X-ray reflectometry apparatus for samples with a miniscule measurement area and a thickness in nanometers and method thereof
US10151713B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 2016 |
| Grant date | Dec 11, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01B2210/56
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This application relates to an apparatus and methods for enhancing the performance of X-ray reflectometry (XRR) when used in characterizing thin films and nanostructures supported on a flat substrate. In particular, this application is targeted for addressing the difficulties encountered when XRR is applied to samples with very limited sampling volume, i.e. a combination of small sampling area and miniscule sample thickness or structure height. Point focused X-ray with long wavelength, greater than that from a copper anode or 0.154 nm, is preferably used with appropriately controlled collimations on both incident and detection arms to enable the XRR measurements of samples with limited volumes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.