Patent · US Active

Gas cluster ion beam system with rapid gas switching apparatus

US8338806B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
20References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 5, 2010
Grant dateDec 25, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 20, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/0812
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A processing system is provided for irradiating a substrate with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB). The system includes a nozzle for forming and emitting gas cluster beams through a nozzle outlet, and a stagnation chamber that is located upstream of and adjacent the nozzle. The stagnation chamber has an inlet, and the nozzle is configured to direct a single gas cluster beam toward the substrate. An ionizer is positioned downstream of the outlet and is configured to ionize the gas cluster beam to form the GCIB. The system also includes a gas supply that is in fluid communication with the inlet of the stagnation chamber, and which includes a gas source and a valve located between the gas source and the nozzle for controlling flow of a gas between the gas source and the nozzle.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.