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Chinese Physics B

Simulation research on surface growth process of positive and negative frequency detuning chromium atom lithographic gratings

Zhi-Jun 志珺 Yin 尹, Zhao-Hui 朝辉 Tang 唐, Wen 文 Tan 谭, Guang-Xu 光旭 Xiao 肖, Yu-Lin 玉林 Yao 姚, Dong-Bai 栋柏 Xue 薛, Zhen-Jie 振杰 Gu 顾, Li-Hua 李华 Lei 雷, Xiong Dun, Xiao 晓 Deng 邓, Xin-Bin 鑫彬 Cheng 程, Tong-Bao 同保 Li 李

Published Jul 21, 2023• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Chromium atom photolithography gratings are a promising technology for the development of nanoscale length standard substances due to their high accuracy, uniformity, and consistency. However, the inherent difference between the interaction of positive and negative frequency detuning standing wave field and the atoms can cause a difference in the adjacent peak-to-valley heights of the grating in positive and negative frequency detuning chromium atom lithography, which greatly reduces its accuracy. In this study, we performed a controlled variable growth simulation using the semi-classical theoretical model and Monte Carlo method with trajectory tracking and ballistic deposition methods to investigate the influence of key experimental parameters on the surface growth process of positive and negative frequency detuning atomic lithography gratings. We established a theoretical model based on simulation results and summarized empirical equations to guide the selection of experimental parameters. Our simulations achieved uniform positive and negative frequency detuning atomic lithography gratings with a period of 1/4 of the wavelength corresponding to the atomic transition frequency, and adjacent peak-to-valley heights differing by no more than 2 nm, providing an important theoretical reference for the controllable fabrication of these gratings.

DOI
10.1088/1674-1056/ace95b

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Chromium atom photolithography gratings are a promising technology for the development of nanoscale length standard substances due to their high accuracy, uniformity, and consistency. However, the inherent difference between the interaction of positive and negative frequency detuning standing wave field and the atoms can cause a difference in the adjacent peak-to-valley heights of the grating in positive and negative frequency detuning chromium atom lithography, which greatly reduces its accuracy. In this study, we performed a controlled variable growth simulation using the semi-classical theoretical model and Monte Carlo method with trajectory tracking and ballistic deposition methods to investigate the influence of key experimental parameters on the surface growth process of positive and negative frequency detuning atomic lithography gratings. We established a theoretical model based on simulation results and summarized empirical equations to guide the selection of experimental parameters. Our simulations achieved uniform positive and negative frequency detuning atomic lithography gratings with a period of 1/4 of the wavelength corresponding to the atomic transition frequency, and adjacent peak-to-valley heights differing by no more than 2 nm, providing an important theoretical reference for the controllable fabrication of these gratings.
Background: As progress on the nanofabrication has made semiconductor developed rapidly, there is an increasing need in precise pitch standards to calibrate the structure of devices at nanoscale. Nano-gratings fabricated by atom lithography are unique and suitable to act as precise pitch standard because its pitch distance is directly traceable to a natural constant. As the scaling down of nano-devices, it is very challenging to double the spatial frequency of nano-grating while keeping the self-traceability in atom lithography. Methods: In this study, the switching-detuning light mask is utilized for Cr atom lithography. During a single deposition process, the standing wave frequency is switching from positive detuning to negative detuning alternatively. Results: Nano-gratings fabricated using switching-detuning light mask is successfully replicated with double spatial frequency and self-traceability. Non-uniformity between neighboring Cr lines shows up with a corrected pitch of 107.15 Conclusion: Non-uniformity is mainly caused by the dipole force discrepancy between positive and negative detuning light mask. Therefore, to increase the high uniformity of nano-gratings, the deposition time of negative detuning should be at least twice as the positive detuning. On the other hand, to reduce the pitch uncertainty, it is necessary to reduce the distance between the atom beam and reflection mirror as close as possible. These two significant optimization designs are promising to increase the spatial frequency doubling performance with high uniformity and accuracy.
The experimental researches on atom lithography got a rapid development these years and have made a series of significant progress.The research of the processes of atomic deposition using different atoms in various conditions has an important significance.The finite-differences approximation is used to solve a Schrodinger equation describing the atom-laser field interactions.The effect of laser power,detuning,waist radius and longitudinal velocity of atoms to focusing are analyzed.The effects by some parameter to the atoms in a laser standing wave field are got.
Atom lithography has now become an important means for manufacturing Nano-scale gratings, which are indispensable instruments for Nano-scale dimensional metrology. However, the presence of laser frequency drift makes the results unsatisfactory. Using the atoms’ laser induced fluorescence (LIF) to stabilize the laser frequency provides an effective method of overcoming the drift. This paper gives an analysis with regard to our own experimentation conditions in some aspects, such as fluorescence of Cr beam, difference signal, the correlation between laser frequency and the central of fluorescence. Based on the analysis, the laser induced fluorescence frequency stabilizing equipment is built in our selfdesigned system of chromium atom lithography. The laser is detuned near the wavelength of the 7S3→7P40 transition of 52Cr, so that the atom beam could be illuminated. The power of the laser we used is 15mW. The position of the fluorescent spot depends on detune of the laser. This spot is imaged onto a split- photodiode. Whenever the laser frequency exhibits some deviations from the desired value, the difference signal between the right and the left area of the detector is non-zero. The measured signal is used to servo-lock the laser. It is acquired by the servo-lock port of the Ti:sapphire laser. As a result, the laser frequency is stabilized in the wavelength corresponding to 7S3→7P40 transition of 52Cr. The stability is superior
Fundamental interaction processes between atoms and photons are exploited to control external degrees of freedom of the atoms. Laser light, when properly tuned near an atomic resonance, exerts such forces that the atoms are repelled from or attracted to the regions with low light intensities. We use these forces to manipulate atom beams on nanometer-scale. In the simplest approach to nanofabrication via atom optics, a laser standing wave serves as a 'mask' through which the atoms are deposited onto a substrate. In this thesis we first present the modeling results on the focusing properties of a standing wave laser field and on the surface diffusion and growth phenomena in laser-focused atomic deposition. The development of our experimental facility for laser-manipulated deposition with chromium atoms (based on the obtained modeling results) is reported on. Thereafter, we demonstrate laser manipulation of chromium atoms and fabrication of nanostructures with these atoms. The results obtained in Nijmegen and also those obtained in collaboration with J.J. McClelland's group from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA) are analyzed with the aim of understanding the role of atom-optical and surface growth phenomena in the fabrication process of laser-focused nanostructures
We developed a laser-beam-controlled atom-manipulation system to deposit nanometric structure of atoms on a substrate. Atom beam of chromium is thermally evaporated and collimated with Doppler cooling technique using frequency-tuned laser diode. The gradient force is exerted on atoms by a standing wave over the substrate, and atoms are trapped in a low potential region of the standing wave. Consequently, a series of lines are formed on the substrate with the same periodicity to the standing wave. We present the analysis of trajectories of atoms in the light force potential to find conditions of the laser power, the sign and the degree of the detuning of the laser frequency from the resonance frequency of the atom, to reduce the width of the structure.