skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Electrical breakthrough effect for end pointing in 90 and 45 nm node circuit edit

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2190710· OSTI ID:20778860
; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Nano-Electronics Division, FEI Company, 5350 NE Dawson Creek Drive Hillsboro, Oregon 97124 (United States)

The interaction between high-energy Ga{sup +} ions and condensed matter is studied for circuit edit applications. A new 'electrical breakthrough effect' due to charging of, and Ga{sup +} penetration/doping into, dielectrics is discovered. This new effect is proposed for end pointing in 90 and 45 nm node circuit edits where integrated circuit device dimensions are of a few hundred nanometers. This new end point approach is very sensitive, reliable, and precise. Most importantly, it is not sensitive to device dimensions. A series of circuit edits involving milling holes of high aspect ratio (5-30) and small cross-section area (0.01-0.25 {mu}m{sup 2}) on real chips has been successfully performed using the electrical breakthrough effect as the end point method.

OSTI ID:
20778860
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 88, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2190710; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English