20 years of restarting life

Chapter 3686 Svilak
"Currently, only ASML, Nikon, and Canon possess 130nm process technology, and only these three are preparing to break through this threshold. Nikon and Canon began developing ArF lithography machines two years ago. Under nitrogen atmosphere, 193nm can be achieved at a minimum of 65nm. This choice is certainly the safest path, just like the progression from 436nm in the G line to 365nm in the i line, then to 248nm in KrF, and now they are working on advancing to 193nm, 165nm, and 157nm."

Svilak kept switching between the slides in his hands, speaking without pausing for a moment: "The problem is that the further we go, the more the technical difficulties increase exponentially, and the instability also increases exponentially. Maybe they can achieve a 65nm process, but this path basically reaches a dead end at the 65nm limit."

"The best choice for using a fluid medium is currently pure water. At a wavelength of 193nm, after refraction by 1.44 in water, it is equivalent to a 134nm light source. This means that ASML has skipped the three nodes of 193nm, 165nm, and 157nm, and crossed three generations of dry stepper lithography machines, leaving Nikon and Canon far behind!"

Svilak spoke passionately for about half an hour, then bowed to end the speech. Zhao Chang'an was the first to applaud, followed by Su Bo and others who also applauded enthusiastically.

The lights in the screening room came on, Svilak turned off the projector, and then it was time for a Q&A session with Nano North America.

Zhao Chang'an didn't know much about these things, but fortunately Su Bo was an expert.

In fact, Zhao Chang'an didn't care whether he understood or not. As a fish that had once leaped out of the water, he already knew the future of ASML if there were no major changes to the branch lines. So even if he understood a little, or even if he didn't understand anything, it wouldn't affect his confidence in investing in ASML.

However, they had to put on a show for everyone, to make them feel that they had also gone through difficult thinking and decision-making before finally choosing to take a big gamble.

"The field of lithography machines involves many areas, among which the light source, optics, and working platform are the three most fundamental systems, along with the photomask, photoresist, auxiliary measurement focusing environment, and transmission system—"

Su Bo said a lot of things that sounded like nonsense to Martin and Svilak, but he was actually explaining to Zhao Chang'an and Wang Yu. He then said, "I have no objection to the fact that a 193nm fluoride gas laser source can be obtained by refraction to be equivalent to a 134nm light source. However, the fluid resistance in a liquid environment is 12 times different from that in a gaseous medium, and the technical requirements for photoresist and mask exposure will also be very different in different environments."

"This is indeed a difficult problem. However, just like Nikon and Canon's research and development, they may be able to solve these problems at the 193nm level. However, at 157nm, many problems that are no easier than the exposure technology problems of photoresist and mask under water medium conditions at 134nm will also appear in front of them."

Martin knew that the questions raised by the Chinese man in his thirties were some of the most difficult problems that 134nm was facing at the moment, and that had to be overcome. Although he was confident that he could find a suitable solution, he had no idea what that suitable solution was.

However, this is also a major reason why ASML is not receiving generous investments from companies like Intel. If they knew the solution, they wouldn't need to go to such lengths to receive this investment team.

Subo nodded, knowing that Martin's words were essentially meaningless.

However, it doesn't really matter. Right now, the boss is determined to invest money in ASML, regardless of whether ASML can develop an immersion stepper. He also feels that even if ASML ultimately fails to develop an immersion stepper, the investment will still be worthwhile.

These words are simply meant to show that the North American team at ASML is not truly ignorant, but rather that they believe in ASML's technical capabilities and are willing to take a big gamble with them.

At the same time, it also made ASML realize that the North American team for one nanometer is not stupid. They shouldn't think that they can just make a big promise and then ask for money at exorbitant prices.

The price can be relatively high, but it can't be excessive.

That evening, Martin and Svilak accompanied the Nano team to dinner at the same hotel where Zhao Chang'an and his eight-person team were staying.

Mina also came from Paris. Since the entire One Nano team was made up of Chinese people, Zhao Chang'an thought it over and decided to have her come as a translator for the negotiations.

Although none of the three members of the team needed a translator, the presence of a Western face, and a young blonde woman at that, could serve as a lubricant in negotiations.

Although Doug's secretary, Hadali Royas, is also a blonde beauty, her title of "beauty" is more of a formality. Mina can easily outshine her in terms of figure, face, aura, and even her posture and gait.

Although ASML is currently one of the two giants in the lithography machine field, standing alongside Nikon and Canon, the company only went public in 95 and its current annual output value is less than $8 million. In contrast, Alcatel, as a century-old company, had sales of $68 billion last year. France is a major Western European country compared to the Netherlands, and Mina, as a senior white-collar worker in Alcatel's president's office, clearly has higher hiring standards than ASML for white-collar secretaries.

Zhao Chang'an noticed that Svilak looked somewhat dazed after Mina took off her long coat, revealing the tight-fitting bodycon skirt she was wearing underneath.

After finishing dinner, Martin left in a hurry. Zhao Chang'an saw that Svilak seemed a little reluctant to leave, so he smiled and invited him to go for coffee and chat.

"President Zhao, you should get some rest. Tomorrow's negotiations will be led by the company's Executive Vice President, Chief Strategic Procurement Officer and Procurement Officer, Wayne Allen, with Martin and I assisting. Ms. Mina, I heard you're also participating; it's a pleasure to meet you."

As one of the negotiators for tomorrow, Svilak knew he couldn't stay behind alone to meet with the people from OneNan privately, so he had to regretfully decline.

"Let's exchange contact information so we can communicate more easily."

Seeing that Svilak was unwilling to stay, Zhao Chang'an settled for second best.

-

Zhao Chang'an and Su Bo went upstairs to return to their respective rooms. He said to Mina, "Come to my room later. President Su and I have something to discuss with you."

When Mina first heard Zhao Chang'an ask her to come to his room, her eyes lit up. However, when she heard that Su Bo was also there, she realized she was overthinking it. She reluctantly agreed, but looked at Zhao Chang'an with a hint of resentment in her eyes.

As a passionate and open-minded French woman, after learning how wonderful her lover was, she hadn't been intimate with him for several days. On the way here today, she felt a burning desire and longing, both mentally and physically.