Molten metal transfer line

The introduction of a transfer line with heater zone members in thermal contact addresses the issue of non-uniform temperature profiles in molten metal transfer lines, ensuring uniform heating and preventing pressure increases, thus enhancing the operational efficiency and reliability of the transfer line.

WO2025056269A1PCT designated stage expired Publication Date: 2025-03-20ASML NETHERLANDS BV
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/EP2024/072983
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-09-14
Filing Date
2024-08-15
Publication Date
2025-03-20

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing molten metal transfer lines in lithographic apparatuses experience non-uniform temperature profiles, leading to local pressure increases and mechanical stress due to trapped molten metal between solid and liquid states.

Method used

A transfer line with a plurality of heater zone members in thermal contact, arranged to maintain a uniform temperature along the line, ensuring the metal remains in a molten state and preventing pressure buildup.

Benefits of technology

The solution achieves a highly uniform temperature profile along the transfer line, preventing the trapping of molten metal and associated pressure increases, thereby reducing mechanical stress and ensuring efficient operation.

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Abstract

A transfer line for transferring molten metal from a reservoir to a nozzle is disclosed. The transfer line comprises a plurality of heater zone members in thermal contact with one another. The heater zone members are arranged to maintain a temperature of the metal over the transfer line such that the metal remains in a molten state. The transfer line comprises thermal interconnection members arranged between adjacent ones of the heater zone members. Thermal contact between adjacent heater zone members is provided by the thermal interconnection members.
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Description

MOLTEN METAL TRANSFER LINECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority of EP application 23197346.2 which was filed on 14 September 2023 and which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a transfer line for transferring molten metal from a reservoir to a nozzle, to a molten metal injection system comprising such a transfer line and to a lithographic apparatus comprising such a molten metal injection system.BACKGROUND

[0003] A lithographic apparatus is a machine constructed to apply a desired pattern onto a substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). A lithographic apparatus may, for example, project a pattern at a patterning device (e.g., a mask) onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on a substrate.

[0004] To project a pattern on a substrate a lithographic apparatus may use electromagnetic radiation. The wavelength of this radiation determines the minimum size of features which can be formed on the substrate. A lithographic apparatus, which uses extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation, having a wavelength within the range 4-20 nm, for example 6.7 nm or 13.5 nm, may be used to form smaller features on a substrate than a lithographic apparatus which uses, for example, radiation with a wavelength of 193 nm.

[0005] It is known for lithographic apparatuses to rely on a plasma for exposing substrates to EUV radiation. This plasma can be generated by vaporizing droplets of tin by means of laser radiation. To this effect, lithographic apparatuses typically comprise a reservoir for holding pressurized molten tin at over-pressure conditions, i.e. at an elevated pressure compared to pressure level of the surroundings of the reservoir. The lithographic apparatus further comprises a nozzle that ejects droplets of molten tin and a transfer line for transferring the molten tin from the reservoir to the nozzle. The transfer line is heated in order to keep the tin in a molten condition. When heating-up the transfer line in order to melt the tin, the tin transfers into a molten state. When the tin transfers from a solid state to a molten state, the tin expands to some extent. In the situation where the transfer line is heated uniformly and the tin uniformly transfers from the solid state to the molten state along the tin transfer line, the expansion may be accommodated in that the molten tin at the end of the transfer line that connects to the reservoir enables the excess tin to flow into the tank to avoid a rise of pressure due to the expansion.

[0006] Along the tin transfer line, a temperature of the tin may however exhibit some nonuniformity, e.g. due to tolerances in the location of a heater along the tin transfer line. As a result of such non-uniformity, when the tin transfer line heats up, some parts of the tin may heat up faster andmay melt before a remainder of the line melts. The molten tin, which expands, may then be trapped between solid tin in a remainder of the tin transfer line. As a result, at the molten tin trapped between solid tin, a pressure in the tin transfer line may rise locally, which may result in excess mechanical stress on the tin transfer line.SUMMARY

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a tin transfer line with a highly uniform temperature profde.

[0008] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a transfer line for transferring molten metal from a reservoir to a nozzle, wherein the transfer line comprises a plurality of heater zone members in thermal contact with one another wherein the heater zone members are arranged to maintain a temperature of the metal over the transfer line such that the metal remains in a molten state.

[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a molten metal injection system comprising a nozzle for ejecting droplets of molten metal, a reservoir for molten metal and a transfer line for transferring the molten metal from the reservoir to the nozzle, the transfer line according to the present invention.

[0010] According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a lithographic apparatus comprising the molten metal injection system according to the invention.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:Figure 1 depicts a lithographic system comprising a lithographic apparatus and a radiation source; andFigure 2 depicts a highly schematic view of an embodiment of a molten metal injection system according to an aspect of the present invention.Figure 3 depicts a graphical view of a temperature profde of a molten metal transfer line;Figure 4 depicts a schematic view of an embodiment of a molten metal transfer line as may be used in the molten metal injection system according to the present invention;Figure 5 depicts a graphical view of a temperature profde of the molten metal transfer line in accordance with Figure 4;Figure 6 depicts a perspective view of a part of a molten metal transfer line in accordance with Figure 4;Figure 7 depicts a schematic view of another embodiment of a molten metal transfer line as may be used in the molten metal injection system according to the present invention;Figure 8 depicts a view of a part of the molten metal transfer line in accordance with Figure 7; andFigure 9 depicts a schematic view of a transfer line according to an embodiment of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Figure 1 shows a lithographic system comprising a radiation source SO and a lithographic apparatus LA. The radiation source SO is configured to generate an EUV radiation beam B and to supply the EUV radiation beam B to the lithographic apparatus LA. The lithographic apparatus LA comprises an illumination system IL, a support structure MT configured to support a patterning device MA (e.g., a mask), a projection system PS and a substrate table WT configured to support a substrate W.

[0013] The illumination system IL is configured to condition the EUV radiation beam B before the EUV radiation beam B is incident upon the patterning device MA. Thereto, the illumination system IL may include a facetted field mirror device 10 and a facetted pupil mirror device 11. The faceted field mirror device 10 and faceted pupil mirror device 11 together provide the EUV radiation beam B with a desired cross-sectional shape and a desired intensity distribution. The illumination system IL may include other mirrors or devices in addition to, or instead of, the faceted field mirror device 10 and faceted pupil mirror device 11.

[0014] After being thus conditioned, the EUV radiation beam B interacts with the patterning device MA. As a result of this interaction, a patterned EUV radiation beam B’ is generated. The projection system PS is configured to project the patterned EUV radiation beam B’ onto the substrate W. For that purpose, the projection system PS may comprise a plurality of mirrors 13,14 which are configured to project the patterned EUV radiation beam B’ onto the substrate W held by the substrate table WT. The projection system PS may apply a reduction factor to the patterned EUV radiation beam B’, thus forming an image with features that are smaller than corresponding features on the patterning device MA. For example, a reduction factor of 4 or 8 may be applied. Although the projection system PS is illustrated as having only two mirrors 13,14 in Figure 1, the projection system PS may include a different number of mirrors (e.g. six or eight mirrors).

[0015] The substrate W may include previously formed patterns. Where this is the case, the lithographic apparatus LA aligns the image, formed by the patterned EUV radiation beam B’, with a pattern previously formed on the substrate W.

[0016] A relative vacuum, i.e. a small amount of gas (e.g. hydrogen) at a pressure well below atmospheric pressure, may be provided in the radiation source SO, in the illumination system IL, and / or in the projection system PS.

[0017] The radiation source SO may be a laser produced plasma (LPP) source, a discharge produced plasma (DPP) source, a free electron laser (FEL) or any other radiation source that is capable of generating EUV radiation.

[0018] Figure 2 depicts a highly schematic view of a molten metal injection system. The molten metal injection system MMIS comprises a metal transfer reservoir MMR for holding pressurized molten metal at over-pressure conditions, i.e. at an elevated pressure compared to pressure level of the surroundings of the reservoir. The molten metal injection system further comprises a nozzle NZ that ejects droplets of molten metal and a transfer line MMTL for transferring the molten metal from the reservoir to the nozzle.

[0019] Figure 3 depicts a graphical view of a temperature profile of a molten metal transfer line, showing a temperature TEMP along the vertical axis and a distance D along the line along the horizontal axis. A metal melting temperature MMT of the metal, in the present example approximately 231 degrees Celsius, is indicated by the dotted line MMT. In the present example, at the left side, the temperature is above the melting temperature MMT while at the right side, the temperature is below the melting temperature. In between, the temperature alternates, seen from left to right in the figure, from above the melting temperature to below the melting temperature again above the melting temperature followed by below the melting temperature. As a result, seen along a length of the line, the state of the metal alternates from molten to solid to molten and again to solid. Thereby a part of the metal provides a local melted part LMP, along the transfer line, is molten between solid parts of the metal. As the metal expands somewhat when melting, e.g. expands approximately 3 % in the case of tin, the pressure of the molten metal between the solid parts may rise. The rise in pressure may result in a force on the transfer line, which may result in damage of the transfer line.

[0020] The temperature profde as depicts in Figure 3 may for example occur in the case of heating the transfer line to melt the metal, whereby one end of the line is brought above the melting point first, so as to allow build-up of pressure by expansion of the metal to escape at the end of the line.

[0021] Figure 4 depicts an embodiment of a molten metal transfer line according to the invention. The molten metal transfer line comprises a metal conduit CON that holds the metal and guides the metal from one end of the transfer line, i.e. the inlet of the transfer line at the molten metal reservoir, to the other end of the transfer line, i.e. the outlet of the transfer line that discharges into the nozzle. The metal conduit is encapsulated by plural braces BRC1 BRC2, BRC3 which are sequentially arranged one behind the other along a length of the conduit. A heater wire HW extends along the length of the conduit, i.e. along the length of the metal transfer line. For example, in the present embodiment, dual heater wires extend on opposite sides of the metal conduit, along the length of the metal conduit. Seen along the length of the transfer line, the heater wire or heater wires extend through the successive braces. In an embodiment, each brace is provided with its own heater wire section, which heater wire section is individually operable by a respective heater wire driver. In another embodiment the heater wire sections of the heater wire are connected to and driven by a same heater wire driver, e.g. being connected in parallel or in series to the heater wire driver. In yet another embodiment, each heater wire section is connected to the heater wire driver by a respective switch, enabling to activate the respective heater wire section by driving the switch to an electrically conductive state. The braces may exhibit a highthermal conductivity so as to distribute the heat generated by the heater wire section to the part of the conduit that is encapsulated by the respective brace. The successive braces with the respective heater wire sections form successive heater zone members extending along the length of the metal conduit. According to the present invention, the heater zone members are in thermal contact with one another so as to distribute heat generated in one of the heater zone members to the respective neighboring heater zone member or heater zone members. The heater zone members may be in thermal contact by any suitable thermal interconnection. As the heater zone members are in thermal contact with one another, the heater zone members are arranged to maintain a temperature of the metal over the transfer line at a substantially same level. Thus, as the heater zone members are driven to heat the metal conduit to keep the metal in a molten state, the thermal interconnections provide for a substantially uniform temperature so that the metal remains in a molten state. A transition from solid state to molten state, when heating up the transfer line, may also be more uniform, thereby preventing the trapping of liquid parts of the metal between solid parts of the metal, and associated pressure increase, as explained above.

[0022] In an embodiment, the transfer line comprises thermal interconnection members TIM arranged between adjacent ones of the heater zone members. The thermal interconnection members thermally interconnect the heater zone members, providing that the thermal contact between the heater zone members is provided by the thermal interconnection members. For example, the thermal interconnection members comprise a thermally conductive metal or a thermally conductive metal alloy.

[0023] Figure 5 depicts a temperature profile of the molten metal transfer line in accordance with Figure 4, showing a temperature TEMP along the vertical axis and distance D along the line on the horizontal axis. Figure 5 depicts a temperature profile of two adjacent heater zone members HZM1, HZM2, heating towards a different temperature. Without the thermal interconnection, a rather stepwise temperature profde TP1 is achieved, while with the thermal interconnection, a more gradual temperature profde TP2 is achieved, providing that the temperature along the transfer line may be more uniform.

[0024] An embodiment of the transfer line as described with reference to Figure 4 is depicted in Figure 6. Figure 6 depicts a (cross cut) perspective view of dual interconnected heater zone members HZM1, HZM2, showing respective braces BRC1, BRC2, heater wire HW segments, metal conduit CON and thermal interconnection member TIM that interconnects the respective adjacent braces.

[0025] In order to provide a flexibility of the transfer line, in an embodiment, pivot connections are provided, i.e. the thermal interconnection members are pivotably connected to the respective adjacent ones of the heater zone members. For example, the thermal interconnection members form cardan couplings CC with the respective adjacent ones of the heater zone members. The cardan coupling is formed by one pivotable connection of the thermal interconnection member with one of the adjacent heater zone members and one pivotable connection of the thermal interconnection member with the other one of the adjacent heater zone members. Respective pivot axes of the pivotable connections may be perpendicular, seen in a direction along a length of the metal transfer line.

[0026] Further, in an embodiment, the thermal interconnection members comprise a same material as that of the heater zone members, i.e. comprise a same material as the material that the heater zone members comprise. As a result, a thermal behavior of the thermal interconnection members may be similar to a thermal behavior of the heater zone members. For example, a thermal capacity and a thermal resistance of the heater zone members and the thermal interconnection members may be similar.

[0027] Using a same or similar material and / or a same or similar cross sectional shape for the heater zone members and the thermal interconnection members, in an embodiment, a thermal capacity of the transfer line at the heater zone members is substantially the same as a thermal capacity at the thermal interconnection members, which may promote that a heating up of the heater zone members and of the thermal interconnection members closely follow each other. The pivotable connection by means of a cardan coupling, using a same or similar material, and / or cross sectional shape, may provide for a same or similar thermal capacity along the length of the line, thereby preventing cold spots when heating up the line, which may prevent entrapping molten metal when heating up.

[0028] Moreover, when achieving a more constant temperature and thermal capacity, the transfer line may be kept at a lower operating temperature, i.e. closer to the melting temperature, as less temperature margin in excess of the melting temperature may be required to take account of temperature fluctuations along the length of the line. As a result of the lower temperature, less degradation of the metal conduit may be provided. For example, the metal conduit may comprises tantalum, which may exhibit less degradation, e.g. less oxidation, when maintained at a lower temperature.

[0029] Figure 7 depicts a perspective view of another embodiment of the molten metal transfer line. As depicted in Figure 7, the heater zone members each comprise a wire heating element HW and a metallic bead MBD in thermal contact with the wire heating element. The beads may promote a conduction of heat generated by the wire heating element to the metal conduit and the molten metal in the metal conduit CON.

[0030] For example, the wire heating element may be arranged in the beads, thereby providing a predefined distance between the wire heating element and the metal conduit, which may result in a uniform thermal transfer between the wire heating element and the conduit along a length of the transfer line. The uniform thermal transfer may promote an even distribution of the heat generated by the wire heating element along the length of the transfer line.

[0031] In an embodiment, the metallic beads are thermally interconnected with one another. As the beads are thermally interconnected with one another, the beads are arranged to maintain a temperature of the metal along the transfer line at a substantially same level. Thus, as the beads are driven to heat the metal conduit to keep the metal in a molten state, the thermal interconnections provide for a substantially uniform temperature so that the metal remains in a molten state. A transition from solid state to molten state, when heating up the transfer line, may also be more uniform, thereby preventing the trapping of liquid parts of the metal between solid parts of the metal, and associated pressure increase, as explained above. The thermal interconnection of the beads may for example beprovided by a metallic strip MST of the transfer line, the metallic strip interconnecting the metallic beads. The metallic strip may for example comprise a stainless steel. The metallic strip further provides for a flexibility that allows steering of the molten metal transfer line.

[0032] Using the beads and the thermal interconnection of the beads by the metallic strip, a thermal capacity of the transfer line may be substantially constant along a length of the transfer line. The substantially constant thermal capacity along the length of the transfer line may prevent cold spots when heating up the line, which may prevent entrapping molten metal when heating up.

[0033] Moreover, as explained above, when achieving a more constant temperature and thermal capacity, the transfer line may be kept at a lower operating temperature, i.e. closer to the melting temperature, as less temperature margin in excess of the melting temperature may be required to take account of temperature fluctuations along the length of the line. As a result of the lower temperature, less degradation of the metal conduit may be provided. For example, the metal conduit may comprises tantalum, which may exhibit less degradation, e.g. less oxidation, when maintained at a lower temperature.

[0034] Figure 8 depicts a cross sectioned view of a part of a molten metal transfer line encapsulated by a thermal insulation TI which is in turn encapsulated by a hose, such as a Polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, hose.

[0035] Figure 9 illustrates a heater zone member by heater zone member heating of the transfer line. The heater zone member by heater zone member heating of the transfer line may be performed using e.g. the transfer line as described with reference to Figures 4 - 6. Alternatively, the heater zone member by heater zone member heating of the transfer line may be performed using any other transfer line having heaters, e.g. heater wire segments, that are individually operable. The transfer line comprises a first one of the heater zone members HZM1, a second one of the heater zone members HZM2 and a third one of the heater zone members HZM3. The second one of the heater zone members is adjacent to and downstream of the first one of the heater zone members. The third one of the heater zone members is adjacent to and downstream of the second one of the heater zone members.

[0036] The transfer line further comprises a controller CTR configured to operate the heater zone members. The controller operates the first one of the heater zone members to heat at an operating temperature OP above a melting temperature of the metal, operates the second one of the heater zone members to heat from below the melting temperature towards the operating temperature, i.e. towards the operating temperature above the melting point; and operates the third one of the heater zone members to heat below the melting temperature of the metal. The first heater zone member provides a path of molten metal towards an end of the transfer line, i.e. at the side of HZM1, thus to enable excess metal, caused by expansion when transitioning from the solid state to the molten state, to discharge. The controller thereby operates the heater zone members such that a temperature gradient is provided at the second and third one of the heater zone members, as the second one of the heater zone members is heated up towards a temperature above the melting temperature while the third one of the heater zonemembers is heated to be at a temperature below the melting temperature. By locally heating up the transfer line from below the melting temperature at one of the heater zone members (i.e. the third one of the heater zone members) to above the melting temperature at an adjacent one of the heater zone members (i.e. the second one of the heater zone members), a temperature gradient may be relatively high, which may prevent entrapment of molten metal between solid metal, as may be the case with the prior art transfer line. The thermal interconnection between the adjacent heater zone members provides for a strong however substantially unidirectional temperature gradient between the two adjacent heater zone members at the respective temperatures above and below the melting temperature. The thermal interconnection between the adjacent heater zone members may further prevent that the temperature in the second heater zone member where melting may take place, remains uniform seen along the direction of the length of the transfer line, whereby locally molten metal may be entrapped between still solid metal.

[0037] In an embodiment, the temperature gradient may be increased in that the controller is configured to operate the second one of the heater zone members to heat with a temperature surplus above the operating temperature. The temperature surplus may be local, i.e. the remaining heater zone members operated above the melting temperature do not require to be operated with the temperature surplus, which may enable to lower operating temperature to be close to and above the melting temperature.

[0038] Figure 9 further depicts a fourth one of the heater zone members HZM4 adjacent to and downstream of the third one of the heater zone members. In an embodiment, the controller is further configured to heat the heater zone members so as to move the temperature gradient from the second and third one of the heater zone members to the third and fourth one of the heater zone members. Thereto, after a melting time of metal in the second one of the heater zone members, the controller operates the second one of the heater zone members as the first one of the heater zone members, operate the third one of the heater zone members as the second one of the heater zone members, and operate the fourth one of the heater zone members as the third one of the heater zone members. As a result, the transfer line may be heated to melt the metal in the transfer line, heater zone member by heater zone member from one end, to the other end of the transfer line, enabling excess molten metal due to expansion of the metal when melting, to discharge, as the molten metal in the heater zone members where the melting has already taken place, provide a discharging path to the one end of the transfer line from which the melting has started. The process may be repeated with following heater zone members HZM5, HZM6, etc., causing the melting front to successively move from HZM2 to HZM3 to HZM4 to HZM5, etc..

[0039] The molten metal injection system as described herein may be comprised in a lithographic apparatus. For example, liquid tin droplets may be injected to be vaporized by means of laser radiation in order to generate a plasma for generation of EUV radiation, for exposing substrates to EUV radiation.

[0040] Although specific reference may be made in this text to the use of lithographic apparatus in the manufacture of ICs, it should be understood that the lithographic apparatus described herein may have other applications. Possible other applications include the manufacture of integrated optical systems, guidance and detection patterns for magnetic domain memories, flat-panel displays, liquidcrystal displays (LCDs), thin-film magnetic heads, etc.

[0041] Although specific reference may be made in this text to embodiments of the invention in the context of a lithographic apparatus, embodiments of the invention may be used in other apparatus. Embodiments of the invention may form part of a mask inspection apparatus, a metrology apparatus, or any apparatus that measures or processes an object such as a wafer (or other substrate) or mask (or other patterning device). These apparatus may be generally referred to as lithographic tools. Such a lithographic tool may use vacuum conditions or ambient (non-vacuum) conditions.

[0042] Although specific reference may have been made above to the use of embodiments of the invention in the context of optical lithography, it will be appreciated that the invention, where the context allows, is not limited to optical lithography and may be used in other applications, for example imprint lithography.

[0043] Where the context allows, embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the invention may also be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be read and executed by one or more processors. A machine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computing device). For example, a machine-readable medium may include read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical, acoustical or other forms of propagated signals (e.g. carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.), and others. Further, firmware, software, routines, instructions may be described herein as performing certain actions. However, it should be appreciated that such descriptions are merely for convenience and that such actions in fact result from computing devices, processors, controllers, or other devices executing the firmware, software, routines, instructions, etc. and in doing that may cause actuators or other devices to interact with the physical world.

[0044] While specific embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as described. The descriptions above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Thus it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention as described without departing from the scope of the claims set out below.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A transfer line for transferring molten metal from a reservoir to a nozzle, wherein the transfer line comprises a plurality of heater zone members in thermal contact with one another wherein the heater zone members are arranged to maintain a temperature of the metal over the transfer line such that the metal remains in a molten state.

2. The transfer line according to claim 1 comprising thermal interconnection members arranged between adjacent heater zone members wherein the thermal contact is provided by the thermal interconnection members.

3. The transfer line according to claim 2, wherein the thermal interconnection members comprise a same material as that of the heater zone members.

4. The transfer line according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the thermal interconnection members are pivotably connected to the respective adjacent heater zone members.

5. The transfer line according to claim 4, wherein the thermal interconnection members form cardan couplings with the respective adjacent heater zone members.

6. The transfer line according to any one of claims 2 - 5, wherein a thermal capacity of the transfer line at the heater zone members is substantially the same as the thermal capacity at the thermal interconnection members.

7. The transfer line according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heater zone members each comprise a wire heating element and a metallic bead in thermal contact with the wire heating element.

8. The transfer line according to claim 7, wherein wire heating element is arranged in the beads.

9. The transfer line according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the metallic beads are thermally interconnected with one another.

10. The transfer line according to any one of claims 7 - 9, further comprising a metallic strip that interconnects the metallic beads.

11. The transfer line according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a first second and third one of the heater zone members, the second one of the heater zone members being adjacent to and downstream of the first one of the heater zone members, the third one of the heater zone members being adjacent to and downstream of the second one of the heater zone members, wherein the transfer line further comprises a controller configured to operate the heater zone members, wherein the controller is configured to:- operate the first one of the heater zone members to heat at an operating temperature above a melting temperature of the metal,- operate the second one of the heater zone members to heat up from below the melting temperature towards the operating temperature; and- operate the third one of the heater zone members to heat below the melting temperature of the metal.

12. The transfer line according to claim 11 wherein the controller is configured to operate the second one of the heater zone members to heat towards a temperature surplus above the operating temperature.

13. The transfer line according to claim 11 or 12, comprising a fourth one of the heater zone members, the fourth one of the heater zone members being adjacent to and downstream of the third one of the heater zone members, wherein the controller is further configured to, after a melting time of metal in the second one of the heater zone members, operate the second one of the heater zone members as the first one of the heater zone members, operate the third one of the heater zone members as the second one of the heater zone members, and operate the fourth one of the heater zone members as the third one of the heater zone members.

14. A molten metal injection system comprising a nozzle for ejecting droplets of molten metal, a reservoir for molten metal and a transfer line for transferring the molten metal from the reservoir to the nozzle, the transfer line according to any one of the preceding claims.

15. A lithographic apparatus comprising the molten metal injection system according to claim 14.

Citation Information

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