Preparation of 157nm transmitting barium fluoride crystals with permeable graphite

• Main Authors: MEYER-FREDHOLM MICHELE M. L, PELL MICHAEL A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.10.2007
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF SINGLE CRYSTALS OR A HOMOGENEOUSPOLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; APPARATUS THEREFOR; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CHEMISTRY; COMPOUNDS OF THE METALS BERYLLIUM, MAGNESIUM, ALUMINIUM,CALCIUM, STRONTIUM, BARIUM, RADIUM, THORIUM, OR OF THERARE-EARTH METALS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; CRYSTAL GROWTH; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; INORGANIC CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; PRODUCTION OF A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITHDEFINED STRUCTURE; REFINING BY ZONE-MELTING OF MATERIAL; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; SINGLE CRYSTALS OR HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITHDEFINED STRUCTURE; SINGLE-CRYSTAL-GROWTH; UNIDIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF EUTECTIC MATERIAL ORUNIDIRECTIONAL DEMIXING OF EUTECTOID MATERIAL

The present invention is directed to a method of making large diameter metal fluoride sungle crystals that can be used in optical lithograpby systems, for example, excimer laser that operate below 200 nm. In addition, the invention is directed to metal fluoride single crystals suitable for use in such lithographic ststems, such fluoride crystals having a internal transmission of >=99.9% at 193 nm and >=99.0% at 157 nm.