Abstract: An ion source uses at least one induction coil to generate ac magnetic field to couple rf/VHF power into a plasma within a vessel, where the excitation coil may be a single set of turns each turn having lobes or multiple separate sets of windings. The excitation coil is positioned outside and proximate that side of the vessel that is opposite to the extraction slit, and elongated parallel to the length dimension of the extraction slit. The conducting shield(s) positioned outside or integrated with the well of the vessel are used to block the capacitive coupling to the plasma and/or to collect any rf/VHF current may be coupled into the plasma. The conducting shield positioned between the vessel and the coil set can either shield the plasma from capacitive coupling from the excitation coils, or be tuned to have a higher rf/VHF voltage to ignite or clean the source.

Abstract: An ion source uses at least one induction coil to generate ac magnetic field to couple rf/VHF power into a plasma within a vessel, where the excitation coil may be a single set of turns each turn having lobes or multiple separate sets of windings. The excitation coil is positioned outside and proximate that side of the vessel that is opposite to the extraction slit, and elongated parallel to the length dimension of the extraction slit. The conducting shield(s) positioned outside or integrated with the well of the vessel are used to block the capacitive coupling to the plasma and/or to collect any rf/VHF current may be coupled into the plasma. The conducting shield positioned between the vessel and the coil set can either shield the plasma from capacitive coupling from the excitation coils, or be tuned to have a higher rf/VHF voltage to ignite or clean the source.

Abstract: Techniques for measuring ion beam current, especially for measuring low energy ion beam current, are disclosed. The technique may be realized as an ion beam current measurement apparatus having at least a planar Faraday cup and a voltage assembly. The planar Faraday cup is located close to an inner surface of a chamber wall, and intersects an ion beam path. The voltage assembly is located outside a chamber having the chamber wall. Therefore, by properly adjusting the electric voltage applied on the planar Faraday cup by the voltage assembly, some undesired charged particles may be adequately suppressed. Further, the planar Faraday cup may surround an opening of a non-planar Faraday cup which may be any conventional Faraday cup. Therefore, the whole ion beam may be received and measured well by the larger cross-section area of the planar Faraday cup on the ion beam path.

Abstract: Techniques for ion beam current measurement, especially for measuring low energy ion beam current, are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an ion beam current measurement apparatus has at least a planar Faraday cup and a magnet device. The planar Faraday cup is close to an inner surface of a chamber wall, and may be non-parallel to or parallel to the inner surface. The magnet device is located close to the planar Faraday cup. Therefore, by properly adjusting the magnetic field, secondary electrons, incoming electrons and low energy ions may be adequately suppressed. Further, the planar Faraday cup may surround an opening of an additional Faraday cup being any conventional Faraday cup. Therefore, the whole ion beam may be received and measured well by the larger cross-section area of at least the planar Faraday cup on the ion beam path.

Abstract: Techniques for measuring ion beam current, especially for measuring low energy ion beam current, are disclosed. The technique may be realized as an ion beam current measurement apparatus having at least a planar Faraday cup and a voltage assembly. The planar Faraday cup is located close to an inner surface of a chamber wall, and intersects an ion beam path. The voltage assembly is located outside a chamber having the chamber wall. Therefore, by properly adjusting the electric voltage applied on the planar Faraday cup by the voltage assembly, some undesired charged particles may be adequately suppressed. Further, the planar Faraday cup may surround an opening of an additional Faraday cup being any conventional Faraday cup. Therefore, the whole ion beam may be received and measured well by the larger cross-section area of the planar Faraday cup on the ion beam path.

Abstract: Techniques for ion beam current measurement, especially for measuring low energy ion beam current, are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an ion beam current measurement apparatus has at least a planar Faraday cup and a magnet device. The planar Faraday cup is close to an inner surface of a chamber wall, and may be non-parallel to or parallel to the inner surface. The magnet device is located close to the planar Faraday cup. Therefore, by properly adjusting the magnetic field, secondary electrons, incoming electrons and low energy ions may be adequately suppressed. Further, the planar Faraday cup may surround an opening of an additional Faraday cup being any conventional Faraday cup. Therefore, the whole ion beam may be received and measured well by the larger cross-section area of at least the planar Faraday cup on the ion beam path.

Abstract: A method and system for controllably stripping a portion of silicon (98) from a silicon coated surface, for example, from an interior portion of an ion implanter (10). The system comprises (i) a source (80) of gas comprised at least partially of a reactive gas, such as fluorine; and (ii) a dissociation device (70) such as a radio frequency (RF) plasma source located proximate the silicon coated surface for converting the reactive gas to a plasma of dissociated reactive gas atoms and for directing the dissociated reactive gas atoms toward the silicon coated surface. A control system (102) determines the rate of removal of the silicon (98) from the surface by controlling (i) a rate of source gas flow into and the amount of power supplied to the dissociation device, and (ii) the time of exposure of the silicon coated surface to the plasma.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for cleaning a contaminated surface of a vacuum chamber, comprising means for (i) generating an ion beam (44) having a reactive species (e.g., fluorine) component; (ii) directing the ion beam toward a contaminated surface (100); (iii) neutralizing the ion beam (44) by introducing, into the chamber proximate the contaminated surface, a neutralizing gas (70) (e.g., xenon) such that the ion beam (44) collides with molecules of the neutralizing gas, and, as a result of charge exchange reactions between the ion beam and the neutralizing gas molecules, creates a beam of energetic reactive neutral atoms of the reactive species; (iv) cleaning the surface (100) by allowing the beam of energetic reactive neutral atoms of the reactive species to react with contaminants to create reaction products; and (v) removing from the chamber any volatile reaction products that result. Alternatively, the method and system include means for (i) generating an energetic non-reactive (e.g.