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Posted on 07/27/2026 5:50:08 PM PDT by SmokingJoe
This video explores **China’s recent development of a domestic Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine** (0:00), a crucial piece of technology for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Despite being long dominated by the Dutch company *ASML*, China has managed to build a working prototype by taking a different engineering approach to bypass technical hurdles.
**Key takeaways:**
* **Light Source Innovation:** Instead of just mirroring *ASML*'s method of hitting moving tin droplets with lasers, China is actively developing **Laser-Induced Discharge Plasma (LDP)** (2:40).
While *ASML* moved away from this method years ago due to scalability issues, China is betting on modern advancements to make it viable (4:10)
. * **Optical Challenges:** Creating EUV mirrors requires atomic-level smoothness (5:52). To compensate for not having decades of *ASML*'s specific optical manufacturing know-how, China appears to be using a "scale over precision" approach, resulting in a machine that occupies an entire factory floor compared to *ASML*'s bus-sized scanner (9:13, 10:33).
* **Strategic Resources:** The machine relies on *helium*, a gas for which China is heavily import-dependent (11:34). Securing this supply chain is as critical as the hardware itself.
* **Strategic Goal:** The primary objective isn't necessarily to outperform *ASML* immediately, but to create a domestic alternative that replaces the inefficient "quadruple patterning" process currently used by manufacturers like *SMIC* (16:11).
While the prototype is still far from the reliability required for high-volume commercial production, its existence represents a massive milestone in China's strategic effort to control its own chip-making technology.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
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I wonder if this is another ‘claim’ like ‘Moonshot Kimi’ to coincide with one of Pooh’s AI conference visit.
The tin-droplet light source at the root of ASML’s incredible chip-printing technology was developed by Cymer, in San Diego.
ASML purchased Cymer in 2013.
This technology is something I did not believe China could do. The one ASML has vaporizes tin drops thousands of time a second with no misses. The tin vapor is in a hydrogen atmosphere to prevent the tin from coating the high precision mirrors. A constant near vacuum has to be maintained to remove the gases.
It took ASML nearly 20 years to get their machine working.
China’s first attempt was to buy a ASML machine and reverse engineer it.
That plan failed.
When Intel and Global Foundry tried to push their processes without EUV, both failed badly and it almost ended Intel.
Why did you think they couldn’t do it?
It covers China's development of its first domestic EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) lithography prototype — a critical technology for producing advanced semiconductors (like those at 7nm and below). ASML (a Dutch company) currently dominates the global market for these machines, and export restrictions have limited China's access.
Key points from the video:
The video explains the complex physics and engineering behind EUV step-by-step, with comparisons to ASML's tech. It also includes a sponsor segment for ChatLLM from Abacus.AI.
It's a typical deep-dive style from this channel — informative for anyone interested in semiconductors, geopolitics of tech, or advanced manufacturing. Views were already climbing quickly when the page was checked.
If you want a deeper breakdown of a specific part (e.g., LPP vs LDP), timestamps, or related context, let me know!
Key Takeaways!
Aren’t there three critical parameters for wafer lithography? Something like line width, throughput, and overlay accuracy? All three have to be be there simultaneously in order for a wafer fab to be economically viable?
I can’t remember, it’s been a long time since I worked in the field.
Just prototype tech demo. Not close to production.
I still don’t think they have done it, for one thing, the machine requires a type glass whose precision flatness requirement has up until now as far as I know only able to be done by a one glass company in the world located in Germany.
some of you might be interested in this:
“Advancements and Applications of Laser-Produced Plasmas”
https://premierscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pjs-24-624.pdf
“Laser‑Induced Discharge Plasma Extreme Ultraviolet Source”
“The emission characteristics of tin (Sn) in terms of its high conversion efficiency (CE) and spectral purity (SP) make it the best choice for current EUVL systems.”
https://www.researching.cn/articles/OJ50c4e32b82d5332
“Just prototype tech demo. Not close to production.”
And, of course the Chinese never lie about their technology.
/sarc>
CC
YAWN
Grok.
Yes. China has successfully placed rovers on both the Moon and Mars.
On Mars.
Zhurong (part of the Tianwen-1 mission) landed in Utopia Planitia in May 2021. It was China's first Mars rover and made the country only the second nation (after the United States) to operate a rover on the planet.
Space
It operated for more than 347 Martian sols (about a year on Earth), traveled roughly 1.9 km, and collected data on geology, subsurface structure, possible ancient water activity, and the local environment.
In May 2022 it entered planned hibernation for the Martian winter. It never woke up, most likely due to dust covering its solar panels. As of 2026 it remains inactive/inoperable on the surface, though scientific papers continue to be published from its earlier data.
Wikipedia
On the Moon
Yutu (Chang’e-3, 2013) — China's first lunar rover. It became immobile after about 42 days but continued limited operations for much longer before fully ceasing around 2016. It is still on the near side.
Yutu-2 (Chang’e-4, January 2019) — The first rover to explore the far side of the Moon (Von Kármán crater in the South Pole–Aitken basin). It far exceeded its planned 3-month lifespan and holds the record for the longest-operating lunar rover.
Wikipedia
As of September 2025 it was still considered active (with limited mobility after a quieter period in 2024). It has driven over 1,600 meters in total. Reports into late 2025 indicate it continued to function in some capacity.
Wikipedia
Chang’e-6 (2024 far-side sample-return mission) also carried a small rover (Jinchan) for short-term surface imaging.
Summary: Chinese rovers (or their remains) are present on both bodies. Zhurong is inactive on Mars; Yutu-2 has been the longest-lived and most recent active Chinese lunar rover.
And you don’t think that China could have obtained that technology?
.
Not for such products.
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