matching condition, and the second amplified light La ₂ does not satisfy the phase matching condition. A second wavelength λ ₂ is set.

As the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 for generating the second harmonic of the first amplified light La _1, a configuration in which an LBO (LiB ₃ O ₅ ) crystal is used in non-critical phase matching (NCPM) is illustrated. The When the phase matching is non-critical phase matching, no walk-off occurs in the generated first converted light Lv ₁ having a wavelength of 534 nm. Therefore, wavelength conversion can be efficiently performed while ensuring a sufficient interaction length. In addition, since the beam section of the output first converted light does not become elliptical, a shaping optical element such as a cylindrical lens is provided between the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 and the second wavelength conversion optical element 32. There is no need to provide it, and the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 can efficiently perform wavelength conversion.

The case where an LBO crystal is used as the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 will be specifically described. For example, when an LBO crystal having an optical axis length of about 20 mm is used, the first wavelength λ ₁ or the second wavelength λ _{For 2} , the allowable width of the wavelength λ satisfying the phase matching condition at a predetermined temperature is about several nm. Therefore, if the crystal temperature of the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 is set so as to satisfy the phase matching condition for the first amplified light La ₁ having a wavelength of 1068 nm, only the first amplified light La ₁ satisfies the phase matching condition, and the wavelength The second amplified light La _{2 having a} difference of λ by 10 nm does not satisfy the phase matching condition. Accordingly, only the first amplified light La ₁ is wavelength-converted in the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 to generate the first converted light Lv ₁ that is the second harmonic, and the second amplified light La ₂ is wavelength-converted. Instead, the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 is transmitted as it is.

Although a configuration has been described example using the LBO crystal in non critical phase matching (NCPM) as the first wavelength converting optical element 31, the method LBO crystal or _{BBO (β-BaB 2 O 4} ) nonlinear optical crystal such as A configuration in which the crystal is used for critical phase matching (CPM) can be similarly applied by using the wavelength difference Δλ. In other words, by setting the angular position of the first wavelength converting optical element 31 for the first amplified light La ₁ phase matching condition is satisfied, the first converted light Lv ₁ and only the first amplified light La ₁ wavelength conversion And the second amplified light La ₂ can be transmitted without wavelength conversion. The same applies to a configuration using a quasi phase matching (QPM) crystal such as a PPLN (Periodically Poled LiNbO ₃ ) crystal or a PPLT (Periodically Poled LiTaO ₃ ) crystal.

Thus, the first amplified light La ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ incident on the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 are wavelength-converted only in the first amplified light La ₁ having a wavelength of 1068 nm, and the first amplified light La ₁ having a wavelength of 534 nm is converted into a first wavelength. The converted light Lv ₁ is generated, and the second amplified light La ₂ having a wavelength of 1058 nm is transmitted without being wavelength-converted. The first converted light Lv ₁ having a wavelength of 534 nm generated by the first wavelength converting optical element 31 and the second amplified light La ₂ having a wavelength of 1058 nm transmitted through the first wavelength converting optical element 31 are either one of the two wavelength wave plates ( For example, the polarization plane of the second amplified light is rotated by 90 degrees and condensed and incident on the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 (here, the first amplified light La ₁ and the second amplified light are emitted when exiting from the fiber amplifier 21). It is assumed that the polarization direction of La ₂ is the same).

The second wavelength conversion optical element 32 is a non-linear optical crystal that generates a sum frequency of the first converted light Lv ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ by sum frequency generation (SFG). At this time, the light incident on the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 also includes excess first amplified light La ₁ that has been transmitted through the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 without being wavelength-converted. However, the second wavelength converting optical element 32 utilizes first amplified light La ₁ and the wavelength difference Δλ between the second amplifying optical La _2, the second amplifier of the first converted light Lv ₁ and wavelength 1058nm wavelength 534nm The light La ₂ satisfies the phase matching condition for sum frequency generation, and the first converted light Lv ₁ having a wavelength of 534 nm and the first amplified light La ₁ having a wavelength of 1068 nm are set so as not to satisfy the phase matching condition for sum frequency generation. The

As the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 that generates the sum frequency of the first converted light Lv ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ , a configuration in which an LBO crystal is used in type I critical phase matching (CPM) is exemplified. At this time, the second wavelength converting optical element 32 generates a second converted light Lv ₂ having a wavelength of 355 nm by generating a sum frequency of the first converted light Lv ₁ having a wavelength of 534 nm and the second amplified light La ₂ having a wavelength of 1058 nm. Crystals are cut out according to the matching conditions. Therefore, when the LBO crystal whose length in the optical axis direction is about 20 mm is used as the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 and the angular position of the incident light with respect to the crystal is adjusted, the first converted light Lv ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ satisfies the phase matching condition and generates the second converted light Lv ₂ having a wavelength of 355 nm. However, the first converted light Lv ₁ and the first amplified light La ₁ do not satisfy the phase matching condition, and conversion of the sum frequency is performed. No light is generated.

As the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 for generating the second converted light, a BBO (β-BaB ₂ O ₄ ) crystal or a CLBO (CsLiB ₆ O ₁₀ ) crystal may be used. The second converted light Lv ₂ having a wavelength of 355 nm generated by the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 is emitted from the wavelength converter 3 and output from the laser device LS.

The configuration of the laser light generation unit 1, the amplification unit 2, and the wavelength conversion unit 3 has been described above. In the laser device LS, the control unit 8 controls the operation of the laser light generation unit 1 to output light. the second converted light Lv ₂ is has become fast and stably controlled. As described above, the laser light generator 1 includes the first light source 11 that generates the seed light Ls ₁ having the first wavelength λ ₁ and the second light source 12 that generates the seed light Ls ₂ having the second wavelength λ _2. And are provided. In this configuration example, the control unit 8 controls the operation of the first and second light sources, thereby controlling the output light at high speed and stably.

  The control unit 8 drives the first light source 11 based on the clock generator 80 that generates a clock signal having a frequency of about 100 MHz, which is a reference when controlling the operation of each unit, and the clock signal generated by the clock generator 80. A light source driver 81 for generating a first drive signal to be generated and a second drive signal for driving the second light source 12, and a light source driver 81 based on a processing program of a system in which the laser device LS is mounted and an output command input from an operation panel. And a light source controller 83 for outputting a command signal.

  In this configuration example, the first drive signal for driving the first light source 11 and the second drive signal for driving the second light source 12 are both pulses with an on-time of 1 to several nsec and a repetition frequency of about 1 to 10 MHz. The pulse train is repeated. Here, both the first drive signal and the second drive signal are pulse trains having an ON time of 1 nsec and a repetition frequency of 1 MHz.

When the output command input from the operation panel or the like to the control unit 8 is in an on state in which second converted light (hereinafter referred to as “output light”) Lv ₂ having a wavelength of 355 nm is output, the light source controller 83 outputs an output on command signal. Is output to the light source driver 81. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light source driver 81 causes the pulse train of the first converted light Lv _{1 and} the pulse train of the second amplified light La ₂ to overlap in time in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32. In addition, the relative output timing of the first wavelength seed light Ls ₁ emitted from the first light source 11 and the second wavelength seed light Ls ₂ emitted from the second light source 12 is controlled.

More specifically, the light source driver 81 has a timing at which the pulse train of the first converted light Lv _{1 and} the pulse train of the second amplified light La ₂ overlap in time in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 (both optical path lengths are the same). In this case, the first drive signal and the second drive signal are generated at the same timing, and the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 are driven.

The first wavelength seed light Ls ₁ emitted from the first light source 11 and the second wavelength seed light Ls ₂ emitted from the second light source 12 are respectively amplified by the fiber amplifier 21 to be supplied to the first amplified light La ₁ and the first amplified light La ₁ . The second amplified light La ₂ is collected and incident on the first wavelength conversion optical element 31. In the first wavelength conversion optical element 31, only the first amplified light La ₁ is wavelength-converted by the wavelength difference Δλ between the first wavelength λ ₁ and the second wavelength λ ₂ to generate the first converted light Lv ₁ . The two-amplified light La ₂ is transmitted without being wavelength-converted. The first converted light Lv ₁ generated by the first wavelength conversion optical element 31, the second amplified light La ₂ transmitted through the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 as it is, and the surplus that has not been wavelength-converted by the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 The first amplified light La ₁ is condensed and incident on the second wavelength conversion optical element 32.

At this time, the first converted light Lv ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ incident on the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 are set so that the pulse trains of the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 overlap in time. ing. As described above, the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 has the first converted light Lv ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ satisfy the phase matching condition for generating the sum frequency, and the first converted light Lv ₁ and the first converted light Lv 1 The amplified light La ₁ is set so as not to satisfy the phase matching condition. Therefore, in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32, output light (second converted light) Lv ₂ having a wavelength of 355 nm is generated by the sum frequency generation of the first converted light Lv ₁ and the second amplified light La _2, and is output from the laser device LS. Is output.

On the other hand, the light source controller 83 outputs an output off command signal to the light source driver 81 when the output command input to the control unit 8 from the operation panel or the like is in an off state in which the output light Lv ₂ is stopped. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the light source driver 81 temporally overlaps the pulse train of the first converted light Lv _{1 and} the pulse train of the second amplified light La ₂ in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32. The relative output timing of the first wavelength seed light Ls ₁ emitted from the first light source 11 and the second wavelength seed light Ls ₂ emitted from the second light source 12 is controlled.

Specifically, the light source driver 81 has a timing at which the pulse train of the first converted light Lv _{1 and} the pulse train of the second amplified light La ₂ do not overlap in time in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 (either one is in the on state) The first drive signal and the second drive signal are generated at the timing when the other is turned off at the time, and the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 are driven.

The first wavelength seed light Ls ₁ emitted from the first light source 11 and the second wavelength seed light Ls ₂ emitted from the second light source 12 are respectively amplified by the fiber amplifier 21 to be supplied to the first amplified light La ₁ and the first amplified light La ₁ . The second amplified light La ₂ is collected and incident on the first wavelength conversion optical element 31. In the first wavelength conversion optical element 31, only the first amplified light La ₁ is wavelength-converted by the wavelength difference Δλ between the first wavelength λ ₁ and the second wavelength λ ₂ to generate the first converted light Lv ₁ . The two-amplified light La ₂ is transmitted without being wavelength-converted. The first converted light Lv ₁ generated by the first wavelength conversion optical element 31, the second amplified light La ₂ transmitted through the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 as it is, and the surplus that has not been wavelength-converted by the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 The first amplified light La ₁ is condensed and incident on the second wavelength conversion optical element 32.

However, at this time, the first converted light Lv ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ incident on the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 are not overlapped in time in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32. Is set. The second wavelength conversion optical element 32 satisfies the phase matching condition of the sum frequency generation between the first converted light Lv ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ , but the first converted light Lv ₁ and the first amplified light La _1. Is set so as not to satisfy the phase matching condition. Therefore, the wavelength conversion is not performed in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32, the output light Lv ₂ wavelength 355nm is not output from the laser device LS.

As described above, by changing the relative timing of the pulse train of the first drive signal for driving the first light source 11 and the pulse train of the second drive signal for driving the second light source 12, the output light Lv having a wavelength of 355 nm is changed. ₂ can be controlled on / off.

A dichroic mirror or the like that reflects light having a wavelength shorter than about 400 nm and transmits light having a wavelength longer than this, for example, is provided at the output end of the wavelength converter 3, and the output light Lv ₂ and the second wavelength conversion By separating the first amplified light, the first converted light, and the like transmitted through the optical element 32, it is possible to prevent light having a wavelength other than the output light from being output from the laser device LS.

In the above description, the on / off control of the output light Lv ₂ output from the laser device LS has been described. However, the laser device LS of this configuration can also control the power of the output light Lv ₂ . That is, the control to turn on / off the output light Lv ₂ is performed in a state in which the pulse train of the first converted light Lv _{1 and} the pulse train of the second amplified light La ₂ overlap in time in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32. (See FIGS. 2 to 5). On the other hand, the control for changing the power of the output light Lv ₂ controls the overlapping rate in which the pulse train of the first converted light Lv _{1 and} the pulse train of the second amplified light La ₂ overlap in time in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32. It is realized by doing. Specifically, the power control of the output light is also performed by changing the relative timing of the first drive signal for driving the first light source 11 and the second drive signal for driving the second light source.

6A to 6C show the pulse train of the first converted light Lv ₁ in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 and the first pulse by changing the relative timing of the first drive signal and the second drive signal. it is an explanatory view showing a state of changing the 2 overlapping ratio of the pulse train of the amplified light La _2. (A) in this figure shows the case where the overlapping rate of the pulse train of the first converted light Lv _{1 and} the pulse train of the second amplified light La ₂ in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 is set to 20%, and (b) shows both (C) illustrates the case where the duplication rate of both is set to 80%.

When the overlap rate is 20% shown in FIG. 6A, the power of the output light Lv ₂ generated by the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 is 20% of the power when the overlap rate is 100%. Similarly, when the overlap rate is 50% shown in FIG. 6B, the power of the output light Lv ₂ is 50% of the power when the overlap rate is 100%, and when the overlap rate is 80% shown in FIG. 6C. the power of the output light Lv ₂ is a power of 80% when the overlapping ratio of 100%.

That is, the first converted light Lv ₁ in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 is changed by changing the relative timing of the first drive signal for driving the first light source 11 and the second drive signal for driving the second light source 12. The power of the output light Lv ₂ can be controlled arbitrarily and at high speed in the range of 0 to 100% by changing the overlapping rate of the pulse train of ₂ and the pulse train of the second amplified light La ₂ .

In the laser device LS having such a configuration, at least one of the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 is set in an operating state and a non-operating state in order to turn on / off the output light Lv ₂ in the laser light generator 1. Or the signal waveform of at least one of the first drive signal for driving the first light source 11 and the second drive signal for driving the second light source 12 is changed in order to control the power of the output light Lv _2. There is no need, and both the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 can be operated in a steady state. Therefore, the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 can be stably operated, and the first wavelength seed light Ls ₁ and the second wavelength seed light Ls ₂ with stable oscillation wavelength and pulse waveform can be generated. .

In the amplification unit 2, the first wavelength seed light Ls ₁ generated by the first light source 11 and the second wavelength seed light Ls ₂ generated by the second light source are always incident on the fiber amplifier 21. The first amplified light La ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ are constantly output after being amplified. Therefore, the output light Lv ₂ it is not necessary to change the gain of the fiber amplifier 21 to control the power on / off or output light Lv _2, stably operating the fiber amplifier 21 in the steady state the The first amplified light La ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ can be output stably.

Furthermore, in the wavelength conversion unit 3, the first amplified light La ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ are always incident on the first wavelength conversion optical element 31, and the first converted light Lv ₁ is constantly generated. The wavelength conversion optical element 32 always receives the first converted light Lv ₁ generated by the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 and the second amplified light La ₂ transmitted through the first wavelength conversion optical element 31. For this reason, the first and second wavelength conversion optical elements 31 and 32 are thermally stable, except for the amount of heat generation corresponding to the power of the output light in the second wavelength conversion optical element 32, and in particular, the first wavelength conversion optics. The thermal state up to the element 31 is extremely stable.

Therefore, according to the laser device LS, the fiber amplifier 21 of the amplification unit 2 and the first and second wavelength conversion optical elements 31 and 32 of the wavelength conversion unit 3 are connected in series, and the first of the laser light generation unit 1 is connected. the first driving signal and concise structure for changing the relative timing of the second driving signal for driving the second light source 12 for driving the light source 11, the output light Lv ₂ can be controlled fast and stably .

In the above, the configuration in which the output state of the output light (second converted light) is controlled by pulsating the first light source 11 and the second light source 12 and changing the relative timing of the drive signals has been exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and may be configured to control the output timing of the first wavelength seed light Ls ₁ and the second wavelength seed light Ls ₂ output from the laser light generator 1 at high speed. That's fine.

For example, an external modulator such as an electro-optic modulator (EOM) is provided at the emission end of at least one of the first light source 11 and the second light source 12, and part of the laser light that has been CW oscillation or pulse oscillation is externally modulated. The laser beam generator 1 may be configured to output the first wavelength seed light Ls ₁ and the second wavelength seed light Ls ₂ from the laser light generator 1. In such a laser apparatus, the same operation and effect as those of the laser apparatus LS described above can be obtained, and output light with a steep rise and fall of the pulse waveform can be output.

In the embodiment, the configuration in which the wavelength difference Δλ between the first wavelength λ ₁ and the second wavelength λ ₂ is 10 nm is exemplified, but the wavelength difference Δλ depends on the configuration of the amplification unit 2 and the wavelength conversion unit 3. An appropriate value can be set. That is, the wavelength difference Δλ can amplify the seed light of the first wavelength λ _{1 and} the seed light of the second wavelength λ ₂ side by side in one fiber amplifier 21, and the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 can It is sufficient that the wavelength difference is such that only the 1 converted light Lv ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ satisfy the phase matching condition. As another configuration in which only the first amplified light La ₁ satisfies the phase matching condition in the first wavelength conversion optical element 31, the angles of the polarization planes of the first amplified light La ₁ and the second amplified light La ₂ are made orthogonal. A method of entering the first wavelength conversion optical element 31 is exemplified. In this case, if the second wavelength conversion optical element 32 is used under Type I phase matching conditions, there is no need to provide a two-wavelength plate between the wavelength conversion optical element 31 and the wavelength conversion optical element 32.

  Further, in the embodiment, seed light having a wavelength of 1.06 μm is output from the laser light generation unit 1, converted into output light having a wavelength of 355 nm by the two wavelength conversion optical elements 31 and 32 of the wavelength conversion unit 3, and output. Although the configuration is exemplified, the wavelength band of the seed light, the number and arrangement of the wavelength conversion optical elements, the wavelength of the output light, and the like are arbitrary.

  The laser device LS as described above is small and light and easy to handle, optical processing devices such as exposure devices and stereolithography devices, inspection devices such as photomasks and wafers, observation devices such as microscopes and telescopes, The present invention can be suitably applied to a measuring device such as a length measuring device or a shape measuring device, and a system such as a phototherapy device.

  As a first application example of a system including the laser device LS, an exposure apparatus used in a photolithography process for manufacturing a semiconductor or a liquid crystal panel will be described with reference to FIG. The exposure apparatus 500 is in principle the same as photolithography, and a device pattern precisely drawn on a quartz glass photomask 513 is applied to an exposure object 515 such as a semiconductor wafer or glass substrate coated with a photoresist. Optically project and transfer.

  The exposure apparatus 500 includes the laser apparatus LS, the illumination optical system 502, the mask support base 503 that holds the photomask 513, the projection optical system 504, and the exposure object support table 505 that holds the exposure object 515. And a drive mechanism 506 that moves the exposure object support table 505 in a horizontal plane. The illumination optical system 502 includes a plurality of lens groups, and irradiates the photomask 513 held on the mask support 503 with the laser light output from the laser device LS. The projection optical system 504 is also composed of a plurality of lens groups, and projects the light transmitted through the photomask 513 onto the exposure object 515 on the exposure object support table.

  In the exposure apparatus 500 having such a configuration, the laser light output from the laser apparatus LS is input to the illumination optical system 502, and the laser light adjusted to a predetermined light flux is applied to the photomask 513 held on the mask support 503. Irradiated. The light that has passed through the photomask 513 has an image of a device pattern drawn on the photomask 513, and this light of the exposure object 515 held on the exposure object support table 505 via the projection optical system 504. A predetermined position is irradiated. Thereby, the image of the device pattern of the photomask 513 is image-exposed at a predetermined magnification on the exposure object 515 such as a semiconductor wafer or a liquid crystal panel.

  Next, as a second application example of the system including the laser device LS, FIG. 8 showing a schematic configuration of an inspection device used in an inspection process of a photomask, a liquid crystal panel, a wafer, or the like (test object). The description will be given with reference. An inspection apparatus 600 illustrated in FIG. 8 is suitably used for inspecting a fine device pattern drawn on a light-transmitting object 613 such as a photomask.

  The inspection apparatus 600 includes a laser device LS, an illumination optical system 602, a test object support base 603 that holds the test object 613, a projection optical system 604, and a TDI that detects light from the test object 613. (Time Delay Integration) A sensor 615 and a drive mechanism 606 for moving the object support base 603 in a horizontal plane are configured. The illumination optical system 602 includes a plurality of lens groups, and adjusts the laser light output from the laser device LS to a predetermined light flux and irradiates the test object 613 held on the test object support base 603. The projection optical system 604 is also composed of a plurality of lens groups, and projects the light transmitted through the test object 613 onto the TDI sensor 615.

  In the inspection apparatus 600 having such a configuration, the laser beam output from the laser apparatus LS is input to the illumination optical system 602, and the laser beam adjusted to a predetermined luminous flux is held on the test object support base 603. The object 613 is irradiated. The light from the object 613 (transmitted light in this configuration example) has an image of a device pattern drawn on the object 613, and this light is transmitted to the TDI sensor 615 via the projection optical system 604. Projected and imaged. At this time, the horizontal movement speed of the test object support base 603 by the drive mechanism 606 and the transfer clock of the TDI sensor 615 are controlled in synchronization.

  Therefore, an image of the device pattern of the test object 613 is detected by the TDI sensor 615, and by comparing the detection image of the test object 613 detected in this way with a predetermined reference image set in advance, The defect of the fine pattern drawn on the test object is extracted. If the test object 613 does not have optical transparency like a wafer or the like, the reflected light from the test object is incident on the projection optical system 604 and guided to the TDI sensor 615 in the same manner. can do.

LS laser apparatus 1 Laser light generation unit 2 Amplification unit 3 Wavelength conversion unit 8 Control unit 11 First light source 12 Second light source 21 Fiber amplifier (amplifier) 30 Wavelength conversion optical system 31 First wavelength conversion optical element 32 Second wavelength conversion optical Element 500 Exposure apparatus 502 Illumination optical system 503 Mask support base 504 Projection optical system 505 Exposure object support table 513 Photomask 515 Exposure object 600 Inspection apparatus 602 Illumination optical system 603 Test object support stage 604 Projection optical system 613 Test object 615 TDI sensor

Claims (7)

A laser light generator having a first light source for generating a pulsed first wavelength laser beam and a second light source for generating a pulsed second wavelength laser beam;
An amplifier having a gain for light in a wavelength band including the first wavelength and the second wavelength, and amplifying the laser light of the first wavelength and the laser light of the second wavelength output from the laser light generation unit. An amplifying unit that outputs a first amplified light obtained by amplifying the laser light having the first wavelength and a second amplified light obtained by amplifying the laser light having the second wavelength;
A first wavelength conversion optical element that converts the wavelength of the first amplified light output from the amplification unit into first converted light and transmits the second amplified light; and the first converted light and the first wavelength converted optical element A wavelength converter having a second wavelength conversion optical element that generates second converted light by wavelength conversion from the second amplified light that has passed through
A control unit for controlling the operation of the laser light generation unit,
The control unit controls the relative output timings of the pulsed first wavelength laser light and the pulsed second wavelength laser light output from the laser light generation unit, thereby the second wavelength. A laser apparatus configured to control temporal superposition of the first converted light and the second amplified light in a conversion optical element to control an output state of the second converted light. The first wavelength and the second wavelength are:
In the second wavelength conversion optical element, the first converted light and the second amplified light satisfy a phase matching condition, whereas the first converted light and the first amplified light do not satisfy a phase matching condition. The laser device according to claim 1, wherein the laser device is set to a wavelength. The first wavelength and the second wavelength are:
The first wavelength conversion optical element, wherein the first amplified light is set to a wavelength that satisfies a phase matching condition while the second amplified light satisfies a phase matching condition. 2. The laser device according to 2. The controller switches on / off of the second converted light by switching between the first converted light and the second amplified light in a time overlapping state and a non-overlapping state in the second wavelength converting optical element. The laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein OFF is controlled. The control unit controls the power of the second converted light by changing a temporal overlap rate between the first converted light and the second amplified light in the second wavelength conversion optical element. The laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
A mask support for holding a photomask on which a predetermined exposure pattern is formed;
An exposure object support for holding the exposure object;
An illumination optical system for irradiating the photomask held by the mask support with the laser beam output from the laser device;
An exposure apparatus comprising: a projection optical system that projects light transmitted through the photomask onto an exposure target held by an exposure target support. A laser device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
An object support for holding the object;
An illumination optical system for irradiating a test object held by the test object support unit with laser light output from the laser device;
An inspection apparatus comprising: a projection optical system that projects light from the test object onto a detector.

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