Tuning Metamaterials for Applications at DUV Wavelengths

The unique properties of metamaterials, namely, their negative refractive index, permittivity, or permeability, have gained much recent attention. Research into these materials has led to the realization of a host of applications that may be useful to enhance optical nanolithography. A selection of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Andrew Estroff, Bruce W. Smith
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Optics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/603083
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832548073284304896
author Andrew Estroff
Bruce W. Smith
author_facet Andrew Estroff
Bruce W. Smith
author_sort Andrew Estroff
collection DOAJ
description The unique properties of metamaterials, namely, their negative refractive index, permittivity, or permeability, have gained much recent attention. Research into these materials has led to the realization of a host of applications that may be useful to enhance optical nanolithography. A selection of materials has been examined both experimentally and theoretically to verify their support of surface plasmons, or lack thereof, in the DUV spectrum via the attenuated total reflection (ATR) method using the Kretschmann configuration. At DUV wavelengths, materials that were previously useful at mid-UV and longer wavelengths no longer act as metamaterials. Structured materials comprised of alternating layers of aluminum and aluminum oxide (Al2O3), as well as some other absorption-free dielectrics, exhibit metamaterial behavior, as do some elemental materials such as aluminum. These elemental and structured materials exhibit the best properties for use in plasmonic nanolithographic applications. Therefore, a simulator was created to examine material and thickness combinations to generate a tunable metamaterial for use in the DUV. A method for performing plasmonic interference lithography with this metamaterial has been proposed, with calculations showing the potential for half-pitch imaging resolution of 25 nm.
format Article
id doaj-art-a858bdde82324930a386a7f9c9dc4155
institution Kabale University
issn 1687-9384
1687-9392
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series International Journal of Optics
spelling doaj-art-a858bdde82324930a386a7f9c9dc41552025-02-03T06:42:16ZengWileyInternational Journal of Optics1687-93841687-93922012-01-01201210.1155/2012/603083603083Tuning Metamaterials for Applications at DUV WavelengthsAndrew Estroff0Bruce W. Smith1Microsystems Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 77 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623, USAMicrosystems Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 77 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623, USAThe unique properties of metamaterials, namely, their negative refractive index, permittivity, or permeability, have gained much recent attention. Research into these materials has led to the realization of a host of applications that may be useful to enhance optical nanolithography. A selection of materials has been examined both experimentally and theoretically to verify their support of surface plasmons, or lack thereof, in the DUV spectrum via the attenuated total reflection (ATR) method using the Kretschmann configuration. At DUV wavelengths, materials that were previously useful at mid-UV and longer wavelengths no longer act as metamaterials. Structured materials comprised of alternating layers of aluminum and aluminum oxide (Al2O3), as well as some other absorption-free dielectrics, exhibit metamaterial behavior, as do some elemental materials such as aluminum. These elemental and structured materials exhibit the best properties for use in plasmonic nanolithographic applications. Therefore, a simulator was created to examine material and thickness combinations to generate a tunable metamaterial for use in the DUV. A method for performing plasmonic interference lithography with this metamaterial has been proposed, with calculations showing the potential for half-pitch imaging resolution of 25 nm.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/603083
spellingShingle Andrew Estroff
Bruce W. Smith
Tuning Metamaterials for Applications at DUV Wavelengths
International Journal of Optics
title Tuning Metamaterials for Applications at DUV Wavelengths
title_full Tuning Metamaterials for Applications at DUV Wavelengths
title_fullStr Tuning Metamaterials for Applications at DUV Wavelengths
title_full_unstemmed Tuning Metamaterials for Applications at DUV Wavelengths
title_short Tuning Metamaterials for Applications at DUV Wavelengths
title_sort tuning metamaterials for applications at duv wavelengths
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/603083
work_keys_str_mv AT andrewestroff tuningmetamaterialsforapplicationsatduvwavelengths
AT brucewsmith tuningmetamaterialsforapplicationsatduvwavelengths