Abstract: Particles generated within a semiconductor wafer process chamber are monitored by emitting a rastered laser beam into the process chamber and detecting a two-dimensional image of scattered radiant energy within the process chamber. A video frame representing a matrix array of pixel intensities is produced and processed by a processor. The processor receives first and second video frames, the first frame representing a matrix array of pixels of a background image of the process chamber before a wafer processing is started and the second frame representing a matrix array of corresponding pixels of a target image of the process changer after a wafer processing is started. Differential intensities between the pixels of the background image and corresponding pixels of the target image are detected and a decision is made on the detected intensities to produce an output signal representing presence or absence of the particles.