JP2004272281A - Laser beam uniform radiation optical system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical system for forming an irradiating beam having uniform intensity distribution on an irradiation surface by superposing split beams obtained by splitting a laser beam in a state where an interference between the beams is reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The laser beam uniform radiation optical system is constituted of a waveguide for spatially splitting the laser beam from a laser beam source into the split beams on a beam cross section, a superposing lens for superposing the split beams on the irradiation surface and radiating the superposed beam, and a delay plate for uniformizing the intensity of the beam on the irradiation surface. The delay plate delays either of the adjacent split beams adjacent each other out of the split beams more than the other by longer than the temporal coherent distance of the laser beam, and a plurality of split beams out of the split beams have the same phase without delaying each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical system for uniform irradiation of a laser beam, which has improved uniformity of an irradiation laser beam on an irradiation surface during laser processing of an object to be irradiated.

  As an example of performing heat treatment by laser irradiation, in the case of manufacturing a polycrystalline silicon film, an amorphous silicon film is previously formed on a suitable substrate, for example, a glass substrate by a vapor phase forming method such as CVD. In addition, a method is known in which the amorphous silicon film is scanned with a laser beam to be polycrystallized.

  In the method of polycrystallizing a silicon film, for example, a laser beam from a laser light source is condensed on an amorphous silicon film by a lens and laser irradiation is performed. Some are crystallized during the process. The laser beam is usually an axially symmetric Gaussian distribution, with the axial intensity profile of the beam at the irradiation location depending on the profile of the laser source. The polycrystalline silicon film formed by irradiation with such a beam has extremely low crystallinity uniformity in the plane direction, and it has been difficult to use the polycrystalline silicon film as a semiconductor substrate in manufacturing a thin film transistor.

  Further, there is known a technique in which an excimer laser having a short wavelength is used to irradiate and heat a semiconductor film with a profile of an irradiation beam in a rectangular distribution. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 11-16851 and 10-333077 disclose that a laser beam from an oscillator passes through two cylindrical lens arrays that intersect each other in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and passes through a converging lens in front of it. And converge on the surface of the semiconductor film. In this method, a laser beam having a Gaussian distribution is made uniform in two orthogonal directions by two cylindrical lens arrays, and an irradiation laser beam on the surface of the semiconductor film is orthogonal on the semiconductor surface. The width is different in two directions, and the irradiation laser beam is swept and moved to repeatedly form a polycrystalline zone having a constant width on the semiconductor film.

  When a laser beam from a laser light source is divided by such a cylindrical lens array and further synthesized on an irradiation surface, interference of laser light occurs on the irradiation surface, resulting in a stripe pattern of high and low intensity. The interference generated in the superimposed beam on the irradiation surface is such that when a semiconductor film is heated and crystallized using a rectangular irradiation laser beam, the intensity profile in the direction of movement of the laser beam greatly affects crystal growth. However, it is not preferable to cause the crystal grains of the silicon film to grow large.

  There has been proposed a method for removing the non-uniformity of the irradiation laser intensity due to the interference. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-127003 discloses that a beam is collimated from a light source by a choreometer and irradiated on a mirror having a step-like reflecting surface. An optical system having a configuration in which irradiation is performed by a cylindrical lens array that combines beams split by a mirror and a converging cylindrical lens is disclosed. This is to prevent the interference between the split beams on the irradiation surface by providing an optical path difference equal to or longer than the coherent length of the laser beam due to the step between the reflection surfaces in the split beam.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-244213 discloses a method in which a laser beam from a light source is collimated by a beam collimator, radiated to a plurality of small reflecting mirrors, and the reflected light from each of the reflecting mirrors is radiated to an irradiation surface to be superposed. Thus, interference is similarly prevented by ensuring that the optical path difference of the laser beam reflected by each plane mirror is equal to or longer than the coherent length.

JP-A-11-16851 JP-A-10-333077 JP 2001-127003 A JP 2001-244213 A JP-A-10-242073 JP-A-11-109280 JP-A-11-251261 JP 2001-156018 A JP-A-2002-190454

  The above-mentioned beam uniformization technology prevents interference when splitting a laser beam from the same light source and superimposing them on the irradiation surface by providing an optical path difference using a reflector having multiple reflection surfaces. However, these optical systems required special reflecting mirrors. In particular, the optical system of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-244213 requires an arrangement in which the optical axis of the optical system is bent by a reflecting mirror. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the reflecting mirror so as to satisfy a specific positional relationship accurately, and the arrangement of the reflecting mirror becomes complicated, and the degree of freedom of an optical system to be arranged as a heat treatment apparatus is reduced. In particular, providing an optical path difference for all split beams requires a large and complicated device for a laser oscillation source having a large temporal coherence distance, which is not practical, and optical adjustment is difficult. there were.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention generally provides an optical system for forming an irradiation beam having a uniform intensity distribution on an irradiation surface by superposing divided beams obtained by dividing a laser beam, An object of the present invention is to provide a laser beam uniform irradiation optical system capable of preventing interference and making the irradiation beam more uniform.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a uniform irradiation optical system which is simple and easy to adjust and adjust for making the irradiation beam uniform by preventing such interference.

  Further, the present invention is particularly applicable to a laser heating apparatus for applying an amorphous silicon film as an object to be irradiated and performing polycrystallization thereof, so that polycrystalline silicon having few lattice defects over a crystal plane region. The aim is to provide an optical system that enables the production of a film.

  The laser beam uniform irradiation optical system according to the present invention comprises: a laser beam splitting unit for splitting a laser beam from a laser light source into a split beam spatially in a beam cross section; and superposition irradiation for overlapping and irradiating the split beams on an irradiation surface. Means, and uniformizing means for equalizing the beam intensity on the irradiation surface, wherein the equalizing means sets one of adjacent split beams of the split beam adjacent to each other to the other. An optical delay means for delaying the laser beam longer than a temporal coherence length, and a plurality of split beams among the split beams having the same phase without delaying each other, so that split beams adjacent to each other can be obtained. This is to prevent the interference between the beams on the irradiation surface and make the irradiation intensity distribution uniform.

  The optical delay means is preferably inserted every other one of the divided beams, so that the irradiation intensity distribution can be made more uniform.

  The laser beam splitting means includes a waveguide and a cylindrical lens array. In each case, the laser beam is split in any one direction on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.

  The waveguide comprises a hollow or solid translucent body having opposing reflective surfaces. A hollow waveguide in which two mirror surfaces are arranged to face each other at a constant interval can be used.

  The solid waveguide is a plate-shaped light-transmitting body with both main surfaces being mirror surfaces, and usually, an optical glass plate can be used. In such a waveguide, the laser beam splitting means includes a condenser lens for causing a laser beam emitted from a laser source to be incident between reflection surfaces in the waveguide.

  From the exit surface of the waveguide, a divided beam that passes through the inside of the waveguide without being reflected by the reflection surface, and two sets of divided beams for each number of reflections that are reflected by the opposite reflection surface are obtained.

  Further, it is preferable that the waveguide has a structure or arrangement that does not generate a split beam that passes without reflection. This arrangement can reduce interference on the illuminated surface by inserting a single optical delay means only into certain groups of split beams, without inserting into the other group, and a single optical delay There is an advantage that the arrangement of the delay means can be simplified. For this purpose, preferably, a shield can be inserted into the split beam that has passed without being reflected to shield the split beam.

  In another aspect, a structure in which light incident on the waveguide is asymmetrically incident on the central axis of the waveguide can be adopted. For this reason, the optical axis of the laser light incident on the waveguide obliquely intersects with the central axis between the reflection surfaces of the waveguide, thereby generating a split beam that passes without reflecting between the reflection surfaces. You can also not let it.

  In still another aspect, a solid translucent member is used for the waveguide, and the incident surface of the waveguide is obliquely intersected with the central axis of the waveguide, and the incident light is refracted at the obliquely incident surface. Then, the beam can be reflected at least once on the reflecting surface to form a split beam. In these embodiments, there is an advantage that all the divided beams can be used for irradiation as compared with a configuration in which the divided beams that have passed without being reflected are obliquely lit.

  On the other hand, a cylindrical lens array as a laser beam dividing means is a cylindrical lens array having a plurality of cylindrical lenses each having a convex lens section and arranged in parallel in one direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis. In each case, a corresponding split beam can be obtained. The laser beam splitting means using the cylindrical lens array preferably includes a collimator that makes parallel light incident on the cylindrical lens array.

  In the present invention, each split beam is inserted into an optical path spatially separated from each other, preferably by using a light transmitting body for delaying a beam, that is, a delay plate. At this time, a delay plate is inserted into at least one of the adjacent divided beams when each of the divided beams is reversely projected on the laser beam, and an optical path difference is optically provided between the adjacent divided beams. . The delay plate makes the optical path difference larger than the temporal coherence length of the laser beam, and the separated split beam irradiates the irradiation surface to prevent the interference of the laser beam at the time of the overlap. The optical path difference is defined by the beam transmission length of the delay plate and the difference between the refractive index of the delay plate and the refractive index of air.

  Such a delay plate includes a transfer lens for transferring a split beam from a laser beam splitting unit to an irradiation surface on a superimposing irradiation unit, and when forming a region where a plurality of split beams formed by the transfer lens are spatially separated, Is inserted into such an area. For example, when the laser beam splitting means is a waveguide, each split beam is disposed at a focal position where the transfer lens converges. When the laser beam splitting means is a cylindrical lens array, the laser beam splitting means can be arranged on the light exit side optical path of each cylindrical lens.

  In this way, a part of the plurality of split beams is transmitted through the optical delay unit, the superimposing irradiation unit irradiates the split beams on the irradiation surface in an overlapping manner, and the irradiation laser has a rectangular profile. Or, it projects so that it may be linear. The intensity distribution of the irradiated beam in its longitudinal direction becomes uniform.

  Such an optical system heats and melts an amorphous or polycrystalline silicon film deposited and formed on a glass substrate by a chemical vapor deposition method or the like, and polycrystallizes or forms a coarser crystal. Suitable for use in an annealing device for growing.

  In particular, in the above-mentioned annealing optical system, a narrow and wide linear irradiation beam is formed on the surface of the silicon film and scanned in a direction perpendicular to the beam line, so that the beam width on the silicon film is changed. Crystals can be grown by sweeping and heating uniformly, and since the beam has a uniform intensity distribution with little interference pattern, a crystalline silicon film with uniform high crystallinity can be manufactured.

  The laser beam uniform irradiating optical system of the present invention includes a uniforming means for uniforming the beam intensity when irradiating the beam split by the laser beam splitting means onto the irradiation surface. Optical delay means for delaying one of adjacent split beams adjacent to each other of the split beam with respect to the other longer than the temporal coherence length of the laser beam, and a plurality of split beams among the split beams are By having the same phase without delaying each other, when the split beams are irradiated on the irradiation surface, it is possible to prevent interference caused by the temporal coherence length between adjacent beams.

  Further, it is preferable that the optical delay means is inserted every other split beam, so that the irradiation intensity distribution can be made more uniform.

  If a one-dimensional waveguide having reflecting surfaces facing each other is used for the laser beam dividing means, interference of the divided beams on the irradiation surface can be reduced.

  Further, if a cylindrical lens array for splitting a laser beam one-dimensionally is used as the laser beam splitting means, interference of the split beam on the irradiation surface can be reduced.

  A transfer lens for transferring a split beam from a laser beam splitting unit to an irradiation surface as a superposition irradiation unit, wherein the optical delay unit is a region where a plurality of split beams formed by the transfer lens are spatially separated. If a delay plate is arranged so as to transmit any of the spatially separated adjacent split beams, the delay plate can be easily arranged, the structure is relatively simple, and a uniform intensity distribution with little interference is obtained. An illumination beam can be formed.

  If the divided beams that have passed without being reflected between the reflection surfaces of the waveguides are cut off, the optical path difference of the required divided beams can be provided by one delay plate, and the structure is relatively simple. Thus, it is possible to form an irradiation beam having a uniform intensity distribution with little interference.

  If the optical axis of the laser light incident on the waveguide is oblique to the central axis between the reflection surfaces of the waveguide, and it is necessary to prevent a split beam passing without reflecting between the reflection surfaces, the laser beam The optical path difference of all the required split beams can be provided without losing energy, and an irradiation beam having a relatively simple structure and a uniform intensity distribution with little interference can be formed.

  If the waveguide is made of a solid translucent material, and the incident surface of the waveguide obliquely intersects with the central axis of the waveguide so as not to generate a split beam that passes without reflecting between the reflecting surfaces. The optical system can be arranged coaxially with the optical axis, similarly, the optical path difference of all required split beams can be provided, the structure is relatively simple, and irradiation of uniform intensity distribution with little interference is possible. A beam can be formed.

  If the laser beam splitting means is a cylindrical lens array for splitting the laser beam one-dimensionally, the split beams are particularly advantageous as parallel beams spaced apart from each other, so that the delay means can be easily arranged. is there.

  The optical delay means may be a delay plate disposed so as to transmit any of the divided beams adjacent to each other in a region where a plurality of divided beams formed by the dividing cylindrical lens array are spatially separated. For example, there is an advantage that the arrangement of the delay means is facilitated as parallel beams separated from each other.

  If the overlapping irradiation means includes a transfer cylindrical lens array for transferring the divided beams from the above-mentioned divided cylindrical lens array to the irradiation surface, the transfer of the divided beams having the optical path difference to the irradiation surface is performed. Can be easily done

  If the above-mentioned optical delay means is divided and arranged behind and in front of the cylindrical lens array for transfer, the surface to be transferred and the surface to be transferred can be in a conjugate relationship. Accordingly, there is an advantage that the influence of diffraction on the irradiation surface can be minimized.

  The transfer cylindrical lens array is configured such that a minute cylindrical lens that transfers a split beam passing through an optical delay unit and a minute cylindrical lens that transfers a split beam that does not pass through an optical delay unit have different focal lengths. , All the divided beams can be sharply focused and combined on the irradiation surface.

  If the delay plate is made of glass transparent to the laser beam, there is an advantage that the optical system can be simply configured.

  If the laser source is a fundamental wave or a harmonic of a solid-state laser or a semiconductor laser, a high-quality laser light source can be used to form an irradiation beam with a uniform intensity distribution on the irradiation surface. In particular, the harmonic laser has an advantage that the heating efficiency can be increased by using light having a wavelength easily absorbed by the semiconductor layer.

  If the irradiation surface is an amorphous or polycrystalline semiconductor film formed on a substrate, and the optical system is an optical system for annealing a semiconductor film, it can be effectively used for crystallization of the semiconductor film.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
In the embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 1A and 1B show a laser beam uniform irradiation optical system, which spreads uniformly on the irradiation surface in the y direction. An example of forming a linear irradiation profile converged linearly in the x direction is shown.

  The optical system includes a laser beam splitting unit 3, an overlapping irradiation unit 6, and an optical delay unit 2. The laser beam splitting unit 3 utilizes a waveguide 4 to divide a laser beam into a desired number of split beams. The beam is divided into 16a to 16e, and the divided beams are imaged as an irradiation beam 19 having a linear profile on the irradiation surface by the overlapping irradiation means 6.

  In this embodiment, the laser beam splitting means 3 includes an optical system for causing the laser beam 1 from the laser oscillator to enter the waveguide 4, and includes a beam magnifying lens 31 and a y-direction collimating lens 32 for converting the laser beam 1 into a parallel beam. And a collimating lens 33 in the x direction, and then a condenser lens 34 of a cylindrical lens that focuses light in the y direction and makes it enter the waveguide 4.

  The waveguide 4 has parallel main surfaces opposed to each other having reflection surfaces 41 and 42, and the reflection surfaces 41 and 42 are perpendicular to the y direction in this figure. An incident end face 43 and an outgoing end face 44 through which the laser beam 1 passes between the two reflecting surfaces are orthogonal to the optical axis of the laser beam. The incident laser beam 1 is a split beam of a component that passes between the reflection surfaces and radiates from the emission end, and a split beam (m = 1) of a component that is reflected once (m = 1) by one of the reflection surfaces 41 and 42. = +1, m = -1) and two split beams (m = +2, m = -2) of the component reflected twice (m = 2) on both reflecting surfaces, and three or more times Is split into a pair of split beams, each of which is reflected from the emission end.

  The split beam from the waveguide 4 is superimposed and projected on the irradiation surface 90 by the superimposing irradiation means 6, but the superposition irradiation means 6 transfers the split beam onto the irradiation surface in the y direction. And a condensing lens 62 (cylindrical lens) for condensing light in the x direction. The y-direction transfer lens 61 extends to a specified length in the y-direction on the irradiation surface 90 through the x-direction condenser lens 62, and the x-direction condenser lens 62 converges linearly in the x direction. An irradiation beam 19 of a linear profile is obtained on the irradiation surface.

  The transfer lens 61 in the y-direction of the superposition irradiation means 6 is set so that each divided beam forms a real focus and projects onto the irradiation surface 19, and the divided beams are spatially separated from each other near the actual focus position. A light transmissive body 2 for delay is disposed at a position as an optical delay means, and the delay plate 2 is configured to divide one of the optical paths of divided beams existing in regions adjacent to each other before division. Is delayed with respect to the other optical path, and an optical path difference is provided optically to prevent interference between the two split beams when they are superimposed on the irradiation surface 19. In the example of FIG. 1, the delay plate 2 is arranged every other split beam at the actual focal position on the emission side of the transfer lens 61.

More specifically, FIG. 2 shows a mode of splitting a laser beam from a laser oscillator with respect to a waveguide of a laser beam splitting means. A laser beam from a laser oscillator (not shown) is collected by a cylindrical lens. The light enters the waveguide 4 via the focal point F ₀ by the optical lens 34. In the waveguide, there is a split beam (the number of reflections m = 0) in which a part of the incident beam is transmitted without being reflected by the reflecting surface, and the split beam reflected only once by the reflecting surface 41 or 42 facing each other. There are two types in the y direction (m = ± 1), and there are two types of split beams similarly reflected in the y direction in the y direction (m = ± 2). Radiated from On the plane perpendicular to the optical axis and including the focal point F0, there are virtual image focal points F _{+ 1} , F- ₁ , F _{+ 2} , and F- ₂ of the respective split beams emitted from the emission surface 43. .. Appear to be radiated from the virtual image focus F _{+ 1} through the aperture of the exit surface 43.

  Assuming that the laser beam spreads through the focal point by the condenser lens 34 assuming that there is no waveguide, the profile of the beam projected onto the surface at the position of the exit surface 44 is a circle 14. Can be decomposed into components of sections corresponding to each of the multiple split beams. When each component in the cross section of the laser beam 1 is divided in the order of m = −2, −1, 0, +1 and +2 in the y direction on the cross section, a component radiated from the emission surface 44 of the waveguide 4, that is, It should be noted that the split beams are arranged in the y direction in the order of the components of the number of reflections m = + 2, -1, 0, +1 and -2.

  FIG. 2 shows only the arrangement of the split beams of the components m = 0, +1 and +2 radiated from the exit surface 44 of the waveguide 4, and the split beams of m = + 1 and m = + 2 Radiated in opposite directions to the intermediate plane. On the other hand, the split beams of m = -1 and -2 are symmetrical with respect to the center plane of the reflection surface of m = + 1 and +2, but are omitted in the drawing.

  FIG. 3A illustrates the division width of the divided beam of the laser beam 14 projected from the focal point F0 onto the corresponding plane of the emission surface 44 of the waveguide 4 without being reflected by the waveguide 4. It was done. This is an example in which a circular profile laser beam 14 is divided into seven by a waveguide.

  In the waveguide 4, split beams adjacent to each other are folded and superimposed on the emission surface 44 of the waveguide 4. Thus, the components adjacent to each other due to the division of the laser beam 1 have their boundary portions coincident with each other at the folded portion of the divided beam at the exit surface of the waveguide in FIG. For example, in FIG. 3A, the boundary III of the component of m = + 1 and the boundary iii of m = 0 in contact with the boundary are folded at the exit surface 44 of the waveguide as shown in FIG. 3C. And overlap.

  When such a folded split beam is projected onto the irradiation surface 90 by being superimposed on it via the y-direction transfer lens 61 and the x-direction condenser lens 62, the irradiation beam interferes on the irradiation surface. , A wavy distribution is formed in the intensity.

  FIG. 4 shows that only two components of the split beam from the waveguide, for example, two components of the number of reflections m = + 1 and m = 0 are transmitted through the y-direction transfer lens 61 and the x-direction condenser lens 62, and the like. An example of an intensity distribution diagram on the irradiation surface when the irradiation is performed while being superimposed on the irradiation surface 90 is shown. The divided beam boundaries iii and III adjacent to each other on the original laser beam greatly interfere with each other. At the split beam boundaries IV and ii separated from each other on the original laser beam, the fluctuation of the intensity distribution due to interference is small. In this figure, the horizontal axis represents the division width d, and the vertical axis represents the relative beam intensity. However, FIG. 4 shows a case where the intensity distribution of the laser beam is approximated to a Gaussian distribution, and the division width d is equal to the spatial coherence length s.

The degree of interference due to superposition on the irradiation surface depends on the ratio between the division width d and the spatial coherence length s of the laser beam at that position. Here, assuming that the intensity distribution in the beam cross section of the laser beam preserves the Gaussian distribution, the spatial coherence length s is, as schematically shown in FIG. It is defined as the diameter D of a circle (1 / e ² circle) when it becomes e ² (where e is the base of natural logarithm), and a single laser beam is split into two to form an optical axis on the irradiation surface. Is defined as the distance between the centers of the 1 / e ² circles when the visibility of the interference fringes is reduced to 1 / e in the overlapped irradiation area by shifting the optical axis to each other from the state where the interference occurs in common. You. Here, the visibility is a value obtained by dividing the difference between the highest intensity and the lowest intensity of the interfering intensity distribution by the sum of the highest intensity and the lowest intensity, and is a scale indicating the degree of interference.

  Assuming that the division width d of the laser beam is d = s / 2, the visibility is close to 1 at the overlapping portion of the irradiation beams in the mutually adjacent regions of the divided beams adjacent to each other, and at the overlapping portion of the irradiation beams in the remote region. The visibility becomes 1 / e. In the intermediate region, the value gradually decreases from 1 to 1 / e. In a preferred embodiment, the division width d is equal to or greater than d = s / 2, and in this case, the visibility is reduced to 1 / e or less at the overlapping portion of the irradiation beams in the distant regions.

Further, when the division width d of the laser beam is d = s / √2 or more, the visibility is reduced to 1 / e ² at the overlapping portion of the irradiation beams in the distant regions. In a most preferred embodiment, the visibility is reduced to 1 / e ⁴ or less at the overlap of the illuminating beams in remote areas.

  Assuming that the division width d is d = s, as shown in FIG. 2, the laser beam is divided into seven by the waveguide 4 and the intensity distribution when superimposed on the irradiation surface is shown in FIG. Shows the distribution. In this figure, the period T of the generated interference fringes is determined by T = λ / sinΔθ. Here, λ is a wavelength, and Δθ is a difference between incident angles on the two split beam irradiation surfaces 19 that cause interference.

  Further, in the optical system of the present invention, the equalizing means may be configured such that any one of the adjacent split beams among the split beams formed by the waveguide is longer than the temporal coherence distance with respect to the other. Optical delay means for delaying is included.

  This optical delay means is used for a hollow mirror or a solid translucent body, but it is necessary to prevent the split beams from adjacent areas from interfering with each other by providing an optical path difference between them. , To prevent interference.

The temporal coherence length ΔL of the laser beam is
ΔL = cΔt ≒ λ ² / Δλ
Given by Here, c is the speed of light, Δt is the coherence time, Δλ is the wavelength width (spectrum width) of the laser, and the narrower the laser wavelength width, the longer the coherence distance.

  For example, in the case of the Nd: YAG laser, since the spectral width Δλ = 0.12 to 0.30 nm for the beam having the central wavelength λ = 1.06 μm, the temporal coherence length ΔL is ΔL = 3.8 to 9.4 mm.

  FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the visibility on the irradiation surface of two divided beams of the laser beam divided from the mutually adjacent regions and the distance of the optical path difference provided between the divided beams (that is, the optical path difference Δa). However, when the optical path difference is the temporal coherence length ΔL, the visibility is reduced to 1 / e, and the visibility is further reduced by further increasing the optical path difference between the divided beams.

  In FIG. 1, at a position where a plurality of split beams are separated from each other, a translucent delay plate 2, that is, an optical glass plate 2 is inserted as an optical delay unit into any of the split beams that easily cause interference. Thus, an optical path difference is formed between adjacent split beams. In this example, the beam split by the waveguide 4 is transferred by the y-direction transfer lens 61, and the irradiation beam 19 is formed on the irradiation surface by the x-direction condenser lens 62. A focal point f is formed on each beam by the y-direction transfer lens 61 between the optical lens 62 and a glass plate as the delay plate 2 is inserted into one of the adjacent beams at the focal position f or before or after the focal position f. An optical path difference is provided. In this example, a glass plate is inserted every other five divided beams, and another divided beam passes through the space between the delay plates 2 and 2 adjacent to each other. With the delay plates 2 having such an arrangement, the irradiation beams superimposed on the irradiation surface do not cause interference between the divided beams adjacent to each other, so that a profile having a substantially uniform intensity distribution can be obtained. .

The optical path difference Δa due to the glass plate is calculated from the thickness a of the glass plate, the refractive index n _{1 of} glass, and the refractive index n _{0 of} air.
Δa = a (n ₁ −n ₀ ) / n ₁
Given by

Since the optical path difference Δa due to the glass plate is set to be equal to or greater than the temporal coherence distance ΔL (Δa ≧ ΔL), glass that gives an optical path difference equal to or greater than the temporal coherence distance ΔL between adjacent split beams from these equations. The thickness a is required. The thickness of the delay plate is preferably set so as to provide an optical path difference of at least twice, more preferably at least four times, the temporal coherence distance ΔL by the delay plate. For example, in a Nd: YAG laser, when quartz (n ₁ = 1.46) is used as the optical delay means, the temporal interference distance ΔL is 3.8 to 9.4 mm and the optical path difference Δa is 12 to 30 mm.

Embodiment 2 FIG.
FIG. 8 is a modified example of the above embodiment, and shows the arrangement of the optical system viewed from the x direction. However, except for the difference in the arrangement of the optical delay means 2, basically, FIG. 1) and the same laser beam uniform irradiation optical system as the optical system of FIG.

  In this embodiment, in particular, a straight beam when the number of reflections is m = 0 is blocked by a shield 29 disposed at a focal position f after the y-direction transfer lens. Since the straight beam with m = 0 does not reach the irradiation surface, it does not contribute to interference. Therefore, as the optical delay means 2, only one of the group of divided beams (m = + 1, -2) or (m = -1, +2) symmetrically arranged with respect to the straight beam (m = 0) And the other group does not have the optical delay means 2, so that the interference between the divided beams on the irradiation surface is reduced, and the optical delay means 2 It is possible to use a single glass plate or glass rod that collectively transmits m = + 1, -2), thereby simplifying the optical system.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the optical system of the present invention, all split beams are reflected at least once and two or more reflected split beams are equal in number so as not to include split beams that travel straight without reflection in the waveguide. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser beam splitting means using a waveguide which is prevented from being reflected twice. As shown in FIG. 9, such a laser beam splitting means has a structure in which the optical axis of the incident optical system of the laser beam splitting means is obliquely arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to the center axis of the waveguide. Can be adopted.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the peripheral component (1) of the beam of the condensing lens 34 of the cylindrical lens to be incident on the waveguide 4 is incident on the incident surface of the waveguide 4 and once on the reflection surface. The other beam components (2), (3), and (4) from the condenser lens 34 are reflected twice, reflected three times, reflected four times, respectively, and the other components are further reflected. It is set so that it is reflected twice and emitted from the exit surface. The emitted and split beams are represented by the numbers 1 to 8 of the number of reflections m on the emission surface side in FIG.

  FIG. 11 illustrates the split beam arrangement of the beam cross section on the plane 151 on the output surface 44 and the superposition of the split beams on the output surface. The order of the number of reflections indicates the order of arrangement of the divided beams in the laser beam cross section.

  Therefore, since the split beams having the different order of the number of reflections easily interfere with each other on the irradiation surface, a delay plate is arranged as a spatial delay unit on only one of the divided beams. As shown in the figure, at the position of the focal point f by the y-direction transfer lens, the split beams of the even number of times of reflection (for example, m = 2, 4, 6) are biased to one side with respect to the odd number of times of the split beams. An even number of reflected beams can be easily realized by inserting a single delay plate 21.

  In FIG. 11, the width d of the split beam is set to 以上 or more of the spatial coherence distance s, preferably 1 / √2 or more, particularly 1 or more, as described in the above embodiment. .

  FIG. 12 shows another example in which a split beam that travels straight in the waveguide is not formed. In this example, the optical axis 40 of the waveguide 4 coincides with the optical axis 30 of the condenser lens 34. The incident surface 43 of the waveguide 4 is obliquely formed at an appropriate angle without being perpendicular to the optical axis, and the incident beam on the obliquely incident surface is refracted to eliminate the 0-time reflection, thereby achieving 1 In this example, one delay plate 21 is reflected even number of times (for example, m = 2) at the focal point f position by the y-direction transfer lens. , 4 and 6) or by inserting the split beams collectively into odd split reflection split beams, an optical path difference between adjacent split beams can be provided.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
As another beam splitting unit, an embodiment using a cylindrical lens array will be described below. In this example, as shown in FIG. 13, a laser beam uniform irradiation optical system uses a cylindrical lens array 5 for a laser beam 1 from a laser oscillator. And a beam magnifying lens 31, a y-direction collimating lens 32, and an x-direction collimating lens 33 for making a parallel beam, and the parallel beam from the collimating lens 33 enters the cylindrical lens array 5. .

  The cylindrical lens array 5 refers to a lens in which a columnar lens is formed in the x direction in the drawing and a convex lens having a cross-section facing the optical axis is stacked in the y direction. In the illustrated example, the cylindrical lens array 5 is composed of five stages of cylindrical lenses. Is formed.

  The split beam in the y-direction from the splitting cylindrical lens array 5 is disposed in front of the splitting cylindrical lens array 5 and is incident on a separate transfer cylindrical lens array 51. The split beam from the transfer cylindrical lens array 51 is x The light is projected on the irradiation surface 90 by a condenser lens 62 (cylindrical lens) that condenses light in the direction, and is shaped into an irradiation beam 19 having a linear profile that is uniform in the y direction and narrowly converges in the x direction. . Further, a field lens 63 is disposed between the cylindrical lens array 51 for transfer and the condenser lens 62.

  A delay plate 2 is inserted as an optical delay unit into the divided beams 15a to 15e divided in the y direction from the divisional cylindrical lens array 5, and every other divided beam 15a, 15c , 15d and is not inserted into the other split beams 15b, 15d. Thereby, interference on the irradiation surface 90 between the divided beams adjacent to each other (for example, between the divided beams 15a and 15b or between the divided beams 15b and 15c) is suppressed, and interference of the overlapped irradiation beams is suppressed. The intensity distribution can be made uniform.

  FIGS. 15A and 15B show the manner of dividing the laser beam in the cylindrical lens array 5. The beam divided by each minute cylindrical lens is different from the irradiation by the waveguide in the irradiation surface. In the superimposition in the above, there is no turn-back, and they are simply superimposed. Therefore, two adjacent divided beams are transferred onto the irradiation surface via the transfer cylindrical lens array 51 and the x-direction condenser lens 62. , There is no difference in the interference in the y direction in the intensity distribution after synthesis. FIG. 16 shows that when the division width d is equal to the spatial coherence distance s described above, the intensity distribution due to the superposition of two adjacent division beams on the irradiation surface is constant in the y direction, Is constant at 1 / e. FIG. 17 shows the intensity distribution when the above-mentioned divided beams are superposed on the irradiation surface with the division width d being d = s, but shows a fairly good distribution in the y direction.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
FIG. 14 shows a modified example of the laser beam uniform irradiation optical system shown in FIG. 13. The divided beam of the divided cylindrical lens array 5 and the focal position in front of the transfer cylindrical lens array 51 in front of the divided beam are shown in FIG. In this example, a pair of delay plates 22 and 23 are arranged. In this example, since the delay plates are separately arranged before and after the cylindrical lens array 51 for transfer, the surface to be transferred and the surface to be transferred can be made to have a conjugate relationship. There is an advantage that the effect of diffraction can be minimized.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
FIG. 18 is a modified example of the laser beam uniform irradiation optical system shown in FIG. 13, in which the minute lens 512 of the transfer cylindrical lens array 51 for the divided beam into which the delay plate 2 is inserted and the delay plate are inserted. The microlens 511 of the cylindrical lens array 51 for transfer with respect to an undivided beam is adjusted to have a different focal length so that an image on the irradiation surface is uniform. By inserting the delay plate 2 for the optical path length into every other divided beam arranged and divided in the y direction by the dividing cylindrical lens array 5, the shift of the focal position f with respect to the divided beam that is not inserted. Occurs, but the deviation of the focal position is compensated for by the focal length of each minute lens of the cylindrical lens array 51 for transfer, whereby the intensity distribution of each divided beam formed on the irradiation surface is made uniform. be able to.

Embodiment 7 FIG.
FIG. 19A shows a modification of the laser beam uniform irradiation optical system shown in FIG. 13. In this example, the split beam divided in the y direction and the delay plate 2 is inserted every other beam is used. When irradiating the irradiation surface 90 with the transfer lens, the irradiation is shifted in the y direction on the irradiation surface by the field lens 63 and superimposed, thereby preventing interference between the divided beams.

  FIG. 19 (B) shows the intensity distribution of the irradiation beam 19 when the irradiation beam 90 is irradiated with the split beam shifted, and at both ends of the irradiation beam 19 in the y direction, the intensity distribution is stepwise. Although it is reduced, a main part except for both ends can obtain a uniform distribution with little interference.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of a laser beam uniform irradiation optical system according to an embodiment using the waveguide of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a diagram viewed from a y direction, and FIG. . Sectional drawing explaining the aspect of division | segmentation of the laser beam in a waveguide. FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a mode of laser beam division in a waveguide. FIGS. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the intensity distribution and visibility of a combined irradiation beam when two adjacent divided beams split by a waveguide are superimposed on an irradiation surface (when d = s). FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the definition of a spatial coherence length s of a laser beam. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the intensity distribution and the visibility of a combined irradiation beam when the divided beams divided into seven by the waveguide are superimposed on the irradiation surface (when d = s). FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an optical path difference of a laser beam and visibility. FIG. 1B is a side view corresponding to FIG. 1B showing an arrangement of a laser beam uniform irradiation optical system according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1B showing an arrangement of a laser beam uniform irradiation optical system according to another embodiment of the present invention, showing an arrangement in which an optical axis of incident light and a waveguide central axis are obliquely interspersed. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating beam splitting in an arrangement where the optical axis of incident light and the waveguide central axis are obliquely intersected. FIGS. 3A and 3B are views for explaining a mode of dividing a laser beam in a waveguide in which an optical axis of incident light and a waveguide central axis are arranged obliquely. FIG. 1B is a view corresponding to FIG. 1B showing an arrangement of a laser beam uniform irradiation optical system according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein an incident surface of a waveguide is arranged so as to be oblique to a central axis of the waveguide. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an arrangement of a laser beam uniform irradiation optical system according to another embodiment using the dividing cylindrical lens array and the delay plate of the present invention, wherein FIG. The figure seen from the x direction is shown. FIG. 13B is a view similar to FIG. 13B showing an arrangement of a laser beam uniform irradiation optical system in a modified example. FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating aspects of laser beam division in a division cylindrical lens array. FIGS. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the intensity distribution and the visibility of a combined irradiation beam when two adjacent divided beams split by the splitting cylindrical lens array are superimposed on an irradiation surface (when d = s). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the intensity distribution and the visibility of a combined irradiation beam when the divided beams divided into seven by the dividing cylindrical lens array are superimposed on an irradiation surface (when d = s). FIG. 14B is a view similar to FIG. 13B in which the minute cylindrical lenses of the transfer cylindrical lens array have different focal lengths by using the dividing cylindrical lens array. Further, FIG. 18A is a diagram similar to FIG. 18 in which the respective divided beams are shifted on the irradiation surface and overlapped with each other, and FIG. 18B is a diagram showing the intensity distribution of the irradiation beam on the irradiation surface.

Explanation of reference numerals

Reference Signs List 1 laser beam, 2 delay plate, 21 delay plate, 29 shield, 31 beam magnifying lens, 32 y-direction collimating lens, 33 x-direction collimating lens,
34 condensing lens, 4 waveguides, 41 reflecting surface, 42 reflecting surface, 5 divisional cylindrical lens array, 51 transfer cylindrical lens array, 61 transfer lens, 62 condensing lens, 9 irradiator, 90 irradiation surface.

Claims (15)

A laser beam splitting means for spatially splitting a laser beam from a laser light source into a split beam in a beam cross section, a superimposing irradiation means for superimposing the split beams on the irradiation surface and irradiating the beam intensity on the irradiation surface; Laser beam uniform irradiation optical system comprising:
The equalizing means includes an optical delay means for delaying one of adjacent split beams of the split beam with respect to the other longer than a temporal coherence length of the laser beam, and A laser beam uniform irradiation optical system characterized in that a plurality of split beams among split beams have the same phase without delay.   2. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein said optical delay means is inserted in every other of said split beams.   The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam splitting means is a one-dimensional waveguide having reflecting surfaces facing each other. The superimposing irradiation means includes a transfer lens that transfers the split beam from the laser beam splitting means to the irradiation surface,
The optical delay means is a delay plate disposed so as to transmit any one of the spatially separated adjacent divided beams in a region where a plurality of divided beams formed by the transfer lens is spatially separated. The optical system according to claim 3.   5. The optical system according to claim 3, wherein the split beam that has passed without reflecting between the reflection surfaces of the waveguide is blocked.   The optical axis of the laser light incident on the waveguide obliquely intersects with the central axis between the reflection surfaces of the waveguide, so as not to generate a split beam that passes without reflecting between the reflection surfaces. Or the optical system according to 4.   The waveguide is formed of a solid light transmitting body, and the incident surface of the waveguide obliquely intersects with the central axis of the waveguide and does not generate a split beam that passes without reflecting between the reflection surfaces. The optical system according to claim 3, wherein:   2. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein said laser beam splitting means is a splitting cylindrical lens array for splitting a laser beam one-dimensionally.   The above-mentioned optical delay means is a delay plate arranged so as to transmit any of the divided beams adjacent to each other in an area where a plurality of divided beams formed by the cylindrical lens array for division are spatially separated. An optical system according to claim 8.   The optical system according to claim 8, wherein the superposition irradiation means includes a transfer cylindrical lens array that transfers a split beam from the split cylindrical lens array to an irradiation surface.   11. The optical system according to claim 10, wherein said optical delay means is divided and arranged behind and in front of said cylindrical lens array for transfer.   In the above-described transfer cylindrical lens array, the minute cylindrical lens that transfers the split beam that passes through the optical delay unit and the minute cylindrical lens that transfers the split beam that does not pass through the optical delay unit have different focal lengths. Item 12. The optical system according to any one of Items 8 to 11.   The optical system according to claim 4, wherein the delay plate is made of glass transparent to laser light.   14. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the laser source is a fundamental wave or a harmonic of a solid-state laser or a semiconductor laser. 15. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation surface is an amorphous or polycrystalline semiconductor film formed on a substrate, and the optical system is a semiconductor film annealing optical system.

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