Abstract: Showerhead faceplates for semiconductor processing chambers are provided that include one or more sets of gas distribution passages therethrough that extend at least partially along axes that are at an oblique angle to the showerhead faceplate center axis. Such angled gas distribution passages may be used to tailor the gas flow characteristics of such showerhead faceplates to produce various desired gas flow behaviors in the gas that is delivered to the wafer via such showerhead faceplates.

Abstract: A substrate support for a substrate processing chamber includes a baseplate, an edge ring arranged on the baseplate, a seal arrangement located between the edge ring and the baseplate that is configured to define an interface between the edge ring and the baseplate, and at least one channel in fluid communication with the interface and configured to supply a heat transfer gas to the interface.

Abstract: An edge ring assembly is provided, including: an upper edge ring configured to surround an electrostatic chuck (ESC), the ESC having a top surface for supporting a substrate and an annular step surrounding the top surface, the annular step defining an annular shelf that is lower than the top surface, the upper edge ring being disposed above the annular shelf; a lower inner edge ring disposed below the upper edge ring in the annular step and disposed over the annular shelf, the lower inner edge ring being defined from an electrically conductive material, the lower inner edge ring being electrically insulated from the ESC; a lower outer edge ring surrounding the inner edge ring, the lower outer edge ring being disposed below the upper edge ring in the annular step and disposed over the annular shelf, the lower outer edge ring being defined from an electrically insulating material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for treating a magnetic layer includes an ion source to generate an ion beam containing ions of a desired species. The system may also include a magnetic alignment apparatus downstream of the ion source and proximate to the substrate, wherein the magnetic alignment apparatus is operable to apply a magnetic field to the magnetic layer in the substrate along a direction out of plane relative to the magnetic layer.

Abstract: An edge ring assembly is provided, including: an upper edge ring configured to surround an electrostatic chuck (ESC), the ESC having a top surface for supporting a substrate and an annular step surrounding the top surface, the annular step defining an annular shelf that is lower than the top surface, the upper edge ring being disposed above the annular shelf; a lower inner edge ring disposed below the upper edge ring in the annular step and disposed over the annular shelf, the lower inner edge ring being defined from an electrically conductive material, the lower inner edge ring being electrically insulated from the ESC; a lower outer edge ring surrounding the inner edge ring, the lower outer edge ring being disposed below the upper edge ring in the annular step and disposed over the annular shelf, the lower outer edge ring being defined from an electrically insulating material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for treating a magnetic layer includes an ion generating apparatus for directing an ion beam to the substrate and a magnetic alignment apparatus downstream of the ion generating apparatus and proximate to the substrate and operative to generate a magnetic field that intercepts the substrate in an out of plane orientation with respect to a plane of the substrate. The magnetic alignment apparatus and ion generating apparatus generate a process region in which the ion beam and magnetic field overlap.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for treating a magnetic layer includes an ion source to generate an ion beam containing ions of a desired species. The system may also include a magnetic alignment apparatus downstream of the ion source and proximate to the substrate, wherein the magnetic alignment apparatus is operable to apply a magnetic field to the magnetic layer in the substrate along a direction out of plane relative to the magnetic layer.

Abstract: A write head for a magnetic storage device includes a writing tip comprising a magnetic material, a write pulse generator configured to generate a write pulse signal comprising a varying voltage bias between the magnetic storage device and the writing tip. The write pulse signal comprising one or more write pulses effective to tunnel electrons from the writing tip to the magnetic storage device. The data stream generator configured to provide a data stream signal to the writing tip where the data stream signal is operative to vary spin polarity in the electrons from a first polarity to a second polarity.

Abstract: A RF source and method are disclosed which inductively create a plasma within an enclosure without an electric field or with a significantly decreased creation of an electric field. A ferrite material with an insulated wire wrapped around its body is used to efficiently channel the magnetic field through the legs of the ferrite. This magnetic field, which flows between the legs of the ferrite can then be used to create and maintain a plasma. In one embodiment, these legs rest on a dielectric window, such that the magnetic field passes into the chamber. In another embodiment, the legs of the ferrite extend into the processing chamber, thereby further extending the magnetic field into the chamber. This ferrite can be used in conjunction with a PLAD chamber, or an ion source for a traditional beam line ion implantation system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for adjusting the composition of plasmas used in plasma doping, plasma deposition and plasma etching techniques. The disclosed method enables the plasma composition to be controlled by modifying the energy distribution of the electrons present in the plasma. Energetic electrons are produced in the plasma by accelerating electrons in the plasma using very fast voltage pulses. The pulses are long enough to influence the electrons, but too fast to affect the ions significantly. Collisions between the energetic electrons and the constituents of the plasma result in changes in the plasma composition. The plasma composition can then be optimized to meet the requirements of the specific process being used. This can entail changing the ratio of ion species in the plasma, changing the ratio of ionization to dissociation, or changing the excited state population of the plasma.

Abstract: A RF source and method are disclosed which inductively create a plasma within an enclosure without an electric field or with a significantly decreased creation of an electric field. A ferrite material with an insulated wire wrapped around its body is used to efficiently channel the magnetic field through the legs of the ferrite. This magnetic field, which flows between the legs of the ferrite can then be used to create and maintain a plasma. In one embodiment, these legs rest on a dielectric window, such that the magnetic field passes into the chamber. In another embodiment, the legs of the ferrite extend into the processing chamber, thereby further extending the magnetic field into the chamber. This ferrite can be used in conjunction with a PLAD chamber, or an ion source for a traditional beam line ion implantation system.

Abstract: A technique for limiting fault current transmission is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized with a fault current limiter comprising a core having at least first easy axis and a hard axis; and a first coil wound around the core, the first coil configured to carry current. In some embodiment, the easy axis of the core may be aligned with H fields generated by the current transmitted through the first coil.

Abstract: A plasma processing tool comprises a plasma chamber configured to generate a plasma from a gas introduced into the chamber where the generated plasma has an electron plasma frequency. A plurality of electrodes disposed within the chamber. Each of the electrodes configured to create a rapidly-rising-electric-field pulse in a portion of the plasma contained in the chamber. Each of said rapidly-rising-electric-field pulses having a rise time substantially equal to or less than the inverse of the electron plasma frequency and a duration of less than the inverse of the ion plasma frequency. In this manner, the electron energy distribution in the generated plasma may be spatially and locally modified thereby affecting the density, composition and temperature of the species in the plasma and consequently the uniformity of the density and composition of ions and neutrals directed at a target substrate.

Abstract: Several examples of a method for processing a substrate are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method may include: introducing a plurality of first particles to a first region of the substrate so as to form at least one crystal having a grain boundary in the first region without forming another crystal in a second region, the second region adjacent to the first region; and extending the grain boundary of the at least one crystal formed in the first region to the second region after stopping the introducing the plurality of first particles.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for adjusting the composition of plasmas used in plasma doping, plasma deposition and plasma etching techniques. The disclosed method enables the plasma composition to be controlled by modifying the energy distribution of the electrons present in the plasma. Energetic electrons are produced in the plasma by accelerating electrons in the plasma using very fast voltage pulses. The pulses are long enough to influence the electrons, but too fast to affect the ions significantly. Collisions between the energetic electrons and the constituents of the plasma result in changes in the plasma composition. The plasma composition can then be optimized to meet the requirements of the specific process being used. This can entail changing the ratio of ion species in the plasma, changing the ratio of ionization to dissociation, or changing the excited state population of the plasma.

Abstract: Techniques for providing a multimode ion source are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for ion implantation comprising an ion source that operates in multiple modes such that a first mode is an arc-discharge mode and a second mode is an RF mode.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for use with an ion source chamber or as part of an ion implanter processing system to provide a uniform ion beam profile. The electrode assembly includes an electrode having an extraction slot with length L aligned with an aperture of the ion source chamber for extracting an ion beam. The electrode includes a plurality of segments partitioned within the length of the extraction slot where each of the segments is configured to be displaced in at least one direction with respect to the ion beam. A plurality of actuators are connected to the plurality of electrode segments for displacing one or more of the segments. By displacing at least one of the plurality of electrode segments, the current density of a portion of the ion beam corresponding to the position of the segment within the extraction slot is modified to provide a uniform current density beam profile associated with the extracted ion beam.

Abstract: A technique for confining secondary electrons on a wafer is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as an apparatus and method for confining secondary electrons in plasma-based ion implantation. The apparatus and method may comprise a magnetic field portion of a magnetic field configuration placed under a target wafer for generating a magnetic field above the target wafer for confining secondary electrons on the target wafer. The apparatus and method may also comprise a magnetic field above the target wafer that is substantially parallel to an upper surface of the target wafer. The apparatus and method may additionally comprise a magnetic field portion comprising at least one of a plurality of coils, one or more current-carrying wires, and a plurality of magnets.

Abstract: Techniques for confining electrons in an ion implanter are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for confining electrons in an ion implanter. The apparatus may comprise a first array of magnets and a second array of magnets positioned along at least a portion of a beam path, the first array being on a first side of the beam path and the second array being on a second side of the beam path, the first side opposing the second side. At least one magnet in the first array may have a pole facing an opposite pole of a corresponding magnet in the second array.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for use with an ion source chamber or as part of an ion implanter processing system to provide a uniform ion beam profile. The electrode assembly includes an electrode having an extraction slot with length L aligned with an aperture of the ion source chamber for extracting an ion beam. The electrode includes a plurality of segments partitioned within the length of the extraction slot where each of the segments is configured to be displaced in at least one direction with respect to the ion beam. A plurality of actuators are connected to the plurality of electrode segments for displacing one or more of the segments. By displacing at least one of the plurality of electrode segments, the current density of a portion of the ion beam corresponding to the position of the segment within the extraction slot is modified to provide a uniform current density beam profile associated with the extracted ion beam.