Modeling of laser planarization of thin metal films

Abstract
The differences between excimer (≊30 ns pulse duration) and flashlamp‐pumped dye (≊500 ns pulse duration) laser planarization are examined for 1.5–2 μm thick gold films over SiO2 layers. Test structures containing bar patterns (square waves) of 5000 Å peak‐to‐trough amplitude with spatial periods ranging from 10 to 100 μm were prepared and laser irradiated. A linear model is presented which described the time evolution of the film’s surface topography when melted with a dye laser pulse. Excimer laser planarization is found to be susceptible to evaporative recoil effects which may cause undesired pattern amplification.

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