Abstract: A method of optimising operating conditions in an abatement apparatus configured to treat an effluent stream from a processing tool and an abatement apparatus are disclosed. The method of optimising operating conditions in an abatement apparatus configured to treat an effluent stream from a processing tool comprises: determining a concentration of carbon monoxide produced by the abatement apparatus when treating the effluent stream; and adjusting an operating parameter of the abatement apparatus in response to the concentration of carbon monoxide. In this way, the performance of the abatement device can be controlled by simply adjusting the operating parameters of the abatement device in response to the amount of carbon monoxide being produced to create conditions within the abatement apparatus which improve the removal of compounds being treated within the abatement device, while reducing undesirable by-products and without requiring advanced knowledge of the content of the effluent stream.

Abstract: A method of optimising operating conditions in an abatement apparatus configured to treat an effluent stream from a processing tool and an abatement apparatus are disclosed. The method of optimising operating conditions in an abatement apparatus configured to treat an effluent stream containing PFC from a processing tool comprise: changing an operating parameter which controls an operating condition of the abatement apparatus; determining a change in a PFC concentration present in an exhaust stream of the abatement apparatus; and determining whether to retain the operating parameter based on the change in the PFC concentration. In this way, the concentration of PFC present in the exhaust can be used to determine whether the abatement apparatus is operating under the correct operating conditions or not.

Abstract: A vacuum pumping arrangement comprising multiple pumping stages for evacuating a process chamber and a method of cleaning the vacuum pumping arrangement is discussed. The vacuum pumping arrangement comprises: at least one turbomolecular pumping stage; at least one further pumping stage downstream of the turbomolecular pumping stage; and at least one inlet for admitting radicals into the vacuum pumping arrangement, the at least one inlet being located downstream of the turbomolecular stage and upstream of at least one of the at least one further pumping stage.