Abstract: An electrical power pulse generator system and a method of the system's operation are described herein. A main energy storage capacitor supplies a negative DC power and a kick energy storage capacitor supplies a positive DC power. A main pulse power transistor is interposed between the main energy storage capacitor and an output pulse rail and includes a main power transmission control input for controlling power transmission from the main energy storage capacitor to the output pulse rail. A positive kick pulse power transistor is interposed between the kick energy storage capacitor and the output pulse rail and includes a kick power transmission control input for controlling power transmission from the kick energy storage capacitor to the output pulse rail. A positive kick pulse power transistor control line is connected to the kick power transmission control input of the positive kick pulse transistor.

Abstract: An electrical power pulse generator system and a method of the system's operation are described herein. A main energy storage capacitor supplies a negative DC power and a kick energy storage capacitor supplies a positive DC power. A main pulse power transistor is interposed between the main energy storage capacitor and an output pulse rail and includes a main power transmission control input for controlling power transmission from the main energy storage capacitor to the output pulse rail. A positive kick pulse power transistor is interposed between the kick energy storage capacitor and the output pulse rail and includes a kick power transmission control input for controlling power transmission from the kick energy storage capacitor to the output pulse rail. A positive kick pulse power transistor control line is connected to the kick power transmission control input of the positive kick pulse transistor.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a coating on a substrate at atmospheric pressure comprises (a) a plasma torch comprising a microwave source coupled to an antenna disposed within a chamber having an open end, the chamber comprising a gas inlet for flow of a gas over the antenna to generate a plasma jet; (b) a substrate positioned outside the open end of the chamber a predetermined distance away from a tip of the antenna; and (c) a target material to be coated on the substrate disposed at the tip of the antenna.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for generating surface-wave plasmas capable of simultaneously achieving high density with low temperature and planar scalability. A key feature of the invention is reduced damage to objects in contact with the plasma due to the lack of an RF bias; allowing for damage free processing. The preferred embodiment is an all-in-one processing reactor suitable for photovoltaic cell manufacturing, performing saw-damage removal, oxide stripping, deposition, doping and formation of hetero structures. The invention is scalable for atomic-layer deposition, etching, and other surface interaction processes.

Abstract: A method of laser-assisted plasma etching with polarized light comprises providing a surface of a substrate that includes at least one surface region having trenches arranged in a unidirectional pattern along an x-direction or a y-direction of the surface, where each trench has a depth along a z-direction. The trenches extend substantially in parallel with each other and have a half-pitch of about 100 nm or less. The surface is exposed to a plasma and simultaneously illuminated with a pulsed laser beam having a predetermined polarization along the x-direction or the y-direction, and the trenches are etched.

Abstract: A magnet assembly for use in high power pulsed magnetron sputtering comprises a configuration of magnets having a magnetic field topology comprising magnetic field components Bx, By and Bz. A tangential magnetic field B// distribution on an x-y plane above the configuration of magnets comprising an outer continuous ring and one or more inner continuous rings contained in the outer continuous ring. A total magnetic field Btot distribution on an x-z plane intersecting the configuration of magnets comprises an outer closed loop and one or more inner closed loops contained in the outer closed loop, where, as a function of x, a tangential magnetic field B// alternates between (a) high field values greater than 200 G and high gradients in the z-direction of at least 1000 G/in, and (b) low field values of less than 50 G and low gradients in the z-direction of at most 250 G/in.

Abstract: A method of laser-assisted plasma etching with polarized light comprises providing a surface of a substrate that includes at least one surface region having trenches arranged in a unidirectional pattern along an x-direction or a y-direction of the surface, where each trench has a depth along a z-direction. The trenches extend substantially in parallel with each other and have a half-pitch of about 100 nm or less. The surface is exposed to a plasma and simultaneously illuminated with a pulsed laser beam having a predetermined polarization along the x-direction or the y-direction, and the trenches are etched.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a coating on a substrate at atmospheric pressure comprises (a) a plasma torch comprising a microwave source coupled to an antenna disposed within a chamber having an open end, the chamber comprising a gas inlet for flow of a gas over the antenna to generate a plasma jet; (b) a substrate positioned outside the open end of the chamber a predetermined distance away from a tip of the antenna; and (c) a target material to be coated on the substrate disposed at the tip of the antenna.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a coating on a substrate at atmospheric pressure comprises (a) a plasma torch comprising a microwave source coupled to an antenna disposed within a chamber having an open end, the chamber comprising a gas inlet for flow of a gas over the antenna to generate a plasma jet; (b) a substrate positioned outside the open end of the chamber a predetermined distance away from a tip of the antenna; and (c) a target material to be coated on the substrate disposed at the tip of the antenna.

Abstract: An electrical power pulse generator system and a method of the system's operation are described herein. A main energy storage capacitor supplies a negative DC power and a kick energy storage capacitor supplies a positive DC power. A main pulse power transistor is interposed between the main energy storage capacitor and an output pulse rail and includes a main power transmission control input for controlling power transmission from the main energy storage capacitor to the output pulse rail. A positive kick pulse power transistor is interposed between the kick energy storage capacitor and the output pulse rail and includes a kick power transmission control input for controlling power transmission from the kick energy storage capacitor to the output pulse rail. A positive kick pulse power transistor control line is connected to the kick power transmission control input of the positive kick pulse transistor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for generating surface-wave plasmas capable of simultaneously achieving high density with low temperature and planar scalability. A key feature of the invention is reduced damage to objects in contact with the plasma due to the lack of an RF bias; allowing for damage free processing. The preferred embodiment is an all-in-one processing reactor suitable for photovoltaic cell manufacturing, performing saw-damage removal, oxide stripping, deposition, doping and formation of hetero structures. The invention is scalable for atomic-layer deposition, etching, and other surface interaction processes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for generating surface-wave plasmas capable of simultaneously achieving high density with low temperature and planar scalability. A key feature of the invention is reduced damage to objects in contact with the plasma due to the lack of an RF bias; allowing for damage free processing. The preferred embodiment is an all-in-one processing reactor suitable for photovoltaic cell manufacturing, performing saw-damage removal, oxide stripping, deposition, doping and formation of heterostructures. The invention is scalable for atomic-layer deposition, etching, and other surface interaction processes.

Abstract: A magnet assembly for use in high power pulsed magnetron sputtering comprises a configuration of magnets having a magnetic field topology comprising magnetic field components Bx, By and Bz. A tangential magnetic field B// distribution on an x-y plane above the configuration of magnets comprising an outer continuous ring and one or more inner continuous rings contained in the outer continuous ring. A total magnetic field Btot distribution on an x-z plane intersecting the configuration of magnets comprises an outer closed loop and one or more inner closed loops contained in the outer closed loop, where, as a function of x, a tangential magnetic field B// alternates between (a) high field values greater than 200 G and high gradients in the z-direction of at least 1000 G/in, and (b) low field values of less than 50 G and low gradients in the z-direction of at most 250 G/in.

Abstract: A method of selectively etching a three-dimensional (3-D) structure includes generating a plasma in contact with the 3-D structure, and illuminating a designated portion of the 3-D structure with a laser beam while the plasma is being generated. Nonilluminated portions of the 3-D structure are etched at a first etch rate, and the designated portion of the 3-D structure is etched at a second etch rate, where the second etch rate is different from the first etch rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a coating on a substrate at atmospheric pressure comprises (a) a plasma torch comprising a microwave source coupled to an antenna disposed within a chamber having an open end, the chamber comprising a gas inlet for flow of a gas over the antenna to generate a plasma jet; (b) a substrate positioned outside the open end of the chamber a predetermined distance away from a tip of the antenna; and (c) a target material to be coated on the substrate disposed at the tip of the antenna.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for generating surface-wave plasmas capable of simultaneously achieving high density with low temperature and planar scalability. A key feature of the invention is reduced damage to objects in contact with the plasma due to the lack of an RF bias; allowing for damage free processing. The preferred embodiment is an all-in-one processing reactor suitable for photovoltaic cell manufacturing, performing saw-damage removal, oxide stripping, deposition, doping and formation of heterostructures. The invention is scalable for atomic-layer deposition, etching, and other surface interaction processes.

Abstract: A method of selectively etching a three-dimensional (3-D) structure includes generating a plasma in contact with the 3-D structure, and illuminating a designated portion of the 3-D structure with a laser beam while the plasma is being generated. Nonilluminated portions of the 3-D structure are etched at a first etch rate, and the designated portion of the 3-D structure is etched at a second etch rate, where the second etch rate is different from the first etch rate.

Abstract: A method of forming a nanoscale three-dimensional pattern in a porous semiconductor includes providing a film comprising a semiconductor material and defining a nanoscale metal pattern on the film, where the metal pattern has at least one lateral dimension of about 100 nm or less in size. Semiconductor material is removed from below the nanoscale metal pattern to create trenches in the film having a depth-to-width aspect ratio of at least about 10:1, while pores are formed in remaining portions of the film adjacent to the trenches. A three-dimensional pattern having at least one nanoscale dimension is thus formed in a porous semiconductor, which may be porous silicon. The method can be extended to form self-integrated porous low-k dielectric insulators with copper interconnects, and may also facilitate wafer level chip scale packaging integration.

Abstract: A method of forming a nanoscale three-dimensional pattern in a porous semiconductor includes providing a film comprising a semiconductor material and defining a nanoscale metal pattern on the film, where the metal pattern has at least one lateral dimension of about 100 nm or less in size. Semiconductor material is removed from below the nanoscale metal pattern to create trenches in the film having a depth-to-width aspect ratio of at least about 10:1, while pores are formed in remaining portions of the film adjacent to the trenches. A three-dimensional pattern having at least one nanoscale dimension is thus formed in a porous semiconductor, which may be porous silicon. The method can be extended to form self-integrated porous low-k dielectric insulators with copper interconnects, and may also facilitate wafer level chip scale packaging integration.

Abstract: Methods of laser assisted plasma coating at atmospheric pressure including providing a plasma, at least one target, at least one laser, and a superalloy substrate, operably directing the laser toward the target to liberate atomic particles from the target and feed the atomic particles into the plasma, and depositing the atomic particles onto the superalloy substrate using the plasma to produce a thermal barrier coating having a column width of from about 0.5 microns to about 60 microns, and an intra column porosity of from about 0% to about 9%.