Abstract: At a frame 26 in a microwave plasma processing apparatus 100, numerous horizontal spray gas nozzles 27 formed therein injection holes A and numerous vertical gas nozzles 28 formed therein injection holes B are fixed. A first gas supply means 50 injects argon gas through the injection holes A into an area near each dielectric parts 31a. A second gas supply means 55 injects silane gas and hydrogen gas through the injection holes B into a position at which the gases do not become over-dissociated. The gases injected as described above are raised to plasma with a microwave transmitted through each dielectric parts 31a. Since the vertical gas nozzles 28 are mounted at positions at which they do not block the flow of plasma traveling toward a substrate G, ions and electrons do not collide with the vertical gas nozzles 28 readily.

Abstract: A device for applying, in use, electromagnetic microwave radiation in a plasma cavity. The device includes a plasma cavity present within a housing, being substantially cylindrically symmetric about a first axis, and which plasma cavity includes a cylindrical wall provided with a circumferential slit. The plasma cavity is in communication, via the slit, with a first end of an elongated microwave guide having a longitudinally extending second axis. The device is in communication in use with a microwave generating device via the other end of the microwave guide, in which the electromagnetic microwave radiation being generated may include several modes, where the device can, in use, generate microwave radiation in the slit, which microwave radiation has only one electromagnetic field distribution at least in one direction perpendicularly to the propagation direction of the microwave radiation in the microwave guide.

Abstract: A multifrequency plasma reactor includes first, second and third power generators operably coupled to at least one of an upper and lower electrode for generating power signals. The plasma reactor further includes a controller for selectively activating the power generators according to an activation profile that results in the formation of a desirable narrow gap via in a semiconductor wafer. A method of generating a plasma in the reactor for etching the semiconductor wafer is also described by way of configuring the power generators according to various activation configurations during various phases of the etching process.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention generally relate to annular ring used in a plasma processing chamber. In one embodiment, the annular ring includes an inner wall, an upper outer wall, a lower outer wall, a step defined between the upper and lower outer wall, a top surface and a bottom wall. The step is formed upward and outward from the lower outer wall and inward and downward from the upper outer wall. The annular ring may be fabricated from a conductive material, such as silicon carbide and aluminum.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus suitable for high-speed and high-definition etching is provided. By applying to a wafer chucking electrode 9 a voltage waveform in which an absolute value of high frequency voltage increases with time and switching between a positive voltage and a negative voltage occurs, a rectangular high frequency voltage is caused to be generated in the wafer 10, with the result that the duty ratio of the rectangular high frequency voltage decreases and that the high energy ion ratio in the energy distribution of ions incident on the wafer increases. Therefore, high efficiency and high accuracy etching becomes possible, providing the advantage that the material selection ratio is improved.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck module for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus which can be cooled with water and in which there is no penetration leak includes an electrostatic chuck plate of alumina and a cooling plate which is bonded to the electrostatic chuck, wherein the cooling plate is formed by forging processing to a Cu-based composite material comprising Cu—W, Cu—W—Ni, Cu—Mo, or Cu—Mo—Ni. By adjusting the ratio of Cu and Ni having a great thermal expansion coefficient and W and Mo having a small thermal expansion coefficient in a Cu-based composite material, it is possible to obtain a highly thermally conductive material having the same thermal expansion coefficient as an alumina material for an electrostatic chuck. However, since such a composite material has a penetration leak, it cannot be used in a vacuum system. According to the present invention, by conducting forging processing, a penetration leak can be prevented.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a high-frequency power source for applying bias power to an electrode on which a substrate is disposed, an insulating layer formed on a surface of the electrode, a conductive material buried within the insulating layer, a feeder line connecting the high-frequency power source and the conductive material, a variable capacitor provided in the feeder line, and a direct current power source connected to the electrode at a position between the electrode and the high-frequency power source. One portion of the insulating layer where the conductive material is buried formed on an outer part of the electrode has a thickness which is greater than a thickness of another portion of the insulating layer where the conducting material is not buried and which extends from a central part of the electrode to the one portion of the insulating layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for initiating a process gas plasma. A conductive plate having a plurality of conductive fingers is positioned in a microwave applicator. An arc forms between the conductive fingers to initiate the formation of a plasma. A transport mechanism may convey process materials through the plasma. A spray port may be provided to expel processed materials.

Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus has a remote source to remotely energize a hydrogen-containing gas to form an energized gas having a first ratio of ionic hydrogen-containing species to radical hydrogen-containing species. The apparatus has a process chamber with a substrate support, an ion filter to filter the remotely energized gas to form a filtered energized gas having a second ratio of ionic hydrogen-containing species to radical hydrogen-containing species, the second ratio being different than the first ratio, and a gas distributor to introduce the filtered energized gas into the chamber.

Abstract: An RF antenna assembly is provided having a segmented, conductive, deposition baffle covering an antenna conductor designed for operation internal to a vacuum processing chamber in presence of metal vapor or ions. The antenna can be placed either above the wafer, or around it. The baffle includes two concentric layers of segmented shields. The inner segmented shield is a dielectric, and the outer segment shield is electrically conductive. The segments are preferably staggered and the dielectric layer is configured to occupy the space and maintain the distance between the conductor and the outer shield. The shield segments arranged end-to-end, with non-conductive, endless, circumferential gaps between the segments of the conductive outer layer.

Abstract: In a plasma processing method, on a back side of a cathode electrode is provided at least one conductor plate d.c. potentially insulated from the cathode electrode and an opposing electrode, and the cathode electrode and the conductor plate are enclosed with a shielding wall such that a ratio of an inter-electrode coupling capacitance provided by the cathode electrode and the opposing electrode to a coupling capacitance provided by the cathode electrode and a bottom surface of the shielding wall on the back side of the conductor plate is not less than a predetermined value. Thereby, a high-quality, high-speed plasma processing is realized.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber for accommodating therein an object to be processed, a plurality of bar-shaped magnets rotatably installed standing around the processing chamber, a rotation driving mechanism for synchronously rotating the bar-shaped magnets, a rotation detection unit for detecting a rotation of a bar-shaped magnet and clocking times corresponding to the detected rotation, and an abnormal rotation determination unit for determining whether the rotation driving mechanism is abnormal by comparing an interval calculated from the clocked times to a time period.

Abstract: A surface wave plasma (SWP) source having an electromagnetic (EM) wave launcher configured to couple EM energy in a desired EM wave mode to a plasma by generating a surface wave on a plasma surface of the EM wave launcher adjacent the plasma. A power coupling system is coupled to the EM wave launcher, and configured to provide the EM energy to the EM wave launcher for forming the plasma. A mode scrambler coupled to the plasma surface of the EM wave launcher, and configured to reduce mode jumping between the desired EM wave mode and another EM wave mode.

Abstract: A focus ring configured to be coupled to a substrate holder comprises a first surface exposed to a process; a second surface, opposite the first surface, for coupling to an upper surface of the substrate holder; an inner radial edge for facing a periphery of a substrate; and an outer radial edge. The second surface further comprises one or more contact features, each of which is configured to mate with one or more receiving features formed within the upper surface of the substrate holder. The focus ring can further comprise a clamping feature for mechanically clamping the focus ring to the substrate holder. Furthermore, a gas can be supplied to the contact space residing between the one or more contact features on the focus ring and the one or more receiving features on the substrate holder.

Abstract: A plasma-processing apparatus having a high frequency power application electrode in which plasma is generated by supplying VHF power to the high frequency power application electrode. The plasma-processing apparatus has an impedance-matching equipment comprising a capacitive element and an inductive element, which are mutually connected in series. The apparatus is arranged so that the capacitive element and the inductive element of the impedance-matching equipment are symmetrical with respect to the center of the high frequency power application electrode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a guard ring for reducing particle entrapment along a moveable shaft of a substrate support. In one embodiment, the guard ring comprises a substantially annular guard ring positioned within a step formed in a sleeve that circumscribes the shaft. The guard ring is positioned to substantially seal a gap separating the shaft from the sleeve, so that the amount of particles and foreign matter that travel within or become trapped in the gap is substantially reduced. In another embodiment, a guard ring comprises a base portion having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, a first flange coupled to the inner perimeter, a second flange coupled to the outer perimeter, and a continuous channel separating the first flange from the second flange. The first flange is adapted to function as a spring that accommodates displacement of the shaft.

Abstract: A reactor comprising an energy source, a plasma unit positioned relative to the energy source, and a processing vessel connected to the plasma unit. The energy source has a generator that produces a plasma energy and a transmitter to transmit the plasma energy. The plasma unit has a first portion or transmissive portion through which the plasma energy can propagate, a second portion or distributor portion having a plurality of outlets, and a chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of outlets. The chamber is generally between or within the first and second portions. The plasma energy can pass through at least the first portion and into the chamber to create a plasma in the chamber. The second portion can also be transmissive or opaque to the plasma energy. The processing vessel includes a workpiece holder across from the outlets of the second portion of the plasma unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the production of a plasma (16) within a housing comprising means for the generation of energy in the microwave spectrum, for the excitation of the plasma, said means comprise at least one basic plasma excitation device with a coaxial applicator (4) of microwave energy, one of the ends of which is connected to a production source (7) of microwave energy, the other end (8) of which is directed to the gas to be excited within the housing. The device is characterised in that each basic plasma excitation device is arranged in the wall (3) of the housing, each applicator (4) having a central core (5) which is essentially flush with the wall of the housing. The central core and the thickness of the wall (3) of the housing are separated by a space (6) coaxial to the central core, said space being totally filled, at least at the end of each applicator, by a dielectric material (14), such that said material is essentially flush with the level of the wall of the housing.

Abstract: An arrangement configured to contain plasma within plasma tube assembly of downstream microwave plasma system. Downstream microwave plasma system is configured to generate plasma within plasma-sustaining region of plasma tube assembly and channeling at least portion of plasma downstream to plasma processing chamber of downstream microwave plasma system. Arrangement includes a first hollow center electrically conductive disk surrounding a cylindrical structure that defines plasma passage of plasma tube assembly. Arrangement also includes a second hollow center electrically conductive disk also surrounding the cylindrical structure. Second hollow center electrically conductive disk is configured to be disposed in a spaced-apart relationship relative to first hollow center electrically conductive disk so as to form a first hollow center disk-shape interstitial region between first hollow center electrically conductive disc and second hollow center electrically conductive disc.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to make multilayer thermal barrier coatings for superalloy substrates such as turbine blades or vanes are disclosed. The methods produce non-homogeneous, nanometer-size, successive layers and a non-homogeneous interfacial layer without the use of baffles. Methods are also disclosed to use a lower cost metallic source and an oxygen bleed to create alumina or tantalum oxide vapor, to use a tantalum oxide or an alumina ingot and a low pressure inert gas feed to direct the vapor clouds, to use pulsed evaporation from a secondary vapor source to create non-homogeneous multilayer coating on non-rotated substrates, to use an electric bias to direct the vapor clouds, and to use a mechanical system to direct the vapor clouds or move and position the article to be coated in the clouds.