Abstract: A beam current sensor is composed of a cylindrical super-conductive body having a bridge unit formed on the outer diameter side wherein a beam passes through the inner diameter side. The sensor improves efficiency of creating a magnetic field from a current and can measure a beam current as 1 nA. The bridge unit includes a first coil unit formed so as to have an eddy shape wound counterclockwise from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side; a second coil unit formed so as to have an eddy shape wound clockwise from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side; and a connection portion for connecting the center position of the inner diameter side of the first coil unit with the center position of the inner diameter side of the second coil.

Abstract: A plasma doping method and a plasma doping apparatus, having a superior in-plane uniformity of an amorphous layer formed on a sample surface, are provided. In the plasma doping method by which plasma is generated within a vacuum chamber, and impurity ions contained in the plasma are caused to collide with the surface of the sample so as to quality-change the surface of the sample into an amorphous state thereof, a plasma irradiation time is adjusted in order to improve an in-plane uniformity. If the plasma irradiation time becomes excessively short, then a fluctuation of the plasma is transferred to depths of an amorphous layer formed on a silicon substrate, so that the in-plane uniformity is deteriorated. On the other hand, if the irradiation time becomes excessively long, then an effect for sputtering the surface of the silicon substrate by using the plasma becomes dominant, then the in-plane uniformity is deteriorated.

Abstract: In order to realize a plasma doping method capable of carrying out a stable low-density doping, exhaustion is carried out with a pump while introducing a predetermined gas into a vacuum chamber from a gas supplying apparatus, the pressure of the vacuum chamber is held at a predetermined pressure and a high frequency power is supplied to a coil from a high frequency power source. After the generation of plasma in the vacuum chamber, the pressure of the vacuum chamber is lowered, and the low-density plasma doping is performed to a substrate placed on a substrate electrode. Moreover, the pressure of the vacuum chamber is gradually lowered, and the high frequency power is gradually increased, thereby the low-density plasma doping is carried out to the substrate placed on the substrate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor region having an upper surface and a side surface is formed on a substrate. A first impurity region is formed in an upper portion of the semiconductor region. A second impurity region is formed in a side portion of the semiconductor region. The resistivity of the second impurity region is substantially equal to or smaller than that of the first impurity region.

Abstract: With evacuation of interior of a vacuum chamber halted and with gas supply into the vacuum chamber halted, in a state that a mixed gas of helium gas and diborane gas is sealed in the vacuum chamber, a plasma is generated in a vacuum vessel and simultaneously a high-frequency power is supplied to a sample electrode. By the high-frequency power supplied to the sample electrode, boron is introduced to a proximity to the substrate surface.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a plasma processing method and apparatus capable of increasing the uniformity of amorphyzation processing. A prescribed gas is introduced into a vacuum container 1 from a gas supply apparatus 2 through a gas inlet 11 while being exhausted by a turbomolecular pump 3 as an exhaust apparatus through an exhaust hole 12. The pressure in the vacuum container 1 is kept at a prescribed value by a pressure regulating valve 4. High-frequency electric power of 13.56 MHz is supplied from a high-frequency power source 5 to a coil 8 disposed close to a dielectric window 7 which is opposed to a sample electrode 6, whereby induction-coupled plasma is generated in the vacuum container 1. A high-frequency power source 10 for supplying high-frequency electric power to the sample electrode 6 is provided and functions as a voltage source for controlling the potential of the sample electrode 6.

Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device in which uniform properties are intended and high yields are provided. Process steps are provided in which variations are adjusted in doping and annealing process steps that are subsequent process steps so as to cancel in-plane variations in a substrate caused by dry etching to finally as well provide excellent in-plane consistency in a substrate.

Abstract: A top plate, disposed on an upper portion of a vacuum container so as to face a substrate-placing area of a sample electrode, is provided with an impurity-containing film that contains an impurity, and is formed on a top plate peripheral edge portion area that is a face exposable to a plasma generated in the vacuum container, and is located on a peripheral edge of a top plate center portion area that faces the center portion of the substrate-placing area.

Abstract: An amount of leakage of a substrate-cooling gas into a vacuum container is measured by using a flow-rate measuring device so that the flow rate of a diluting gas that is the same as the substrate-cooling gas is controlled by a control device or a plasma doping time is prolonged, in accordance with the amount of leakage.

Abstract: The commodity recycling method of the present invention includes the steps of: selling or renting a commodity to a first user (step S1); collecting the commodity from the first user (step S2); estimating a remaining life of the commodity based on information indicating a usage history of the commodity recorded in a recording section provided in the commodity (step S3); determining sale terms or lease terms based on the estimated remaining life of the commodity (step S4); selling or renting the commodity to a second user in accordance with the sale terms or the lease terms (step S5). The recording section records the information indicating the usage history of the commodity in a manner in which it is substantially impossible for a user of the commodity to alter the usage history information.

Abstract: A fin-shaped semiconductor region is formed on a substrate, and then the substrate is placed in a chamber. Then, an ignition gas is introduced into a chamber to thereby turn the ignition gas into a plasma, and then a process gas containing an impurity is introduced into the chamber to thereby turn the process gas into a plasma. Then, a bias voltage is applied to the substrate so as to dope the semiconductor region with the impurity after confirming attenuation of an amount of the ignition gas remaining in the chamber.

Abstract: A semiconductor region having an upper surface and a side surface is formed on a substrate. A first impurity region is formed in an upper portion of the semiconductor region. A second impurity region is formed in a side portion of the semiconductor region. The resistivity of the second impurity region is substantially equal to or smaller than that of the first impurity region.

Abstract: An impurity region is formed in a surface of a substrate by exposing the substrate to a plasma generated from a gas containing an impurity in a vacuum chamber. In this process, a plasma doping condition is set with respect to a dose of the impurity to be introduced into the substrate so that a first one of doses in a central portion and in a peripheral portion of the substrate is greater than a second one of the doses during an initial period of doping, with the second dose becoming greater than the first dose thereafter.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a fin-type semiconductor region (13) formed on a substrate (11); a gate insulating film (14) formed so as to cover an upper surface and both side surfaces of a predetermined portion of the fin-type semiconductor region (13); a gate electrode (15) formed on the gate insulating film (14); and an impurity region (17) formed on both sides of the gate electrode (15) in the fin-type semiconductor region (13). An impurity blocking portion (15a) for blocking the introduction of impurities is provided adjacent both sides of the gate electrode (15) over an upper surface of the fin-type semiconductor region (13).

Abstract: A method of forming an impurity-introduced layer is disclosed. The method includes at least a step of forming a resist pattern on a principal face of a solid substrate such as a silicon substrate (S27); a step of introducing impurity into the solid substrate through plasma-doping in ion mode (S23), a step of removing a resist (S28), a step of cleaning metal contamination and particles attached to a surface of the solid substrate (S25a); a step of anneal (S26). The step of removing a resist (S28) irradiates the resist with oxygen-plasma or brings mixed solution of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide water, or mixed solution of NH4OH, H2O2 and H2O into contact with the resist. The step of cleaning (S25a) brings mixed solution of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide water, or mixed solution of NH4OH, H2O2 and H2O into contact with the principal face of the solid substrate.

Abstract: A plasma of a gas containing an impurity is produced through a discharge in a vacuum chamber, and a plurality of substrates are successively doped with the impurity by using the plasma, wherein a plasma doping condition of a subject substrate is adjusted based on an accumulated discharge time until the subject substrate is placed in the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A method for introducing impurities includes a step for forming an amorphous layer at a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a step for forming a shallow impurity-introducing layer at the semiconductor substrate which has been made amorphous, and an apparatus used therefore. Particularly, the step for forming the amorphous layer is a step for irradiating plasma to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the step for forming the shallow impurity-introducing layer is a step for introducing impurities into the surface which has been made amorphous.

Abstract: A method for introducing impurities includes a step for forming an amorphous layer at a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a step for forming a shallow impurity-introducing layer at the semiconductor substrate which has been made amorphous, and an apparatus used therefore. Particularly, the step for forming the amorphous layer is a step for irradiating plasma to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the step for forming the shallow impurity-introducing layer is a step for introducing impurities into the surface which has been made amorphous.

Abstract: A subject of the present invention is to realize an impurity doping not to bring about a rise of a substrate temperature. Another subject of the present invention is to measure optically physical properties of a lattice defect generated by the impurity doping step to control such that subsequent steps are optimized. An impurity doping method, includes a step of doping an impurity into a surface of a solid state base body, a step of measuring an optical characteristic of an area into which the impurity is doped, a step of selecting annealing conditions based on a measurement result to meet the optical characteristic of the area into which the impurity is doped, and a step of annealing the area into which the impurity is doped, based on the selected annealing conditions.

Abstract: A method for introducing impurities includes a step for forming an amorphous layer at a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a step for forming a shallow impurity-introducing layer at the semiconductor substrate which has been made amorphous, and an apparatus used therefore. Particularly, the step for forming the amorphous layer is a step for irradiating plasma to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the step for forming the shallow impurity-introducing layer is a step for introducing impurities into the surface which has been made amorphous.