Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to obtain a cathode body capable of maintaining a long service life even when a high current flows therethrough. According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a magnetron cathode body including, as a base material, a high-melting-point metal containing an electron emission material, and rare-earth boride coating a surface thereof. As the electron emission material and the high-melting-point metal, La2O3 and W are desirable, respectively. As the rare-earth boride, LaB6 is preferable.

Abstract: Adhesiveness between a wiring layer and a resin layer is improved by forming a nitrided resin layer by nitriding a surface of a substrate by plasma, and furthermore, thinly forming a copper nitride film prior to forming a copper film.

Abstract: A system for processing a substrate uniformly by increasing the number of gas discharge holes being arranged per unit area of a shower plate as receding from the center of the shower plate or increasing the radii of the gas discharge holes as receding from the center of the shower plate thereby making the plasma excitation gas flow uniform.

Abstract: Provided is a rotary magnet sputtering apparatus which includes a plasma shielding member and an outer wall connected to the ground and which has a series resonant circuit and a parallel resonant circuit between the plasma shielding member and the outer wall. The series resonant circuit has a very low impedance only at its resonant frequency while the parallel resonant circuit has a very high impedance only at its resonant frequency. With this configuration, the impedance between substrate RF power and the plasma shielding member becomes very high so that it is possible to suppress the generation of plasma between a substrate 10 to be processed and the plasma shielding member. Further, since a series resonant circuit is provided between a target and the ground, the RF power is efficiently supplied only to a region where the substrate passes under the target, so that a self-bias voltage is generated.

Abstract: It is possible to reduce the contact resistance so as to improve the conversion efficiency of a photoelectric conversion element structure. Provided is a photoelectric conversion element structure of the pin structure which selects an upper limit energy level of the valence band of the p-type semiconductor or the electron affinity of the n-type semiconductor layer and the work function of a metal layer which is brought into contact with the semiconductor, so as to reduce the contact resistance as compared to the case when Al or Ag is used as an electrode. The selected metal layer may be arranged between the electrode formed from Al or Ag and the semiconductor or may be substituted for the n- or p-type semiconductor.

Abstract: A disclosed top plate that is configured as a solid part and provided in an opening in a ceiling portion of a plasma process chamber whose inside is evacuatable to vacuum includes plural gas conduits formed in a horizontal direction of the top plate; and gas ejection holes that are open in a first surface of the top plate, the first surface facing the inside of the plasma process chamber and in gaseous communication with the plural gas conduits.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing photoelectric conversion elements, and a photoelectric conversion element, the apparatus and method being capable of highly efficiently forming a film at a high speed with microwave plasma, preventing oxygen from mixing, and reducing the number of defects. The invention provides a photoelectric conversion element manufacturing apparatus 100 that forms a semiconductor stack film on a substrate by using microwave plasma CVD.

Abstract: Occurrence of a back-flow of plasma or ignition of gas for plasma excitation in a longitudinal hole portion can be prevented more completely, and a shower plate in which efficient plasma excitation is possible is provided. In shower plate 105, which is arranged in processing chamber 102 of a plasma processing apparatus and discharges gas for plasma excitation into processing chamber, porous-gas passing body 114 having a pore that communicates in the gas flow direction is fixed onto longitudinal hole 112 used as a discharging path of gas for plasma excitation. The pore diameter of a narrow path in a gas flowing path formed of a pore, which communicates to porous-gas passing body 114, is 10 ?m or lower.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cathode body having a high intensity, a high efficiency, and a long life. The cathode body of the present invention is manufactured by forming, on a cylindrical cup formed of a metal alloy containing lanthanum oxide and having a high thermal conductivity, a LaB6 film using a magnetron sputtering apparatus capable of sputtering at a low electron temperature.

Abstract: A shower plate is disposed in a processing chamber in a plasma processing apparatus, and plasma excitation gas is released into the processing chamber so as to generate plasma. A ceramic member having a plurality of gas release holes having a diameter of 20 ?m to 70 ?m, and/or a porous gas-communicating body having pores having a maximum diameter of not more than 75 ?m communicating in the gas-communicating direction are sintered and bonded integrally with the inside of each of a plurality of vertical holes which act as release paths for the plasma excitation gas.

Abstract: In a rotary magnet sputtering apparatus, a target consumption displacement quantity is measured, and corresponding to the measurement results, a distance between a rotating magnet group and a target is adjusted, and uniform film forming rate is achieved over a long period of time so as to reduce the change of a target surface due to consumption of the target and to reduce the change of the film forming rate with time. An ultrasonic sensor or a laser transmitting/receiving device may be used as a means for measuring the consumption displacement quantity of the target.

Abstract: A magnetron sputtering apparatus is provided whereby film formation speed can be improved by increasing instantaneous erosion density on a target, and the target life can be prolonged by moving an erosion region over time to prevent local wear of the target, and realize uniform wear. Multiple plate-like magnets are installed around a columnar rotating shaft, and the columnar rotating shaft is rotated, thereby forming a high-density erosion region on a target to increase film formation speed, and the erosion region is moved along with rotation of the columnar rotating shaft, thereby wearing the target uniformly.

Abstract: In a magnetron sputtering apparatus configured such that a magnetic field pattern on a target surface moves with time by means of a rotary magnet group, an object of this invention is to solve a problem that the failure rate of substrates to be processed becomes high upon plasma ignition or extinction, thereby providing a magnetron sputtering apparatus in which the failure rate of the substrates is smaller than conventional. In a magnetron sputtering apparatus of this invention, a plasma shielding member having a slit is disposed on an opposite side of a target with respect to a rotary magnet group. The distance between the plasma shielding member and a psubstrate to be processed is set shorter than the electron mean free path or the sheath width. Further, the width and the length of the slit are controlled to prevent impingement of plasma on the processing substrate. This makes it possible to reduce the failure rate of the substrates.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetron sputtering apparatus that increases an instantaneous plasma density on a target to improve a film forming rate. The magnetron sputtering apparatus includes a substrate to be processed, a target installed to face the substrate and a rotary magnet installed at a side opposite to the substrate across the target. In the magnetron sputtering apparatus, plasma loops are formed on a target surface. The plasma loops are generated, move and disappear in an axis direction of the rotary magnet according to a rotation of the rotary magnet.

Abstract: In a microwave plasma processing apparatus, the reflection of microwave by the joint unit between the microwave supplying waveguide and the microwave antenna is reduced by providing a taper surface or a member having a medium permittivity between the microwave supplying waveguide and the microwave antenna so as to moderate an impedance change. Accordingly, the efficiency of power supplying is improved, and reduced discharge ensures stable formation of plasma.

Abstract: When positively charged ions are implanted into a target substrate, charge-up damage may occur on the target substrate. In order to suppress charge-up caused by secondary electrons emitted from the target substrate when positively charged ions are implanted, a conductive member is installed at a position facing the target substrate and electrically grounded with respect to a high frequency. Further, a field intensity generated in the target substrate may be reduced by controlling an RF power applied to the target substrate in pulse mode.

Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus for a single action cylinder includes a switch valve for supplying fluid to and draining fluid from the cylinder, a cylinder side passage connected to the cylinder, a switch valve side passage connected to the switch valve, and a valve body accommodation chamber. The valve body accommodation chamber linearly extends between the cylinder side passage and the switch valve side passage. An on-off valve is located in a vicinity of a first end of the valve body accommodation chamber. The on-off valve defines a first back pressure chamber. A flow control valve is located in a vicinity of a second end that is opposite to the first end. The flow control valve defines a second back pressure chamber. The on-off valve and the flow control valve are separated from each other by a partitioning member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mixed powder for powder metallurgy containing an iron-base powder and a carbon supply component, in which the carbon supply component contains a graphite powder and a carbon black, and in which a mixing ratio of the graphite powder to the carbon black is in the range of 25 to 85 parts by weight to 75 to 15 parts by weight; and a mixed powder for powder metallurgy containing an iron-base powder and a carbon supply component, in which the carbon supply component contains, as a main component, a carbon black having a dibutyl phthalate absorption of 60 mL/100 g or less and a nitrogen absorption specific surface area of 50 m2/g or less. The mixed powder for powder metallurgy of the invention is less in the dust generation and segregation of the carbon supply component. Additionally, when the mixed powder for powder metallurgy of the invention is used, a green compact and a sintered body excellent in the mechanical property can be produced.

Abstract: Provided is a shower plate capable of more securely preventing the occurrence of backflow of plasma and enabling efficient plasma excitation. A shower plate 106 is disposed in a processing chamber 102 of a plasma processing apparatus and is provided with a plurality of gas discharge holes 113a for discharging a plasma excitation gas to generate plasma in the processing chamber 102, wherein an aspect ratio of a length of the gas discharge hole to a hole diameter thereof (length/hole diameter) is equal to or greater than about 20. The gas discharge holes 113a are made of ceramics members 113 which are separated from the shower plate 106, and the ceramics members 113 are installed in vertical holes 105 opened in the shower plate 106.

Abstract: Provided is a shower plate in which there's no need for a cover plate. The shower plate 105 is disposed in a processing chamber 102 of a plasma processing apparatus, for discharging a plasma excitation gas to generate plasma in the processing chamber 102, and the shower plate 105 includes a horizontal hole 111 for introducing the plasma excitation gas into the shower plate 105 from a gas inlet port 110 of the plasma processing apparatus; and a vertical hole 112 communicating with the horizontal hole 111, wherein the shower plate 105 is formed as a single body.