Abstract: A substrate processing method forms a plated film which is thin and has a high flatness by covering the surface (outermost surface) of a substrate, excluding interior surfaces of recesses such as trenches, with a plating inhibiting material such as an SAM-forming molecular species. The substrate processing method comprises: preparing a substrate having recesses formed in a surface; attaching a plating inhibiting material for inhibiting plating to an outermost surface, which excludes interior surfaces of the recesses, of the substrate surface; and then carrying out electroplating of the surface of the substrate, thereby filling the recesses with a plated metal.

Abstract: A beam source has a plasma generating chamber, an antenna for generating plasma in the plasma generating chamber, a first electrode disposed in the plasma generating chamber, and a second electrode disposed in the plasma generating chamber. Both of the antenna and the second electrode face the first electrode. The beam source also includes a power supply for applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to extract particles from the plasma generated by the antenna. The beam source applies various kinds of beams having a large diameter, such as a positive ion beam, a negative ion beam, and a neutral particle beam, uniformly to a workpiece.

Abstract: A beam source has a plasma generating chamber and a gas inlet port for introducing a gas into the plasma generating chamber. The beam source includes a plasma generator for generating positive-negative ion plasma containing positive ions at a density of at least 1010 ions/cm3 and negative ions from the gas. The beam source also includes a plasma potential adjustment electrode disposed in the plasma generating chamber and a grid electrode having a plurality of beam extraction holes formed therein. The beam extraction holes have a diameter of at least 0.5 mm. The beam source has a first power supply for applying a voltage of at most 500 V between the plasma potential adjustment electrode and the grid electrode.

Abstract: A polishing method can automatically reset the polishing conditions according to the state of a polishing member based on data on the polishing profile changing with time, thereby extending the life of the polishing member and obtaining flatness of the polished surface with higher accuracy. The polishing method, including the steps of: independently applying a desired pressure by each of the pressing portions of the top ring on the polishing object; estimating a polishing profile of the polishing object based on set pressure values, and calculating a recommended polishing pressure value so that the difference between the polishing profile of the polishing object after it is polished under certain polishing conditions and a desired polishing profile becomes smaller; and polishing the polishing object with the recommended polishing pressure value.

Abstract: An abrading plate has a self-stopping capability such that when an object, such as a semiconductor wafer having a device structure that includes raised regions and depressed regions fabricated on the surface, is being polished, the raised regions are removed and polishing stops automatically. The abrading plate, to produce a flat and mirror polished surface on the an object, has abrasive particles having a chemical purity of not less than 90% and a particle size of not more than two micrometers, a binder material, and a given volume of porosity. A ratio of the abrasive particles and the binder material is not less than 1:0.5 by volume, and proportions of abrasive particles, a binder material and porosity are, respectively, not less than 10%, not more than 60% and 10-40% by volume. A surface is polished for a given duration with a liquid not containing abrasive particles so as to eliminate the raised regions and to obtain a flat surface.

Abstract: An electrolytic processing apparatus can increase the efficiency of the dissociation reaction of water and efficiently perform electrolytic processing, and can eliminate the need for an operation for a change of ion exchanger. The electrolytic processing apparatus includes: a processing electrode and a feeding electrode; a liquid supply section for supplying a liquid containing an ion-exchange material between the workpiece and at least one of the processing electrode and the feeding electrode; a power source for applying a voltage between the processing electrode and the feeding electrode; and a drive section for moving the workpiece and at least one of the processing electrode and the feeding electrode relative to each other; wherein electrolytic processing of the workpiece is carried out while keeping the workpiece not in contact with and close to the processing electrode at a distance of not more than 10 ?m.

Abstract: A plasma generator generates positive ions and negative ions in a plasma. An ion extracting portion (4, 5) selectively extracts the generated positive ions and negative ions from the plasma, and accelerates the extracted ions in a predetermined direction. The positive ions and the negative ions are selectively applied to the workpiece (X). The plasma generator applies a high-frequency voltage to a process gas in a vacuum chamber for generating a plasma which is composed of positive ions and electrons from the process gas, and interrupts the high-frequency voltage for attaching the electrons to the residual process gas to generate negative ions. The application of the high-frequency voltage and the interruption of the high-frequency voltage are alternately repeated.

Abstract: A neutral particle beam processing apparatus comprises a workpiece holder (20) for holding a workpiece (X), a plasma generator for generating a plasma in a vacuum chamber (3) by applying a high-frequency electric field, an orifice electrode (4) disposed between the workpiece holder (20) and the plasma generator, and a grid electrode (5) disposed upstream of the orifice electrode (4) in the vacuum chamber (3). The orifice electrode (4) has orifices (4a) defined therein. The neutral particle beam processing apparatus further comprises a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage between the orifice electrode (4) which serves as an anode and the grid electrode (5) which serves as a cathode, while the high-frequency electric field applied by the plasma generator is being interrupted, to accelerate negative ions in the plasma generated by the plasma generator and pass the accelerated negative ions through the orifices (4a) in the orifice electrode (4).

Abstract: A neutral particle beam processing apparatus comprises a process gas inlet port (11) for introducing a process gas into a vacuum chamber (1), a plasma generating chamber (2) for generating positive ions and electrons from the introduced process gas, and a negative ion generating chamber (3) for attaching electrons generated in the plasma generating chamber to the residual gas to generate negative ions. The neutral particle beam processing apparatus further comprises an ion extracting portion (4) for extracting the positive ions or the negative ions and accelerating the positive ions or the negative ions in a predetermined direction, and a neutralizing chamber (5) for neutralizing an ion beam generated by the ion extracting portion (4) to generate a neutral particle beam. The neutral particle beam generated in the neutralizing chamber (5) is applied to a workpiece (X).

Abstract: A neutral particle beam processing apparatus comprises a workpiece holder (20) for holding a workpiece (X), a plasma generator for generating a plasma in a vacuum chamber (3), an orifice electrode (5) disposed between the workpiece holder (20) and the plasma generator, and a grid electrode (4) disposed upstream of the orifice electrode (5) in the vacuum chamber (3). The orifice electrode (5) has orifices (5a) defined therein. The neutral particle beam processing apparatus further comprises a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage between the orifice electrode (5) and the grid electrode (4) via a dielectric (5b) to extract positive ions from the plasma generated by the plasma generator and pass the extracted positive ions through the orifices (5a) in the orifice electrode (5).

Abstract: A neutral particle beam processing apparatus comprises a plasma generator for generating positive ions and/or negative ions in a plasma, a pair of electrodes (5, 6) involving the plasma generated by the plasma generator therebetween, and a power supply (102) for applying a voltage between the pair of electrodes (5, 6). The pair of electrodes (5, 6) accelerate the positive ions and/or the negative ions generated by the plasma generator. The positive ions and/or the negative ions are neutralized and converted into neutral particles while being drifted in the plasma between the pair of electrodes (5, 6) toward a workpiece (X). The accelerated neutral particles pass through one of the electrodes (6) and are applied to the workpiece (X).

Abstract: A beam processing apparatus comprises a workpiece holder (20) for holding a workpiece (X), a plasma generator for generating a plasma in a vacuum chamber (3), first electrode (4) disposed in the vacuum chamber (3), and a second electrode (5) disposed upstream of the first electrode (4) in the vacuum chamber (3). The beam processing apparatus further comprises a voltage applying unit for applying a variable voltage between the first electrode (4) and the second electrode (5) to alternately extract positive ions (6) and negative ions from the plasma generated by the plasma generator.

Abstract: An etching apparatus comprises a workpiece holder (21) for holding a workpiece (X), a plasma generator (10, 20) for generating a plasma (30) in a vacuum chamber (3), an orifice electrode (4) disposed between the workpiece holder (21) and the plasma generator (10, 20), and a grid electrode (5) disposed upstream of the orifice electrode (4) in the vacuum chamber (3). The orifice electrode (4) has orifices (4a) defined therein. The etching apparatus further comprises a voltage applying unit (25, 26) for applying a voltage between the orifice electrode (4) and the grid electrode (5) to accelerate ions from the plasma (30) generated by the plasma generator (10, 20) and to pass the extracted ions through the orifices (4a) in the orifice electrode (4), for generating a collimated neutral particle beam having an energy ranging from 10 eV to 50 eV.

Abstract: An etching apparatus comprises a workpiece holder (21) for holding a workpiece (X), a plasma generator (10, 20) for generating a plasma (30) in a vacuum chamber (3), an orifice electrode (4) disposed between the workpiece holder (21) and the plasma generator (10, 20), and a grid electrode (5) disposed upstream of the orifice electrode (4) in the vacuum chamber (3). The orifice electrode (4) has orifices (4a) defined therein. The etching apparatus further comprises a voltage applying unit (25, 26) for applying a voltage between the orifice electrode (4) and the grid electrode (5) to accelerate ions from the plasma (30) generated by the plasma generator (10, 20) and to pass the extracted ions through the orifices (4a) in the orifice electrode (4). A first collimated neutral particle beam is generated and applied to the workpiece (X) for etching a surface of a processing layer (60) of the workpiece (X).

Abstract: A method is suitable for cleaning substrates, after polishing, that require a high degree of cleanliness, such as semiconductor wafers, glass substrates, or liquid crystal displays. The method includes polishing a substrate using an abrasive liquid containing abrasive particles, and cleaning a polished surface of the substrate by supplying a cleaning liquid having substantially the same pH as the abrasive liquid or similar pH to the abrasive liquid so that a pH of the abrasive liquid attached to the polished surface of the substrate is not rapidly changed.

Abstract: A beam source has a plasma generating chamber, an antenna for generating plasma in the plasma generating chamber, a first electrode disposed in the plasma generating chamber, and a second electrode disposed in the plasma generating chamber. Both of the antenna and the second electrode face the first electrode. The beam source also includes a power supply for applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to extract particles from the plasma generated by the antenna. The beam source applies various kinds of beams having a large diameter, such as a positive ion beam, a negative ion beam, and a neutral particle beam, uniformly to a workpiece.

Abstract: A beam source has a plasma generating chamber and a gas inlet port for introducing a gas into the plasma generating chamber. The beam source includes a plasma generator for generating positive-negative ion plasma containing positive ions at a density of at least 1010 ions/cm3 and negative ions from the gas. The beam source also includes a plasma potential adjustment electrode disposed in the plasma generating chamber and a grid electrode having a plurality of beam extraction holes formed therein. The beam extraction holes have a diameter of at least 0.5 mm. The beam source has a first power supply for applying a voltage of at most 500 V between the plasma potential adjustment electrode and the grid electrode.

Abstract: A neutral particle beam processing apparatus comprises a workpiece holder (20) for holding a workpiece (X), a plasma generator for generating a plasma in a vacuum chamber (3) by applying a high-frequency electric field, an orifice electrode (4) disposed between the workpiece holder (20) and the plasma generator, and a grid electrode (5) disposed upstream of the orifice electrode (4) in the vacuum chamber (3). The orifice electrode (4) has orifices (4a) defined therein. The neutral particle beam processing apparatus further comprises a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage between the orifice electrode (4) which serves as an anode and the grid electrode (5) which serves as a cathode, while the high-frequency electric field applied by the plasma generator is being interrupted, to accelerate negative ions in the plasma generated by the plasma generator and pass the accelerated negative ions through the orifices (4a) in the orifice electrode (4).

Abstract: A method is suitable for cleaning substrates, after polishing, that require a high degree of cleanliness, such as semiconductor wafers, glass substrates, or liquid crystal displays. The method includes polishing a substrate using an abrasive liquid containing abrasive particles, and cleaning a polished surface of the substrate by supplying a cleaning liquid having substantially the same pH as the abrasive liquid or similar pH to the abrasive liquid so that a pH of the abrasive liquid attached to the polished surface of the substrate is not rapidly changed.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a turntable with an abrasive cloth mounted on an upper surface thereof, and a top ring disposed above the turntable for supporting a workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the abrasive cloth under a predetermined pressure. The turntable and the top ring are movable relatively to each other to polish a surface of the workpiece supported by the top ring with the abrasive cloth. The abrasive cloth has a projecting region on a surface thereof for more intensive contact with the workpiece than other surface regions of the abrasive cloth. The projecting region has a smaller dimension in a radial direction of the turntable than a diameter of the workpiece when the projecting region is held in contact with the workpiece. A position of the projection region is determined on the basis of an area in which the projecting region acts on the workpiece.